Before you can answer a question, you need to know what it means. When you are trying to understand the question look for instructional words, words that tell you what to do. Examples of these are analyse, describe and review.
This table provides a list of instructional words and explains clearly what they require you to do in your essay, assignment or exam.
| Analyse | Break down a topic into parts. Look in depth at each part using supporting arguments and evidence for and against. |
| Argue | Present reasons and evidence to support or reject a position or viewpoint. |
| Assess / Evaluate | Decide how important, useful, valuable or effective something is and give your reasons and evidence. |
| Classify | Arrange information into groups. |
| Comment | Present your opinion on the topic and back up your opinion with relevant evidence/information. |
| Compare | Identify similarities between two or more topics/ideas. |
| Contrast | Identify differences between two or more topics/ideas. |
| Compare and Contrast | Identify and discuss both the similarities and differences between ideas/topics etc. |
| Critique | Give your judgement about the value or truth of something. Discuss both positive and negative points. Support with evidence. |
| Define | Clearly state the exact meaning of something. |
| Demonstrate / Illustrate | Use examples or evidence to clarify and support your answer. |
| Describe | Give a detailed account of something. No explanation or interpretation is required. |
| Diagram | Make a graph, chart or drawing to illustrate an idea. Label it and include a brief explanation. |
| Discuss | Present both sides of an issue/subject with evidence and then draw conclusions. |
| Elaborate | Provide more detail with reasons and examples. |
| Examine | Investigate closely a topic/issue etc. |
| Explain | Make something clear by providing reasons and evidence. |
| Identify | Select relevant details and discuss these. |
| Interpret | Examine a statement or idea and give a clear explanation/judgement of what it means. |
| Justify | Use evidence to support an argument or idea. The aim is to convince the reader. |
| List | Give a concise numbered list of things or ideas. |
| Outline | Give the main points, do not include detail. |
| Prove | Establish the truth of something using evidence. |
| Relate | Show how things are connected or related to each other. |
| State | Briefly and clearly present the main points. |
| Summarise | Give a concise account of the key points of the topic removing unnecessary detail. |
| Trace | Describe the development or history of a topic from some point of origin. |