Identifying key words and selecting evidence

STEP 1: Understanding the question

Before you can start to plan your response to any exam question you need to understand exactly what you are being asked to to. This is especially important when answering an exam question that requires a comparative essay in response.You need to develop the ability to identify and interpret the key words of exam questions. Certain words come up time and again and are there to remind you to do certain things e.g.Compare = discuss the similarities and differencesHow = writers' techniquesPresent = language and structureIdeas and perspectives = how the writer thinks and feels about this aspectDetailed references = direct quotations Click on the quiz opposite to practice identifying key words

• Identify the key words

Step 2: Selecting textual evidence

Having identified and understood the exam question. You can then  move on to step 2 which is where you need to find textual evidence in the form of direct quotations and references to support your response to the question set.Click on the resources opposite to practice selecting appropriate textual evidence. The first activity focuses on text 1 The second activity focuses on text 2 

• Selecting evidence from TEXT 1: Anne Frank's diary
• TEXT 2: Martin Luther King's speech

Step 3: Collating textual evidence

Collating textual evidence simply means grouping your quotes into similarities and difference across the two texts. This is where you begin to see the structure of your essay coming together.Click on the resource opposite to practice collating textual evidence.

• Collating textual evidence 1