Unpacking the Question

Unpack the Question in 3 steps

CONTENT

What do I need to write about?

TASK

What do I need to do in the essay?

SCOPE

What are the limits of the task?

Content

Content is drawn from key words and phrases. You will be familiar with these as the main terms and ideas raised in lectures and tutorials.

Look for the content words in a 2009 Communications Studies exam essay question.

Qn: “Without the mass media, global terrorism would be impossible.” Discuss.

Even if you haven’t studied Communications, it is possible to work out which words are key in that unit. Which ones would you pick?

Content

Qn: “Without the mass media, global terrorism would be impossible.” Discuss.

This is a specific term that the question asks you to deal with in your answer. You would need to think about how it has been used in your

lectures and readings.

This is a specific term that the question asks you to deal with in your answer. You would need to think about how it has been used in your

lectures and readings.

Did you select this one? It is a key word in the context of this question as it describes the relationship between the other keywords.

TaskTask words indicate what you need to DO to answer the question accurately.

Here are some common task words in Arts:

Account for Give reasons for; explain why something happens

Argue Make a case; use appropriate evidence for and against a position. Ensure you take a position.

Critically evaluate

Take a position on the basis of your analysis; explore all sides of an issue deeply and thoroughly.

Describe Give a complete and accurate account. Clearly identify the most important aspects.

Discuss Provide a critical account exploring all sides of the debate. In an essay, also indicate your position.

Evaluate Give a reasoned account showing good and bad points. Include the outcomes of your reasoning.

Task

Qn: “Without the mass media, global terrorism would be impossible.” Discuss.

What are the task words in our Communications essay question?

Task

Qn: “Without the mass media, global terrorism would be impossible.” Discuss.

Discuss Provide a critical account exploring all sides of the debate. In an essay, also indicate your position.

This means you will need to demonstrate your broad and in depth knowledge of the key terms AND establish your position.

Psst! This is the most common task word in Arts. Don’t just describe the topic! Go ahead and take a position.

Scope

After you have identified what you must write about and what you must do, you need to know how much you need to explore each aspect of the task. Just look for the limiting words that indicate the scope of your essay.

Qn: “Without the mass media, global terrorism would be impossible.” Discuss.

Is there a word or phrase here

that tells us what to focus on?

Qn: “Without the mass media, global terrorism would be impossible.” Discuss.

‘Without’ limits a discussion of global

terrorism to the mass media.

Scope

‘the’ limits mass media to a specific example or

type (Australian? Western? Commercial?)

‘would be’ suggests causation and

hypothesis. You need to work out if you agree.

Missed anything?

Read over the whole question, including your unpacking. Has anything been missed?

Qn: “Without the mass media, global terrorism would be impossible.” Discuss.

Are you sure?

What about the quotation marks?

Qn: “Without the mass media, global terrorism would be impossible.” Discuss.

Scope can be tricky…

If your question asks you to discuss a QUOTE, you need to unpack each aspect of the quote AND discuss its merits as a whole idea.

For example: Maybe you disagree with the quote but strongly argue that mass media defines and constructs global terrorism…

What next?

Before you start reading and researching, you need to do one more thing…

Identify your questions, and the types of answers you need.

This way you will know where to start reading, and when to stop! Go

ahead and view the ‘Prepare for research’

presentation now!

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