Deck 10: Essay Writing

Question 1

Which of the following are higher order skills? Please select all that apply.

A) Comprehension.
B) Evaluation.
C) Analysis.
D) Description.

Answer 1

B, C
Explanation: According to Bloom's taxonomy, comprehension is a lower order skill. Evaluation is the highest of the higher order skills, of which analysis is another. Description does not feature within Bloom's taxonomy, although it may fall within 'knowledge', which is another of the Bloom's categories.

Question 2

'Process words are the words that instruct the student on what is required such as "comment on the accuracy of this quotation".' Is this statement true or false?

Answer 2

False
Explanation: Process words are specific words that indicate the skills that are required of the student, such as 'explain', 'assess' or 'analyse'.

Question 3

Which of the following words fall within 'knowledge' in Bloom's taxonomy? Please select all that apply.

A) Identify.
B) Explain.
C) Define.
D) Compare.

Answer 3

A, C
Explanation: Knowledge is at the bottom of Bloom's taxonomy and covers words that invite a factual description: for example, 'describe the case law' requires less from the student than 'analyse the case law'.

Question 4

It is important that you ______ your essay to check for errors, typographical mistakes ('typos'), missing references and inconsistencies in the argument.

Question 5

When preparing to write an essay, should you read a textbook and, if so, which one(s)?

A) There is no need to read a textbook. Your course materials and the lecture notes you have taken will provide all of the information that is needed to write the essay.
B) There is no need to read a textbook. You should use only primary sources, such as relevant statutes and case law.
C) You should read a textbook, but only that which has been recommended by your lecturer as required reading for the course, because that book contains all of the points that the lecturer expects to see in the essay.
D) You should read a range of textbooks, because each author will have selected different material and explained it in a different way, so there is a greater chance that you will grasp the issues needed to answer the question.

Question 6

To how many cases should you refer when writing a 2,000-word essay?

A) A good rule of thumb is one case reference per hundred words, so approximately twenty cases.
B) As many cases as possible, in order that your answer is well supported and that your lecturer can see that you have done a lot of research.
C) No more than ten for a 2,000-word essay. More references than that will interrupt the flow of your writing and detract from your argument.
D) As many as you need to ensure that the points raised in your answer are supported with authority.

Question 7

Which of the following should appear in the introduction to the essay? Please select all that apply.

A) Identification of the key issues raised by the question.
B) An outline of the structure that will be followed in the body of the essay.
C) Definition of key terms.
D) An indication of the likely outcome of the essay.

Question 8

Which ONE of the following demonstrates the best way in which to support the statement made?

A) Theft is defined in the Theft Act 1968 as dishonest appropriation of property belonging to another with the intention permanently to deprive.
B) Theft is defined in s 1(1) of the Theft Act 1968 (accessed on Westlaw on 12/02/11) as dishonest appropriation of property belonging to another with the intention permanently to deprive.
C) Theft is defined in the Theft Act 1968 as dishonest appropriation of property belonging to another with the intention permanently to deprive (Jenson, Textbook on Criminal Law,149).
D) Theft is defined in s 1(1) of the Theft Act 1968 as dishonest appropriation of property belonging to another with the intention permanently to deprive.

Question 9

You should use ______ in your essay to ensure that the reader is able to follow your line of argument.