Answering a question

The phrases in bold letters can serve as a checklist:


<u>'''Questions:'''</u>
* Read the question(s)! 
* Does the question relate to only a '''certain (given) passage''' of the text?
* '''Mark keywords''' in question, look up unclear words!
* '''What''' is asked? '''What''' are you looking for? Decide what information you  need before you read the text again – e.g. do you look for reasons, stylistic devices, facts/quotes that help to write a characterization?


<u>'''Textwork/Reading:'''</u>
Mark / collect material from the text that will help you to answer your question
* Read the text '''one section/paragraph  at a time''' to maximize your concentration.  
* Stop at the end of the section/paragraph and ask yourself:  “What is important – what helps to answer the question?”  
* Mark the passages that help  to compose your answer AFTER reading a paragraph and before moving on.
* Annotate by writing e.g. the number of the question or a short tag on the margin of the text.


<u>'''Writing'''</u>
* Structure your material (related ideas/arguments, order of importance ...)
* Tense used in the question ==> '''Correct Tense''' of your answer?
* [[LK Englisch/Thelenberg 2009 11/Starting an Essay/Comment|'''Good Introduction?''']]
* Paragraphs with:  '''thesis/topic sentence ==> supporting points ==> example ==> conclusion'''?
* '''Are the paragraphs linked well''' ==> is the line of argument o.k.?
* '''Does the answer really answer the question?'''
* Are the promises from the introduction kept? (e.g "There are '''three''' reasons ..." - Do you give three?)