Strategies for Responding to SAT Essay Prompts: Keywords, Content, and Precision
In the realm of International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, understanding the specific command terms used to guide response construction is crucial. This article will delve into the four key command terms: describe, explain, evaluate, and discuss, and provide tips on how to use them effectively in your SEHS (Sports, Exercise, and Health Science) essays.
Describe
When the command term is describe, your task is to provide detailed, factual information or characteristics about a topic. Focus on what something is or what occurs, without necessarily explaining reasons or implications. For instance, you might outline features, processes, or definitions clearly and accurately.
Explain
The command explain requires you to go beyond description, clarifying how and why something happens. This involves making cause-effect relationships and underlying mechanisms clear. By showing conceptual understanding and linking facts logically, you demonstrate a deeper understanding of the topic.
Evaluate
Evaluate involves a balanced judgment that weighs strengths and weaknesses of one or more theories, studies, or arguments. This requires critical thinking and evidence-based analysis of their validity, reliability, or applicability.
Discuss
Discuss asks for a thorough treatment of a topic with consideration of different perspectives or factors. This often involves weighing evidence or implications, and presenting a coherent argument or narrative rather than a simple list.
Regarding structure, a clear, logical format is recommended. Start with a brief introduction outlining what you will cover, define key terms if necessary. Each focused main body paragraph should respond directly to the command term, followed by supporting detail. Use concise paragraphs or bullet points to enhance readability and ensure each idea is distinct but linked logically. Summarize the main points or provide a final judgment in the conclusion, if required by the command term.
Stay focused and relevant, re-reading the question to keep your answer tightly aligned with what is asked and avoid unnecessary information. Using correct subject-specific terminology, referencing examples or studies where appropriate, and thinking aloud on paper to show your reasoning process can improve the quality of your response.
This approach applies across IB subjects, though the depth and type of evidence may vary depending on the area studied. For SEHS essays, it's beneficial to include key terms like "oxygen delivery," "intrinsic motivation," or "motor learning" in your responses, and to use relevant SEHS content.
In summary, focusing on the specific instruction each command term conveys and structuring your essay with clear paragraphs that directly answer the prompt while supporting your points with evidence will enhance clarity and maximize marks.
To foster effective online-learning in the area of education-and-self-development, compiling a comprehensive question bank focusing on IB command terms (describe, explain, evaluate, and discuss) will provide a valuable resource for students preparing for SEHS (Sports, Exercise, and Health Science) essays. These exercises will help learners improve their understanding and application of these terms, enabling them to respond succinctly and confidently to various questions in their pursuits of online-education.
