Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Essay Keywords: Analyze
Essay Keywords: Analyze
Every essay question will generally contain a key word that tells you what kind of answer
your teacher wants. Here is a list of some key words commonly found in essay questions:
Analyze
Separate out the parts and show how they relate to the whole. For example, whether you
are asked to analyze a poem, story, or play, you will need to look at individual elements
such as point of view, setting, characters, plot, imagery or symbolism, and motifs or themes.
See how each of these elements contributes to the overall meaning of the work.
Argue
Give reasons for or against. Be sure to use specific examples to back up your points.
Describe
Write about a subject in detail, often so that the reader gets a clear mental picture or image
of what you are describing.
Discuss
Write about a subject in detail, giving reasons and examples.
Summarize
State the main ideas briefly, leaving out specific examples.