Answering discussion questions is a great way to explore and apply critical thinking framework concepts. Regardless of the different ways of asking questions, specific questions can provide clues to help you answer them correctly. By breaking the question into sections, you'll find it easier to come up with a convincing answer!
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Method 1 of 3: Determining the Core of the Question
Step 1. Break the question into small parts
Often, discussion questions are presented at length and contain more than one question. When answering, you must answer all parts of the question.
- Pay attention to conjunctions, such as "and" which may be used to break the question into parts.
- Sometimes, you can rewrite a question by breaking its components into sections. After that, you can focus on answering the questions one by one.
- For example: “Based on the information in chapters 7 and 8 of the book on emotional intelligence that you are discussing, please provide another example that illustrates at least three of the main concepts the author proposes”. The first comma indicates which chapter information you should use to give your answer. The “give another example” command indicates that you should search for new examples that have not been submitted previously. The last section shows examples of what to give, i.e. 3 other concepts from the chapter under discussion.
Step 2. Pay attention to the command words the questioner uses so you know how to string together the words to answer them
Some command words sound clearer than others. For example, the word “compare” means that you have to find something in common. “Analysis”, on the other hand, leaves you room for more abstract answers.
- In the example above, “give another example” is the command that indicates the question that needs to be answered.
- There are some good sources of information that can explain the meaning of each command word to make it easier for you to answer questions - the website https://web.wpi.edu/Images/CMS/ARC/Answering_Essay_Questions_Made_Easier.pdf contains the meanings of the 18 command words (in English) as well as how to answer it.
Step 3. Find out other keywords
There are three types of keywords that can help you understand your question outline more thoroughly – command words, content words, and limit words. By recognizing these three, you can define the questions to ask, and how to answer them.
- The word content is a noun that usually describes the idea in question. This word contains the who, what, when, and where information that you need to know to answer the question.
- The content word in the example above is “chapters 7 and 8 of the book on emotional intelligence”.
- Delimiters are often phrases or adjectives to indicate the specific thing you are looking for in a question. This word seems trivial, but it is actually very important. Not all words in discussion questions can be used as clues to find answers.
- The delimiter in the example above is “another example” which indicates that you must provide an example that has not been presented in class or in a book, and “at least three main concepts…” which indicates the number of concepts you should use in the answer.
Step 4. Ask for clarification if any part of the question doesn't make sense
If you don't understand the meaning of a question, don't hesitate to ask for an explanation. Understanding the meaning of the question before answering is crucial to giving a satisfactory answer.
- Ask the teacher or whoever asked the question directly, if you can. The questioner is the best source to explain the idea behind the question.
- If possible, discuss with a classmate or someone else to answer a question. Sometimes, someone else's point of view can help clarify something you missed in a question.
Method 2 of 3: Stringing the Right Answers
Step 1. Start by repeating the question you want to answer
If the question is “Please discuss Leonardo da Vinci's influence on the modern art world”, start your answer by saying “Leonardo da Vinci's influence on the modern art world….”. This method can show that you are giving an answer based on what was asked.
- You don't have to rephrase the question before giving an answer. However, including this in your answer can show that you gave the right answer.
- If you can't do that, you'll need to go back to the beginning to analyze the gist of the question.
Step 2. End the opening paragraph with a thesis statement
The thesis statement will conclude the points to be conveyed in the body of the answer, usually in the form of a list. It is very important to prepare a concise answer in one sentence.
For example: “Leonardo da Vinci's iconic work is still the subject of art taught around the world. With FIRST REASON, SECOND REASON, and THIRD REASON, he has changed the world of modern art forever.” This method takes the points of the answers that have been broken down and directs them to the heart of the question
Step 3. Give the answer in the form requested in the command word
If you are asked to "prove" something, present facts that relate to each other and lead to a conclusion. Don't use personal opinions unless asked because the "evidence" must be supported by facts in the material, not your beliefs. However, if your opinion is supported by writing in a book or source material, you may be able to use it to add weight to your answer.
- Browse in a discussion question asks you to make a chronological connection between two events.
- Explain not only ask you to provide a complete explanation of a topic or idea, but also provide contextual and material evidence that supports that conclusion.
- Outline refers to the command to break the question into large components. After that, enter details on each of these components or relate them to the core of the material being taught.
- From da Vinci's example above, the command word “discuss” provides ample opportunity to present arguments to defend (or refute) the notion that da Vinci had a major influence on the world of modern art.
- You might as well explain how “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper” are still two of the most iconic works of art that are even taught in elementary school.
- For example, try to develop perspective and analysis of the 2-dimensional world in the painting “The Last Supper” and explain its influence on perspective techniques in modern art practice.
Step 4. Present the topics and ideas discussed in the material
Reinforce your answers with the material you have studied. This shows that you have learned and can apply the material in the discussion.
- You can still express your opinion on a topic, but use teaching materials to support that opinion to make it more convincing.
- For example, “Why did the author enter this character?” can be answered by linking it to material about foreshadowing if the character is a sign of the presence of a similar character in the continuation of the story.
Step 5. Use concrete evidence to support your claim
Regardless of the type of question being answered, you must substantiate the answer with evidence from the material covered. Use phrases such as “one of the evidence supporting this statement is…” or “We can see this in part…”. Draw conclusions from the material discussed, conduct analysis to relate it to your point, and insert quotes in context. Some evidence that can strengthen your opinion is:
- A quote from an essay will strengthen opinion in language class
- Original source documents or quotes from originals will strengthen opinions in history class
- Laboratory test results or written evidence will strengthen opinions in science class
Step 6. Touch all parts of the question asked
After dividing the question into its separate components, you will need to reconstruct it as you answer. If your answer only covers one part of the question, you still have work to do.
- If you are rewriting the questions into small groups, look at each group and cross out the questions that have been answered completely.
- Pay attention to the use of the delimiter one more time and make sure you cross it out as well. If any clues are missed, your answer may be incomplete.
- From da Vinci's example above, you should discuss his work, as well as the effect it had on “change” in the modern art world. Even though da Vinci has influenced many fields of scholarship, you should only focus on “modern art” by pointing out the changes in technique or style since the 1500s when da Vinci is still alive today.
Step 7. Close your answer with a summary
This summary should cover all the main points and refer back to the questions raised. This will help the reader to review the gist of your answer so that it is easier to digest.
Method 3 of 3: Polishing the Response
Step 1. Take the time to edit
As your ability to break down questions improves, you'll start to get more time to work on editing. Even if you can give a good answer at the start, it's a good idea to still go through the editing process at least once.
- Read your answer to make sure it's not off the mark. Minor things like adjusting the order of sentences or paragraphs can be a pain, but they can make your ideas stand out more.
- Check again the questions that have been answered down to each keyword. Ignoring one keyword in the answer is the same as leaving the part of the question that should be answered.
Step 2. Make sure the opening, body, and conclusion are clear
The opening section serves to prepare answers and outlines of the thesis statement used. The content section must answer the command word concisely and clearly. The conclusion section will make a restatement of the answers that have been stated, as well as complete the integrity of your writing.
- Remember, make a thesis statement outlining the bullet points in the body of your answer.
- The content section is often divided into at least 3 main sections to answer questions. Questions that ask you to “compare” or “differentiate” something can usually be answered in 2 parts.
- The conclusion section should summarize the ideas in the content section which refers back to the question at the beginning. For example, you could write "These facts show the reason why the author dared to…"
Step 3. Remember, there is often more than one answer
At times, you may have doubts about a written answer, but most discussion questions usually have more than one correct answer. Believe in yourself when you've followed the steps above and are sure you'll get the best score!
Tips
- Keep practicing. You will get better at answering discussion questions the more you practice.
- Reinforce opinions with facts. If a question asks for your opinion, make sure you have at least one sentence per idea to substantiate that opinion.
- Detailed explanations show mastery of the material. However, you must make sure the details are correct and in context.
Warning
- If you're not told, don't write from a first-person perspective. Saying “In my personal opinion…” or “For me….” best avoided.
- Avoid using additional sentences that do not provide new information. This can indicate that you do not understand the material being discussed.
