A model essay
This section presents a model of a successful essay. We begin with the essential steps of question analysis and planning.
The Question
Why is it necessary to understand the social and cultural context from which students and staff come? Discuss with reference to reading and concrete examples (Length: 1500 words).
Model question analysis
1. Identify the subject.
- The reasons why it is necessary to understand the social and cultural contexts of students and staff.
2. Identify the instruction/s.
- discuss; with reference to
3. Identify the key aspects in this particular question.
- social and cultural contexts of students
- social and cultural contexts of staff
- reading
- concrete examples
4. Are there any other significant words to take into account?
Staff. What kind of staff: teachers, all school employees, policy makers?
The model essay takes the obvious approach and assumes that ‘staff’ means teaching staff. Because it is obvious, there is no need to define the word in the introduction. However, a very different and interesting essay could be written by defining ‘staff’ to include all three definitions. In this instance, one approach is no better than the other. Which approach gains the highest mark will depend on how well it is argued.
