IMPROVE YOUR
READING AND ESSAY
TECHNIQUE
Academic
Teacher
Resources
Student Planner
and Study Guide
10 Key Points for Good
Essay Writing
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Examine your topic
(2) Brainstorm all your ideas
Prepare an (3) outline or diagrams
(4) Write down what you know
With research (5) record references
Write your (6) thesis statement
(7) Write the body
(8) Write the introduction
(8) Write the conclusion
Add the (10) finishing touches
(1)
Knowing About Directional Words
in Essay Assessments

A directional word tells
you what you should do
when you write your
answer to the item.
(11)
Knowing About Directional Words
in Essay Assessments
Whether they are short answer
or extended answer tasks they
all contain a directional word.
Directional Words
In Essay Assessments
A common reason for students to lose
marks in Essay Assessments is because
they do not understand the meaning of
the directional words used in questions.
10 Main Directional Words
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Analyse
Compare
(13) Contrast
Define
(14) Describe
Explain
(15) List
(16) Summarise
(17) Support
(18) Trace
(12)
Strategies for
Reading Textbooks and
Novels
Textbooks –
Novels –
(20)
SQ3R
CSTPES
(19)
SQ3R - Strategy for
Reading Textbooks
SQ3R:
Survey
Question
Read
Rewrite
Review
SQ3R - Strategy for
Reading Textbooks
SQ3R is a simple strategy for reading
and taking notes from chapters in a
textbook
(21)
SQ3R: Survey:
Survey provides a
(22)
overview or snapshot of a
chapter and it prepares you
for learning more.
SQ3R: Survey:
First step will
provide a (23)
picture of what
the chapter is
all about.
SQR3 - Question
You need to have questions in
your mind as you read, these
help you stay focused on the
reading assignment.
Use the words: WHO, WHAT,
WHEN, WHERE, WHY or HOW
(24)
(25)
SQ3R - READ
Read the
information that
follows each
heading to find
the answers to
each question
you formed.
Stay focused and
flexible as you gather
information.
SQ3R – Re Write
In your notebook each question
and its answer.
Write out all the main points in
the chapter.
Re Write the points in your own
words.
SQ3R - Review

Review your notes to ensure they
are legible and contain all the
important information needed to
summarise the chapter.
(26)
Strategy for Reading Novels
Novels are generally
written in the narrative
form.
Your main aim is to
understand the six
elements (27) (CSTPES)
the author used when
writing the story.
CSTPES
The strategy for Reading Novels:
 Characters
 Setting or Location
 Time Period
 Problem or Conflict
 Events
 Solution
Characters
Characters are the
first element to
look for when reading a story of
novel.
The main character plays the biggest
role.
(28)
Setting or Location
Where does the
(29)
story take place?
The setting can also
include the scenery, it
can also include the
weather conditions.
Time Period
Does the story take place in the
present, past or future?
The (30) time the story is set in will
often be established in the
introduction.
Together your setting time period
form your Orientation to the novel
Problem, Conflict or
Combination
The problem most often grows
out of a conflict between the
main character and another
character in the story.
(31)
Problem, Conflict or
Combination
The problem can also
involve
a circumstance such as a
hazard, a war or some other
obstacle.
(32)
Event
An
event is an attempt
to solve a problem.
Generally stories contain a
series of events.
(33)
Solution
 The
solution is how the problem is
resolved or brought to an end.
 This occurs towards the end of the
book.
 Often you are left wondering what
happened next.
 The resolution may include a coda, a
moral or some new understanding
because of the events of the novel.
(34)