2 Analysing essay titles
Titles contain key words that tell the student what to do. Note that titles often have two (or
more) parts:
Whatis meant by a demand curve and why would we expect it to slope downwards?In this case, ‘what’ is asking for a description and ‘why’ for a reason or explanation.
Underline the key words in the following titles and consider what they are asking you
to do.
(a) Summarise the main reasons for the growth of e-commerce, and discuss the likely
results of this.
(b) ‘The internet has rendered obsolete the traditional theories of the
internationalisation of firms.’ Critically evaluate this statement.
(c) Describe the barriers and challenges to managing diversity and critically examine
organisational practices.
(d) Discuss the relationship between knowledge and power in organisations. Consider
the implications for managers.
3 Practice: key words
Match the key words on the left to the definitions on the right.
30 Part 1: The Writing Process
Analyse Explain a topic briefly and clearlyAssess/Evaluate Deal with a complex subject by reducing it to the mainelementsDescribe Divide into sections and discuss each critically/considerwidelyDiscuss Break down into the various parts and their relationshipsExamine/Explore Make a proposal and support itIllustrate Look at various aspects of a topic, compare benefits anddrawbacksOutline/Trace Give a detailed account of somethingSuggest Give examplesSummarise Decide the value or worth of a subject