Essay Keywords

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How do I know what my teacher wants? 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.