Samples of Short Response Answers

Assessment Guide

Sample 1

Course: Communication for the Workplace

Stating opinions/ Elaborating points

Question: What is the most effective type of non-verbal communication?

Answer:

Non-verbal communication is a form of communication through nonverbal platform which includes body language, gestures, eye contact, facial expression and posture as a means to convey messages. The most effective type is eye contact as it can build trust because the speaker is focusing on the audience while revealing his confidence and the audience is paying attention while listening actively Eventually, the speaker is able to make a good connection with the audience and he is able to engage with them.

Sample 2

Course:  English for Academic Purposes

Giving reasons / Justifying claims 

Question:  Why is proofreading important?

Answer:

Proofreading is a final process of reviewing a writing task to identify and correct typographical errors as well as syntax, grammar, spelling and punctuation mistakes. Proofreading is important because it can increase the chances for papers to be published in a good publication as there is consistency in the language formatting. Proofreading can help students to make their tasks more presentable and to make the job application documents such as cover letter and resume more credible after their university life. Thus, proofreading displays the efforts and time taken to improve a written task. 

Sample 3:

Course:  English for Academic Purposes

Giving explanation 

Question: How can students avoid plagiarism?

Answer:

Plagiarism is incorporating someone else’s ideas into one’s work without seeking consent or giving acknowledgement. It is considered as an academic offence as it involves ethical issues. Students can avoid plagiarism by using quotation, citing the source, paraphrasing or summarising. If a direct quotation is added, the source should also be cited and when writing about someone’s idea, citing the source is also needed in the text as well as in the reference section. Paraphrasing is rewording the main highlights by using own words, avoiding similar phrases and rewriting without changing the meaning while summarising is writing the main ideas in a shortened version using own words without altering the ideas. Students who avoid plagiarism will learn to avoid dishonesty and reveal academic integrity.

Some samples written specially for my students. Anyone can share as sharing is caring.

Writing Descriptive Essay

Descriptive essay can be written from personal experience or a formal approach as used in  conventional academic writing.  The aim of writing a descriptive essay is to describe people, places, objects, events,  or things using our five senses to capture the readers' mind through descriptive words. 

Here is an example of  a descriptive essay outline taken from ttps://essaypro.com/blog/descriptive-essay

An introduction

Hook sentence

Context/Background information

Thesis statement

Body paragraphs

Topic sentence

Sensory details

Actual details

Conclusion

Summary of all main points

Clincher Statement

Here are two amazing examples of descriptive essay taken from https://examples.yourdictionary.com/descriptive-essay-examples.html

Personal Descriptive Essay Example: The Thunderstorm

The following is a short example of a classic personal essay. It relates a subjective experience the writer had in vivid language, allowing the reader to experience it vicariously.

I watched a thunderstorm, far out over the sea. It began quietly, and with nothing visible except tall dark clouds and a rolling tide. There was just a soft murmur of thunder as I watched the horizon from my balcony. Over the next few minutes, the clouds closed and reflected lightning set the rippling ocean aglow. The thunderheads had covered up the sun, shadowing the vista. It was peaceful for a long time.

I was looking up when the first clear thunderbolt struck. It blazed against the sky and sea; I could see its shape in perfect reverse colors when I blinked. More followed. The thunder rumbled and stuttered as if it could hardly keep up. There were openings in the cloud now, as if the sky were torn, and spots of brilliant blue shone above the shadowed sea.

I looked down then, watching the waves. Every bolt was answered by a moment of spreading light on the surface. The waves were getting rough, rising high and crashing hard enough that I could hear them.

Then came the rain. It came all at once and in sheets, soaking the sand, filling the sea. It was so dense I could only see the lightning as flashes of light. It came down so hard the thunder was drowned. Everything was rhythmic light and shadow, noise and silence, blending into a single experience of all five senses.

In an instant it stopped. The storm broke. The clouds came apart like curtains. The rain still fell, but softly now. It was as if there had never been a storm at all, except for a single signature. A rainbow, almost violently bright, spread above and across the water. I could see the horizon again.

Formal Descriptive Essay Example: Hymenopus Coronatus

The following is a formal description. The writer describes a subject of which they have extensive knowledge.

Hymenopus coronatus, the orchid mantis, is a remarkable creature. Against any opponent but a careful entomologist with a cardboard box, the mantis is a lethal hunter and master of camouflage. Its four front legs, head and thorax are covered in delicate structures resembling colorful flower petals. In appearance, it looks like nothing so much as a praying mantis covered in beautiful painted fans.

As for its behavior, like any good mantis, it is an ambush predator. It takes full advantage of its unique appearance, settling amongst the petals of orchids and awaiting visiting insects. It favors butterflies and moths for its meals, but will happily take any insect on offer. Indeed, it need not even be an insect: particularly voracious orchid mantises have been known to feed on small lizards, frogs, mice and even birds.

Its behavior among its own kind is no different. Like many mantises, orchid mantises are opportunistic cannibals. They do not go out of their way to devour their own kind, but should one stray into striking range of another when it's feeling peckish, it may well become a meal. H. coronatus is not recorded as performing the praying mantis's infamous reproductive cannibalism, however.

Its relationship to humans is neutral, verging on positive. H. coronatus is not an ally of the committed gardener like the aphid-devouring ladybug, but it will nibble on any pests that present themselves. Aside from that, the orchid mantis is only valuable to humans for its extraordinary beauty.

Hymenopus coronatus is an example of a unique form of beauty that exists only in nature, careless of human judgment, designed for function rather than form, but still capable of making an observer catch their breath at its strange loveliness.

How to Write Better (Short Response Essay)

Short response essay is written with the purpose to explain, persuade, inform etc. readers of some ideas, suggestions, or techniques based on facts, opinion, evidence or real life experience. There are different types of essay which includes factual, persuasive, argumentative, discussion or reflective. Here are some useful guidelines to write short response for your assessments and examination. I have written this for my students, but anyone is welcome to read, comment and share this link as sharing is caring 😊

The short response essay can be written in one paragraph or in a few paragraphs and the length of words can range from 150- 500 words. It is advisable to write less than 200 words if you write in one paragraph and less than 500 words if you write in a few paragraphs. 

The structure of your response should include 3 parts which are introduction, main contents and conclusion. The first part is the introduction where the topic is introduced. The starting needs to be appealing and it displays a very brief overview of the essay. There should be a thesis statement (topic and central ideas) A thesis statement contains the main idea of the whole essay which actually helps to focus on the essay. The second part is main contents where the topic in a sentence is introduced. (topic sentence) In a topic sentence the main idea about the topic is also introduced (controlling idea). Then, the supporting details to support the main idea, elaboration to further describe, explain or discuss are written. The final part is the conclusion where the concluding sentences are written by restating the main points, giving advice, suggestions or just summarising the main points. 

              FRAMEWORK FOR SHORT RESPONSE ESSAY

Part 1

Introduction:

Thesis statement:

       Topic:……………………………………………………

       central ideas:

      a)       …………………………………..

      b)       …………………………………..

      c)       …………………………………..

Part 2

1st body paragraph

Topic sentence: ................................

          Topic:……………………………………………………  

          Controlling idea:…………………………………………

Supporting details:...........................................

Elaboration:.............................

2nd  body paragraph

Topic sentence: ................................

           Topic:……………………………………………………… 

           Controlling idea:…………………………………………..

Supporting details:...........................................

Elaboration:...........................................

3rd body paragraph

Topic sentence: .........................................

           Topic:……………………………………………………….

           Controlling idea:……………………………………………

Supporting details: .................................................

Elaboration: ..................................................

Part 3

Conclusion:

-restating the main points, giving advice, suggestions or just summarizing the main points.

Here is a sample of question and answer for a midterm examination that I have constructed. Students can study the sample answer as a guide to write better short response essay.  

What is effective communication in a workplace? Why is it important? Give three reasons and support with examples.

Communication is a process of interaction where messages are transmitted to achieve a purpose. Effective communication in a workplace is the ability to exchange information, ideas, thoughts, knowledge and experience in the best possible manner(Topic). The three reasons why it is important in a workplace are as follows: to convey messages clearly, to increase employees' satisfaction and sustain successful growth (central ideas) {Thesis Statement}. 

Firstly, it helps to convey messages clearly (topic) as when the message is well-received, the task will be effectively accomplished (controlling idea){Topic sentence}. For example, a manager uses clear instructions when he assigns an important task to his employee and the task can be completed accordingly as the message is clearly conveyed (supporting details). Eventually the company will benefit from the employee’s contribution (elaboration). 

Secondly, it can increase employees'  satisfaction (topic) as their expectations are met (controlling idea) {Topic sentence}. For instance, when the manager interacts and engages with his employees in a discussion for a project, it will increase job satisfaction as there is good interaction in the team work (supporting details). Thus, it will enhance the company's productivity and maintain healthy relationships among the staff (elaboration). 

Finally, it can sustain successful growth (topic) as there will be customer satisfaction (controlling idea){Topic sentence}. For example, the company seeks feedback from its customers using good communication skills to make improvements. (supporting details).The customers will be satisfied as the company managed to meet their needs, thus it is able to sustain successful growth (elaboration). 

In conclusion, effective communication in a workplace setting can increase job engagement that can lead to job stratification which eventually increase the company's productivity and  the employees' job performance (conclusion).

Another related sharing: 

http://awdiahlearnenglisheasily.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-write-better-essay.html#more

English for General Purposes and English for Academic Purposes

English language courses are taught in higher learning institutions. English for General Purposes course helps students to use proper language in common situations on a daily basis while English for Academic Purposes course helps students to use the appropriate language in academic settings. There are many useful websites that students can use to enhance their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.  Here are some of the awesome websites to improve your English language skills

https://www.britishcouncil.me/en/english/mooc

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading/beginner-a1

https://lingua.com/english/reading/

MUET WRITING 800/4 QUESTION2 essay from a BAND 5 student

 Sharing one of my matriculation students' essay. She scored BAND 5 for her MUET.

 Alhamdulillah & congratulations dear Najla for your success!!!

 Thank you very much for your contribution...

MID YEAR 2010: MUET WRITING 800/4 QUESTION 2
The world today is turning more to electronic communications such as the e-mail, Facebook and Short Message System (SMS). What is your opinion of this growing trend? Discuss. You should write at least 350 words. [60 marks]

As time goes by, the world is changing rapidly; so are its people and the technology itself. Technology brings about a lot of amendments in people’s life. It is getting more advanced from day to day especially when it comes to Information Technology or in this case; electronic communications. Back then, mailing was seemingly to be one of the most vital ways of communication especially for the world communication. In contrast, nowadays people are more prone to communicate the easier ways; by staring on their electronic accounts on their computers or through their iPods and sending short messages from their iPhones or Blackberries. Why is it so?In my slight opinion, this growing trend gives a lot of dominances in today’s life, which are helping people to save their time and money, create borderless communication and make it easy for people to gain prominent information.

How To Write Better (Essay)

 part of my final year law & syariah students at USIM
discussing their topic during a workshop (March 2011)

Touching simple words that reflect deep meaning

Sharing a small part of my module for a  presentation on how to write better academic essay, hope it helps...

Academic essay is written with the aim to respond to a question in order to inform/ explain/persuade etc readers of an idea based on fact/evidences/views. The types of essay can be factual. persuasive, argumentative, discussion or reflective and the format can be for speech, article or even reports.

MUET WRITING 800/4 past year questions for practice

MID YEAR 2009: MUET WRITING 800/4 QUESTION 2
Information and communications technology (ICT) is the cause of today's many social ills. What is your opinion? Support your answers with examples. You should write at least 350 words. [60 marks]

YEAR END 2009: MUET WRITING 800/4 QUESTION 2
People commit crime for selfish reasons. Discuss. You should write at least 350 words. [60 marks]