In exams and assignments, you may often need to give a short answer or write a single-paragraph response to a question or topic. Short and single paragraph responses must be more focused and concise than essays, reports or other long response assignments.
What is a short response?
The key difference between an essay and a short response is length – your short response must be concise and focused.
Typically, a short response will be 1 to 2 paragraphs. Your assignment or exam may give you a specific word limit. Although there is no set rule about length, a single paragraph is usually 4 to 8 sentences or 90 to 200 words long.
You do not usually need to include background information, context or definitions in a short response unless your assignment specifically requests that you define something. You can simply get straight to the point.
Command words, topics and focus
Interpreting the question
When giving a short or single-paragraph response, identify the command words and topics of the question – this shows you what you should focus on in your answer. There may be more than 1 command word, topic or focus in an assignment question.
There are usually 3 parts to a question or topic:
Commands
Commands
Command or directing words tell you what to do. For example:
- Discuss
- Analyse
- Compare and contrast
- Critique
- Evaluate.
Sometimes there is more than 1 command in a question.
Topics
Topics
The topic is the general area for your discussion. Determine the topics by asking 'what?' after each command word. For example:
- Discuss what?
- Compare and contrast what with what?
Focus
Focus
Focus on the specific topic that you need to concentrate on in your answer. Sometimes there is more than 1 focus in a question. Identify the focus of a topic by extending the topic strategy above.
For example: Discuss what? ...in relation to what?
Answering the question
In your first sentence, mention the topic and focus. If necessary, restate the command words.
Often, the question uses a command word, so you do not need to state it. For example, in the paragraph topic 'Discuss the implications of the government's Fee Free Tertiary Policy', the command word 'discuss' is implied because you discuss the answer in your paragraph. The topic and focus are explicitly stated, such as in the example answer:
'Two key implications of the Fees Free Policy are inequality of access and future preparedness of workers.'
How to structure a short response or single-paragraph answer
Unlike an essay, in a short response or single-paragraph response, you should get straight to the point. It is okay to assume that the reader has some background knowledge of the topic, so you may not need to give background information or define key terms. If you do define a key term, keep it short and focus on the points you want to make. Use the PIE structure to construct your single paragraph.
Example short answer paragraph
Example short answer paragraph Read an example of a single-paragraph answer and notes on how the example answers the assignment question.
Discuss the implications of the government's Fee Free Tertiary Policy.
'There are two main implications of the government's Fees Free tertiary policy, which pays first year fees for first time students- increasing equality with respect to access to education, and improving student's preparedness for employment. Firstly, the Fees Free policy can help students who might not otherwise be able to access tertiary education or industry training without the need for debt. In particular, this policy could help students whose parents may not be able to help with fees. This has significant societal implications as increasing inequality is a growing concern across the world, and the Fees Free policy attempts to address this issue (Ardern, 2018). Furthermore, the policy allows students to train for future jobs and this means the country will benefit from workers who are ready to enter employment. Although the policy has a cost, this must be compared with the cost of students not studying and also not working, possibly while on an unemployment benefit. Students who are employment-ready, may also mean less burden on employees who may not need to train staff.'
In this example:
- The first sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is about (the topic) and that there are 2 key points that are discussed (the focus). Although the writer gives a brief explanation of the policy, this is not the focus of the paragraph.
- The signpost language in the paragraph, like 'firstly' and 'furthermore,' tells the reader another point is being made.
- Finally, each implication is introduced and explained, such as increasing equality, improving preparedness for work, and so on.
Short response checklist
Does your answer do what your command words asked?
For example, are you analysing? Comparing and contrasting?
Does your first sentence make your topic and focus clear?
Your first sentence should tell the reader what your short response is about (your topic) and what the rest of your response will discuss (your focus).
Are you focused on your topic throughout your response?
You should be able to pick out the key points of your illustrations and explanations, and show a direct relationship to your topic and focus area.
Are you within the word limit, or using only a single paragraph?
Is your grammar and punctuation of an acceptable scholarly standard?
Try reading your response aloud – sometimes hearing your writing can help identify errors that you may have missed.
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