What is in a word? A 'Discuss' by any name would be equally vexing!

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rkrish

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As a medical teacher bogged down by having to set questions for student evaluation on a regular basis, I come across preferences and pet-favorites of other teachers, when it comes to choice of action verbs... I see Discuss, Describe, Elaborate and sometimes Compare and contrast! Very often, just like the students, I too can't really get what is meant (irrespective of what is asked, all they always do is List)... can any one please Explain (forgot that one!)
Thanks
rkrish
 
As a medical teacher bogged down by having to set questions for student evaluation on a regular basis, I come across preferences and pet-favorites of other teachers, when it comes to choice of action verbs... I see Discuss, Describe, Elaborate and sometimes Compare and contrast! Very often, just like the students, I too can't really get what is meant (irrespective of what is asked, all they always do is List)... can any one please Explain (forgot that one!)
Thanks
rkrish
Crudely:

Toves normally gyre when it is brillig. Discuss: Give the arguments for and against this suggestion.
Toves gyre. Elaborate: This statement is an over-simplification. Give some more detailed inf0rmation.
Compare and Contrast the mating habits of toves and borogoves: Say what these things have in common, and also show how they differ,
Describe the appearance of toves when the weather is brillig - that's pretty self-evident.

How's that?.
 
What happens if you ask them to list? They may launch into full-throttle comparisons and analyses. ;-)
 
What happens if you ask them to list? They may launch into full-throttle comparisons and analyses. ;-)
They may lean in that direction.
 
Crudely:

Toves normally gyre when it is brillig. Discuss: Give the arguments for and against this suggestion.
Toves gyre. Elaborate: This statement is an over-simplification. Give some more detailed inf0rmation.
Compare and Contrast the mating habits of toves and borogoves: Say what these things have in common, and also show how they differ,
Describe the appearance of toves when the weather is brillig - that's pretty self-evident.

How's that?.


Wow! Five... Like I said, I am a medical teacher, but I got the picture.. thanks..
 
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