Two resources from Travis Dixon - www.thematic-eduacation.com.
To help prepare for Paper 1 and Paper 2 review the following information on command terms. Information in this post is from John Crane's website - InThinking IB Psychology.
The command terms that can be used for SAQs are outline, describe and explain. SAQs will ask you for one - and one only - piece of research to support your response. In addition, notice that the command terms that are used do not ask you to evaluate the research. Please do not include evaluation in your SAQs, You have 20 minutes to write each short-answer question during the exam. A typical response to a short-answer should be between 250 and 400 words. Command terms for SAQs: Describe Give a detailed account Tell what you know about the topic in as much detail as possible, using examples. Describe how one hormone may influence one human behaviour. Explain Give a detailed account including reasons and causes. Explain why something works. Show understanding of cause and effect relationships. Explain one study of how culture may affect cognition. Outline Give a brief account or summary. Give a brief summary to demonstrate understanding. Examples are not required unless specified. Outline one study investigating schema. Command terms for essays: Contrast Give an account of the differences between two (or more) items or situations, referring to both (all) of them throughout. Focus only on differences and refer to these throughout the response. Contrast two explanations of one disorder. Discuss Offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or hypotheses. Conclusions should be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence. Present an argument using evidence. Thinking globally! Do not just evaluate research. Discuss how the use of digital technology may affect one cognitive process. Evaluate Make an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations of something. Strengths and limitations of the research and/or theory must be identified and explained in some detail. Evaluate one theory related to prosocial behaviour. To what extent Consider the merits or otherwise of an argument or concept. Conclusions should be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence and sound argument. Present more than one side of an argument; explain why one side of the argument is stronger than the other. To what extent do biological factors influence cognitive development? |
Ms. Romaine |