Essay questions/titles provided by module leads usually hinge around one or more specific verb(s): that is, action word(s) or instruction(s) of what to do, e.g. 'Discuss,' 'Explain,' 'Evaluate,' etc. For example, imagine Daria's module lead has issued this essay prompt:
Instructor's prompt: 'Trace the evolution of rotor designs in functional helicopters from 1940 onward.'
Daria considers the prompt and her research interests, and she comes up with this hypothesis to kickstart her writing:
Hypothesis: 'In contemporary helicopters, height-based and weight-based adjustments to rotor blades minimize vibration in order to prevent stalling and ensure safe flights.'
Okay, perhaps that's true, but can you see the problems? First, Daria's hypothesis reads more as a statement of fact than a focusing concept for an essay – it's hard to tell what Daria plans to actually do in the writing. Second, Daria has ignored the key verb in the prompt, which was 'trace' – this means she should follow the development of rotor designs over time rather than comparing designs of the present day.
But what if you are designing your own essay/dissertation question or hypothesis rather than following an instructor's prompt?
Essay verbs are every bit as vital when designing our own research questions and hypotheses! You will need to think about these words and their usage, as they will indicate what is to come in your essay or dissertation. For example, imagine you write that you will 'analyse' a situation, but then your essay simply 'summarises' the situation.
The mismatch between what you stated you would do and what you actually delivered will likely compel the marker to assign a lower mark to your work.
Think of the essay verb as a promise you are making to the reader, and follow through on that promise!
In the context of a dissertation or thesis, you are likely to use multiple verbs to describe what you will do, given the complexity of the work at hand. These typically appear in your introduction as well as the opening paragraphs of your individual chapters, e.g. 'This chapter will first define condition ABC and then compare divergent perspectives on its treatment.'
– Need a hand understanding the verbs you can choose from and which is the best fit? Check out the 'The Verb' tab of our Understanding the Assignment guide for a comprehensive list.
