Part VI: The Most Effective Ways to Formulate an Explanation
Most users will log into OTTER after they have spent several hours engaging in lessons and after-school activities. They will be physically and mentally exhausted, and will try to go through questions as quickly as possible, even if this causes them to make silly mistakes. Unfortunately, most pupils lack the patience and the stamina to read and assimilate verbose explanations, which often information that is not strictly relevant.
It follows that all introductory and supplementary explanations need to be as incisive as possible. They should not overwhelm the user with excessive details or references to previous question templates.
If an OTTER user wants more information after reading an explanation, s/he can always obtain further insights by either googling keywords or checking reference books.
Fortunately, many question templates do not require either an introductory or a supplementary explanation. For example, in Example 1 below, a supplementary explanation would be useless as there is no succinct, overriding rule governing English prefixes and the user will only assimilate the correct answer with practice.
Example 1
Which option correctly completes the sentence? In hindsight, the accident was _________. inavoidable b. extravoidable c. unavoidable d. enavoidable Answer: unavoidable |
Introductory Explanations
Most English question templates do not provide introductory explanations.
In certain instances, however, an introductory explanation is provided when the subject of the question template is not taught routinely in British schools.
Introductory explanations in English subtopics may take various forms, which are reviewed in Examples 2 – 4 below.
As a general rule: If a question template does not provide an introductory explanation, do not include one in your new question. If a question template does provide an introductory explanation, just retain the identical wording in your new question.
Example 2 (The introductory explanation is a useful mnemonic that may not have been presented in some schools.)
F- for A-and N-nor B- but O- or Y- yet S-so True or false? FANBOYS is an easy way to remember coordinating conjunctions.
Answer: a. true |
Example 3 (The introductory explanation is actually a definition of a keyword.)
In many sentences a pronoun relates to another word earlier in the sentence, which is termed an antecedent. In the sentence below, identify the pronoun and its antecedent. The cat carried its kitten upstairs. Answer: pronoun: its antecedent: cat |
Example 4 (The introductory explanation is a statement of grammatical rule.)
Some abstract nouns are formed by adding the suffix -ness to a root word after changing the ending of the root word. Which word(s) below fall into that category of root words?
Answers: a and c |
Supplementary Explanations of Correct Answers
Most answers to English question templates do not require supplementary explanations.
When supplementary explanations are required, they are already included in the question template and the identical wording should be retained in new questions.
Five examples of English question templates are shown in Examples 7- 11 below.
In Example 5, no supplementary explanation is provided, as the rules governing double consonants (-ll) are too complex to be explained in two or three sentences.
Example 5 (A question template with no supplementary explanation as there is no easy or general rule that prompts the correct answer.)
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Which word in the sentence below is spelled incorrectly? London is an exciting city where there are lots of excelent activities. Answer: excelent
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In Examples 5 – 8, every supplementary explanation is written in either one or two sentences, either as a short paragraph if it incorporates a sustained thought ( Example 8), or as bullet points if it consists of two distinct observations (Example 9), or as a diagram if a diagram is easier than words (Example 10).
Example 5 (A question template with no supplementary explanation as there is no easy or general rule that prompts the correct answer.)
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Which word in the sentence below is spelled incorrectly? London is an exciting city where there are lots of excelent activities. Answer: excelent
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Example 6 (A supplementary explanation written as a two-sentence paragraph.)
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Complete the sentence with the correct option. Chloe Reich introduced us the all the ______ at Tom’s wedding.
Answer: a. Reichs Explanation: Technically, when a name or word ends in –ch, the plural should be made by adding –es. However, the –ch in Reich is pronounced like a –k, so its plural ending is –s. |
Example 7 (A supplementary explanation written as two bullet points.)
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Select the gendered noun in this sentence. The bridegroom was nervous, but his parents were excited about what this incredible day would bring. Answer: bridegroom
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Example 8 (A supplementary explanation written in the form of a diagram.)
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Change the direct speech below to indirect speech.
Multiple-choice options. Answer: Letter of correct multiple-choice option. Check: “I think [avocados are the best things since sliced bread],” Julie told Val. 1 2 3
Julie told Val that she thinks [avocados are the best things since sliced bread]. 3 relative pronoun 2 + change of verb tense |
In Example 9, interesting background information has been added to arouse the interest of users, but such additions are rare.
Example 9 (A rare type of supplementary explanation that includes an unrelated but (hopefully) fascinating background fact.)
Which abbreviation does not have a long form?
Answer: Ms Explanation: Although ‘Ms’ was an acceptable abbreviation for ‘Mistress’ in the 17th and 18th centuries, it fell into disuse and was not revived until the 20th century, when many women wanted to use a title which did not indicate marital status. |
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