Review an essay by asking five questions of the draft, in order: did I answer the command word, did I develop the points, did I use evidence, is the order clear, and did I conclude?
This lesson completes answering historical questions. It uses the ideas from decoding command words.
What is on the checklist?
- Command word: does the answer have the shape the verb asks for?
- Development: does each main point carry a reason and a result?
- Evidence: is each claim supported by a fact or a quoted phrase?
- Order: do events or points follow a logical sequence?
- Conclusion: is there a sentence that answers the question directly?
Tick each point only if you can underline the sentence that proves it.
Worked example: reviewing a short draft
Question: “Explain two reasons Malays opposed the Malayan Union.”
Draft: “The Malayan Union was not liked. The rulers lost power. The rulers had less power. The plan was bad.”
Now run the checklist.
| Point | Result | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Command word | Fail: it states, but does not explain | Add a reason and result for each point |
| Development | Fail: the third sentence repeats the second | Explain why the loss of the rulers’ powers mattered |
| Evidence | Fail: no specific fact used | Add facts, and a second reason: easy citizenship for immigrants |
| Order | Pass | Keep the two reasons separate |
| Conclusion | Weak: “bad” is vague | State which reason mattered more, and why |
The repaired version
“First, Malays opposed the plan because it reduced the powers of the rulers. The rulers were the traditional heads of the Malay states, so Malays felt their community lost its symbol of authority. 1
Second, citizenship was offered easily to immigrants, so Malays feared losing their position in their own land. This fear led them to form UMNO in May 1946 3, and the plan was replaced by the Federation of Malaya in 1948. 2 Together, the loss of the rulers’ powers and the citizenship rules gave Malays a reason to unite against the plan.”
The repaired answer explains both points, uses specific facts, and ends with a linking conclusion.
The mistake that costs marks
Students tend to check only spelling and handwriting. A neat answer to the wrong question still loses the marks.
Always begin with the command word. If you must change something, change the content before the wording.
Check yourself
Apply the checklist to this line: “UMNO was important and many people joined.” Which points fail?
Answer
It fails development (no reason or result), evidence (no fact) and command word if the question says “explain”, since the answer only states. “Many” is also vague, so a named leader or a date would help.
A stronger line: “UMNO mattered because it was formed in May 1946 under Dato’ Onn bin Ja’afar to oppose the Malayan Union, and that organised opposition helped lead to the plan being replaced in 1948.” 3
What to study next
Test the checklist on the practice set. Use the mistake log and paper-error review to note which points you fail most.
For a teacher to review a full essay with you, see online one-to-one Sejarah tuition.