It's important to break down the requirements of your assessment task before you start searching for information, as this helps you plan your approach. Note the instructions in your task relating to the sources of information or evidence you are required to use.
A topic analysis will help you to clarify and understand what your assessment question is asking you to do.
You will generally be given three key pieces of information:
- The key topic or concept words direct you in what to research.
- The limits or qualifiers tell you the specific focus of the topic or concept.
- The task or instruction terms tell how you are to deal with the content.CSU has a list of explanations for common instruction words.
Let's take a look at your task:
In PHC200 you are asked to identify and discuss three specific social determinants of health in a specific geographic area (in which you have worked or lived) and then consider, for example, the intersectionality of these social determinants in creating disadvantage.
Use evidence to support your practice
This task can be broken down as below:
Instruction words |
Identify, discuss |
Qualifying words & phrases |
Specific geographic area (region or town), three specific social determinants, creating disadvantage, intersectionality |
Key concepts |
Social determinants of health |
Please note: this is a significantly condensed version of your assessment task, please refer to your subject outline for the full details of your task including rationale and marking criteria.