Legal Studies Command Terms

Identify

Recognise and state briefly a distinguishing feature

Define

State the exact meaning and essential qualities

Outline

Give brief key features

State

Give without further explanation

Analyse

Identify main features then examine

Describe

Give facts/detailed account

Distinguish

Make clear the differences

Explain

Provide details to give understanding

Illustrate

Explain using examples

List

Give sequence of brief answers without explanation

Compare

Give similarities and differences

Discuss

Give reasoned argument for and against

Evaluate

Weigh up for and against to come to conclusion

Justify

Give valid reasons/evidence

To what extent

The degree to which something fulfills a purpose