Academic Vocab

Analyze

Examine carefully in order to determine why something has happened. Separate or distinguish the elements of anything complex. Break the subject down into parts, and explain the various parts.

Assess

Examine critically, and estimate the merit, significance, or value.

Compare/Contrast

Point out how things are similar and how they are different.

Consider

Think about and include information about.

Criticize/Critique

Give your judgment or opinion; show something's good or bad points. Give evidence to justify opinion.

Define

Give the meaning of something with enough detail to show that you really understand it.

Describe

Explain or write about; give a picture or account of in words. Tell how it looks or hap-pened, including how, where, who, and why.

Diagram

Make a drawing or outline of something, and label its parts.

Discuss

Give reasons with details.

Effect

Whatever is produced by a cause; something made to happen by a person or thing; result.

Enumerate

Count off or list examples, reasons, causes, or effects one by one.

Evaluate

Give your opinion of the value of a subject; discuss its good and bad points, strengths and

weaknesses.

Explain

Make clear or interpret the reasons why a situation exists or is happening.

Identify

List and explain.

Illustrate

Make the point or idea clear by giving examples.

Interpret

Give the meaning; use examples and personal comments to make clear.

Justify

Prove by giving reasons.

List

List without details.

Outline

Make an organized listing of the important points of a subject.

Prove

Show that something is true by giving evidence and reasons.

Relate

Show the connections between things or how one thing causes another.

Respond

State your overall reaction (response) to the content, and then support your response with specific reasons and examples, referring back to the reading.

Solve

Come up with a solution based on given facts and your knowledge.

State

Give the main points in brief, clear form.

Summarize

Organize and bring together the main points, keeping out personal opinions.

Support

Back up the statements with facts and proof.

Synthesize

Pull together "parts" to make a "whole" - this requires looking for common attributes among the parts in order to link them together.