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ACCOUNT FOR:
Give reasons for; explain why something happens.
ANALYSE:
Examine in very close detail; identify important points & chief features.
COMMENT ON:
Identify & write about the main issues, giving your reactions based upon what you have studied. Avoid purely personal opinion.
COMPARE:
Examine two or more things and pick out similarities. Indicate the relevance or consequences of these similarities.
CONSIDER:
Give opinions in relation to given information.
CONTRAST:
Examine two or more things, and pick out differences. Indicate whether the differences are significant. If appropriate, give reasons why one may be preferable.
CRITICALLY EVALUATE:
Weigh arguments for & against something, assessing the strength of the evidence on both sides. Use criteria to guide your assessment of which opinions, theories, models or items are preferable.
CRITICIZE:
Make judgements; usually also give detail to support your views.
DEBATE:
Consider both sides of the question and come to a conclusion.
DEFINE:
Give the exact meaning, or precise limits of the topic. Where relevant, show that you understand why the definition may be problematic
DESCRIBE:
Give a detailed account of characteristics, qualities, features etc or outline the main events.
DISCUSS:
Consider both sides of an issue; write about the most important aspects of; maybe compare/contrast or give arguments for & against.
DISTINGUISH:
Bring out the differences between two (possible confusable items).
ENUMERATE:
List several ideas, aspects, reasons, qualities.
EXPLAIN:
Make an idea clear; show logical development with reasons, why something is the way it is.
EVALUATE:
Assess the worth, importance or usefulness of something, using evidence. There will probably be cases to be made both for & against.
EXAMINE:
Put the subject ‘under the microscope’, looking at it in detail. If appropriate, ‘critically evaluate’ it as well.
ILLUSTRATE:
Make something clear & explicit, giving examples or evidence.
INTERPRET:
Give the meaning & relevance of data or other material presented.
JUSTIFY:
Give evidence which supports an argument or idea; show why a decision or conclusions were made, considering objections that others might take.
NARRATE:
Concentrate on saying what happened, telling it as a story.
OUTLINE:
Give only the main points, showing the main structure i.e. an over-view of the subject.
PROVE:
Support fully with facts.
RELATE:
Show similarities & connections between two or more things.
REVIEW:
Go back over earlier points briefly.
SKETCH:
Give main ideas briefly.
STATE:
Give the main features, in very clear English (almost like a simple list but written in full sentences).
SUMMARISE:
Draw out the main points only (see ‘outline’), omitting details or examples.
TO WHAT EXTENT:
Consider how far something is true, or contributes to a final outcome. Consider also ways in which the proposition is not true. (The answer is usually somewhere between ‘completely’ & ‘not at all’).
TRACE:
Follow the order of different stages in an event or process.
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