Countdown to Paper One - Criteria B
Evaluative Verbs - Adding Sophistication to Analysis
Top students tend to use evaluative verbs in their writing. Use analytical verbs, instead of
‘suggests’ or ‘shows’.
Analytical Verbs – some alternatives for ‘suggests’ with brief definition
Advocates – puts forwards a particular opinion/viewpoint/belief
Amplifies – emphasises by adding extra impact
Connotes – creates a deeper metaphorical meaning
Constructs – builds up an idea
Conveys – gets across a message/idea/theory
Defines – gives us the clear meaning of something
Demonstrates – Provides a clear explanation/example
Denotes – what the word actually means/dictionary definition
Emphasises – draws attention to something
Evokes – brings about a strong feeling or idea
Exhibits – Displays a certain attitude/tendency
Foreshadows – hints at subsequent events/themes
Highlights – draws clear attention toward by making it stand out
Identifies – provides the clear meaning of something specific
Illustrates – creates a distinct image
Implies – suggests something beyond the obvious
Indicates – acts as a clear pointer or a signpost
Insinuates – mages a vague suggestion beyond the obvious meaning
Mirrors – A similar or the same visual image
Parallels – runs alongside a similar idea/theme
Portrays – Shows or represents something/someone in a certain way
Presents – Introduces an idea
Projects – takes an idea and makes it more distinct
Proposes – puts forward an idea/theory
Puts forward – Gives a theory/opinion/idea
Reflects – Espouses the same or similar theme/idea
Reiterates – repeats or supports the same point/feeling/idea
Represents – takes an idea and puts it forward in a different light
Reveals – makes a meaning/interpretation clear that was previously unclear
Signifies – uses a word or a sign to make the meaning clear
Another list of strong analytical verbs….
Analytical Verbs For Writing About Texts
Advises
Conveys
Examines
Persuades
Affects
Creates
Exemplifies
Presents
Alludes to
Demonstrates
Expands
Refers
Argues
Denotes
Explains
Reflects
Articulates
Depicts
Explores
Relates
Builds
Describes
Exposes
Remarks
Clarifies
Determines
Highlights
Represents
Connotes
Displays
Hints
Reveals
Builds
Encourages
Illustrates
Shows
Clarifies
Emphasises
Introduces
Signifies
Confirms
Establishes
Juxtaposes
States
Connotes
Evokes
Manifests
Suggests
Constructs
Exaggerates
Portrays
Underlines
Evaluative Adverbs:
Additionally, you can you use adverbs to indicate evaluation:
effectively
cleverly
powerfully
wisely
rightfully
bravely
interestingly
shrewdly
wittily
curiously
astonishingly
astutely
sensibly
energetically
vigorously
strongly
skillfully
intentionally
clearly
Evaluative Verbs
Here is a sample list of the evaluative verbs students might typically use in their writing. This is
far from definitive. And some of the verbs are only evaluative if used in a particular context. But
it’s a good place to start if you wish to really stretch yourself as a writer:
● Criticises – rebukes, admonishes, chastises, lambasts, castigates, demonises,
condemns
● Questions – queries, disputes, casts doubt upon, refutes, interrogates, examines,
challenges, exposes, provokes
● Ridicules – mocks, trivialises, satirises, lampoons, derides, pillories, parodies,
caricatures
● Celebrates – commemorates, honours, salutes, recognises, acknowledges,
memorialises, lionises, fetishises, idealises, eulogises, elevates, glorifies,
sentimentalises, romanticises, beautifies, deifies
● Subverts – undermines, overturns, alters, modifies, corrupts
● Accepts – welcomes, embraces, affirms, reaffirms
● internalises, externalises
● Technical terms - anthropomorphises, zoomorphises
● Posits
Evaluation in Action: Here are some examples of how evaluative verbs might elevate responses
to a sophisticated understanding of the writer’s intention:
1. Stephenson portrays Jekyll as a duplicitous character. (simple statement)
2. Stephenson insinuates that Jekyll has repressed his transgressive desires, leading to a
conflicted dual nature. (analytical statement)
3. Through his portrayal of Jekyll’s conflicted dual nature caused by his repressed
transgressive desires, Stevenson ridicules hypocritical Victorian attitudes towards
sin. (evaluative statement)
Source: Adapted from https://markrobertsteach.wordpress.com
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