Cross-Curricular Vocabulary
So you will know
what a question is
actually asking you
to do…
ANALYZE
• To break something down into its component
parts and then show how the parts are
related to each other.
- Example: Analyze the map below.
- Example: Analyze how the human body
works.
BIAS
• To influence in a particular direction.
- Example: Can you recognize any bias in
this portrait of Pocahontas?
- Example: Explain how the author used
bias in this piece of writing.
CATEGORIZE
• To organize into groups based on similarities.
- Example: Categorize the following
compounds based on their properties.
CAUSE
• The producer of an effect, result or
consequence.
- Example: List the causes of the American
Revolution.
- Example: Discuss the cause and effect
relationship shown in the story.
CITE
• To quote or refer to as proof or example.
- Example: Describe the conflict that arises
between the brothers. Cite two examples
from the story to support your answer.
CLASSIFY
• To arrange or organize based on similarities.
- Example: Classify the following as either a
mixture or a compound.
CONCLUDE
• To reach a decision or form an opinion about.
- Example: Conclude-was your hypothesis
supported by the evidence?
- Example: Based on the evidence
collected, what can you conclude about
opposing forces?
COMPARE
• Shows how to or more things are both similar
AND different.
-Example: Compare The Outsiders novel to
the movie version.
- Example: Compare the forms of
government found in the United States and
in China.
DESCRIBE
• Write about the most important parts of the
topic. Be specific about characteristics,
properties and qualities of the topic.
- Example: Describe the setting of To Kill a
Mockingbird.
- Example: Describe what it was like to live
during the Colonial Times.
DETERMINE
• To find out or come to a decision about based
on calculation, investigation, or reasoning.
- Example: Using the data in the table,
determine if Bubba’s conclusion is correct.
EFFECT
• Something that is produced by a cause.
• The power to produce an outcome
(influence).
Example: What was the effect of Paul
Revere’s ride?
ESTIMATE
• To calculate an approximate value or
amount.
- Example: If Milly is going to purchase a
DVD for $25.79, a pair of socks for $4.23 and
a picture frame for $13.88, estimate how
much money she will give the cashier.
EVALUATE
• Tells you to present both the positive and
negative aspects of something.
- Example: Evaluate the impact of the
discovery of fingerprinting.
• To find the numerical value of
- Example: Evaluate the following
expression.
EVIDENCE
• A thing or things that help form or support a
judgment or conclusion.
- Example: What evidence did Sydney find
to support her conclusion.
- Example: Support your conclusion/thesis
with evidence.
EXPLAIN
• Write about a topic so it is easily understood.
Give the “how” and the “why” of events or
situations.
- Example: Explain the main conflict in the
passage and how it was resolved.
- Example: Explain the steps you took to
solve the equation.
GENERATE
• To produce or create.
- Example: Generate a scatter plot of the 2
sets of data.
IDENTIFY
• Pick out or find the most important ideas
about a topic.
- Example: Identify who the Pilgrims were
and why they came to America.
- Example: Identify the protagonist and
antagonist of the story.
INDICATE
• To state or express briefly.
- Example: Indicate whether or not you
agree with the terms set forth in the Treaty
of Paris.
INFER
• To come to a conclusion based on evidence or
clues.
- Example: Read the dialogue between
these two characters. What can you infer
about their relationship?
- Example: Dory walks into the house wet
and carrying an umbrella. What can you
infer the weather is like outside?
INTERPRET
• Translate, solve, or comment on a subject and
give your judgment or reaction to the
problem.
- Example: Interpret the message conveyed
in this painting by John White.
- Example: Interpret the data contained in
the graph.
OPINION
• A personal view or attitude.
- Example: Provide your opinion on
wearing school uniforms at the middle
school.
PREDICT
• To tell what will happen based on experience
and/or evidence.
- Example: Based on what you know about
the monkey’s paw, predict what will happen
when Mr. White wishes Herbert alive again.
PROJECT
• To calculate, estimate or predict based on
present data or trends.
– Example: Project the next number in the
following pattern.
RELATIONSHIP
• Emphasize connections and associations in a
descriptive form.
- Example: What was the relationship
among the British colonies?
- Example: Identify the relationship
between the number of coils and the
strength of the electromagnet.
SIMPLIFY
• To reduce or make easier to understand.
- Example: Simplify the variable expression.
SUMMARIZE
• Provide a shortened version of the main
points. Do not include details.
- Example: Summarize the plot of The TellTale Heart.
- Example: In your own words, summarize
the powers of the Supreme Court.
SUPPORT
• To argue in favor of something.
• To provide additional evidence or
information.
- Example: Support or refute the following
idea.
THESIS
• A statement or proposition that is maintained
by factual argument
- Example: Develop a thesis statement on
whether or not Andrew Jackson was a good
president. Support your statement with
evidence.
TRACE
• Present the order in which something
happened.
- Example: Trace the events that preceded
the Boston Tea Party.
TREND
• The general direction in which something
moves.
– Example: Draw in the trend line in this scatter
plot.
WITH HELP FROM:
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www.thefreedictionary.com
www.merriam-webster.com
www.howtostudy.com
www.educationatlas.com
www.studygs.net
www.googleimages.com
Various GV teachers!