GUIDE WORDS
Analyze
Argue
Compare
Contrast
Critique
Define
Describe
Discuss why
Discuss how
Enumerate
Evaluate
Meaning
Examples
Identify the parts of something and Analyze the skills of a good listener.
explain how those parts contribute Analyze the historical changes in
to the whole. Break it down in
women’s fashion in Bloomer”s and
sections, values, practices, beliefs,
Harper”s essays.
ideas...
Present logical reasons and
Argue for or against legalization of
evidence to support a viewpoint.
marijuana.
Usually contains an issue, claim,
Argue that the social
support and refutation.
demographic profile of American
families is changing.
Show similarities of two or more
Compare Amir and Soraya in the
things. Look for qualities and
Kite Runner.
characteristics that resemble each Compare and contrast some of
other.
the characteristics of the two kinds
*Sometimes instructors look for
of non-traditional families in the
both comparison and contrast.
chapter.
Stress dissimilarities. Show the
Contrast Hassan and Amir in the
differences between two or more
Kite Runner.
things.
Contrast different views on the
assumptions about cities and
human behavior.
Express your judgment about the
Critique the essay.
merit or truth of the existing factors.
Discuss both limitations and
Critique the scholarly research
strengths and include a detailed
journal article, Self-Report of ADHD
review.
symptoms in University Students”
Give concise, clear and
Define active reading.
authoritative meanings.
Define ideology.
Show relevant detail. Recount,
Describe how to do a close
characterize, sketch, Paint a
reading.
picture with words. Use images
and a dominant impression.
Describe what you think are the
most significant contemporary
debates about gender roles.
Provide the details to show why
something happens. Give pros,
cons and reasons.
Provide the details to show how
something happened. Give the
process. Be relevant and accurate
Write in a list or outline giving
concise points one by one. It may
or may not be chronological.
Carefully appraise the problem,
citing both the advantages and
disadvantages in addition to its
limitations. Provide in-depth
Discuss why students should be
interdependent.
Discuss why Orwell shoots the
elephant.
Discuss how students can plan a
distributed study schedule.
Discuss how Marcus describes the
“myth of Elvis”.
Enumerate the steps to becoming
a successful student.
Enumerate the flaws in the
argument written by Rachel
Carson.
Evaluate your note-taking skills.
Evaluate the author’s reasoning
and evidence in his argument.
Explain
Illustrate
Interpret
reasons. Emphasize the appraisal of
authorities (other sources) and your
personal experiences.
Clarify and interpret the meaning
of something. Make it
comprehensible.
Use specific examples and/or visual
aids to prove, show, explain an
idea or to clarify a problem
Translate, explain the meaning of,
or decipher something.
Explain the purpose of a close
reading.
Explain Rose’s effort to make
educational programs more
inclusive.
Illustrate the writing process.
Illustrate things you like about your
life.
Interpret the lecture notes.
Interpret the poem by Langston
Hughes.
Justify
Answers why. Prove or give reasons
for decisions, conclusions, and
purpose. Must be convincing.
Outline
Organize information using main
points (topics) and subordinate
points (subtopics). Stress the
arrangement and classification of
ideas.
Rephrase or restate a passage or
source material into your own
words. Change word choice and
structure, but remember to cite the
source.
Establish that something is true by
citing factual evidence or giving
clear, logical reasons
Paraphrase
Prove
Relate
Review
Summarize
Trace
Show how things are connected
with each other or how one causes
another or correlates with another
(values, perceptions, beliefs,
formulas).
Examine a subject critically,
analyzing, questioning and
commenting on the important
parts and concepts.
Provide a condensed version. Give
the central idea and the main
points only. Ask, “What happens?
What results?”
Describe progress, development or
historical events from one point to
another.
Justify using graphic novels to
teach history.
Justify capital punishment.
Outline your textbook chapter.
Outline your essay as part of the
pre-writing process.
Paraphrase the lecture.
Paraphrase the author’s ideas in
your research paper.
Prove that by annotating text will
help with reading comprehension.
Prove that obesity is a problem in
America.
Relate mastering selfmanagement to academic
success.
Relate Amy Tan’s “Mother
Tongue” to your own experience
with speakers of other languages.
Review Chapter 10.
Write a review of Shakespeare’s
“Othello”
Summarize the plot of “The
Lottery” by Shirley Jackson.
Summarize the essay, “Savage
Inequalities” by Jonathan Kozol.
Trace the events leading to the
Vietnam War.
Trace the development of
Facebook.