12 Powerful Words
by Larry Bell
Twelve Powerful
Words That
Increase Test
Scores
Trace
(Outline, list
the steps)
Analyze
(examine,
break apart,
study the
pieces)
Infer
(conclude, make
a good guess,
read between the
lines)
Evaluate
(judge, in
your own
words)
Formulate
(put together,
create)
Describe
(depict,
tell about,
tell all about)
Support
(reinforce,
give me the facts,
back up with
details)
Explain
(state,
inform,
tell how,
put it in your
own words)
Summarize
(restate, sum
it up, give
me the short
version)
Compare
(alike, all the
ways they are
similar)
Contrast
(differences,
all the ways
the are not the
same)
Predict
(anticipate,
make a guess,
what will
happen next?)
To play with
online flashcards
of the12
powerful words,
go to:
http://www.proprofs.c
om/flashcards/cards.ph
p?title=12-PowerfulWords-1
Flashcards of the
12 powerful words
in English and
Spanish, go to:
http://www.flashcardm
achine.com/larry-bells12powerfulwords.html
Online quiz over
the 12 powerful
words, go to:
http://www.wayneco
untyschools.org/1498
2072514725760/lib/1
4982072514725760/
12_Powerful_Words.
htm
Word
Short Student Friendly Phrases
1. Trace
Follow, track outline, list in steps
2. Analyze
Think through, break apart, break into pieces
3. Infer
Figure out, read between the lines, predict, what are they trying to say
4. Evaluate
Judge, value of, meaning, examine, solve, test for the truth of, tell one good and one bad
5. Formulate
Come up with, make a plan, develop, make, create
6. Describe
Tell about, show me, list details
7. Support
Provide reasons, tell reasons, give examples, back it up
8. Explain
Tell all about, tell what and why, tell how, teach to someone else
9. Summarize
Tell main parts, bottom line, main ideas
10. Compare
List sames, all the ways they are alike
11. Contrast
List differences, all the ways they are different
12. Predict
Educated guess, tell what could or may happen, look into the future
Now, you try:
Use the 12 powerful words to give
test taking advice:
EX: Formulate a plan to go to bed
early enough every night for 2
weeks before the testing days.
EX: Analyze your study strategies
and decide which strategies are the
best for you.
EX: Trace the daily routine of a
student who has good study skills
and is successful at school.