Credit:
Teaching the Critical Vocabulary of the Common Core - By Marilee Sprenger
Analyze
Compare/Contrast
Compare
Definition: break something down into its parts
Synonyms: examine, study, scrutinize, explore
An-a-lyze, break it down, down, down,
Then explain what you found, found, found.
Definition: find likenesses between two or more things
Compare to find things the same,
See how many you can name!
Contrast
Articulate
Definition: find differences between two or more things
Contrast to find different things
See how many you can bring!
Definition: Express clearly
Example: Joey writes and speaks eloquently. He articulates
well.
Comprehend
Articulate and say it well,
Definition: get the picture, understand, dig it, grasp, catch on,
Be as clear as a bell.
find meaning
Comprehend, can you dig it?
Cite
Delineate
Definition: note, quote, refer to, point out
Definition: describe in detail; outline
Synonyms: quote, name, mention
Synonyms: outline, describe*, define
Cite is about
Delineate uses words to show
Pointing things out!
1, 2, 3, what you know.
Credit:
Teaching the Critical Vocabulary of the Common Core - By Marilee Sprenger
Demonstrate
Develop
Definition: describe or explain by examples
Definition: elaborate or expand in detail
Synonyms: explain, elaborate
Examples:
• The story starts off a little slow, but as the plot continues to
develop, it becomes completely captivating.
• I need to develop the main character of my narrative a little
more.
De-ve-lop, explain, e-la-bo-rate;
Make your writing really great!
Synonyms: reveal, prove, explain, expound, display, operate,
instruct, show, show off
Demonstrate what you know,
Make it plain—Ready? Set. Go!
Describe
Definition: depict in words, tell in your own words
Synonyms: delineate*, portray, tell, explain*, report
Describe and tell all about it.
Write it, share it, or even shout it!
Distinguish
Definition: set apart, separate, tell apart, characterize,
classify, categorize
Example:
• Can you distinguish between or point out differences
Determine
between the two climates?
Definition: conclude, decide, choose
Distinguish from the very start.
Examples:
Decide, discriminate, and tell apart.
• Determine the meaning of a word.
• Determine the main idea.
Determine and you will find
That you have made up your mind!
Credit:
Teaching the Critical Vocabulary of the Common Core - By Marilee Sprenger
Draw
Definition: take or pull out
Synonyms: formulate*, pull
Antonyms: put in, shorten
Example:
• The students had to draw their own conclusions about the
outcome of the novel The Giver by Lois Lowry.
Draw—point it out, take it out, pull it out—Draw!
Explain
Definition: tell about something so people understand it
Synonyms: clarify, demonstrate, interpret, describe in detail,
define
Examples:
• Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support
particular points in a text.
• Explain major differences between . . .
• Explain how a text’s illustrations . . .
Evaluate
• What is the author trying to explain in this text?
Definition: find value, judge, appraise
• Scientists could not explain the strange lights in the sky.
Synonyms: weigh, estimate, gauge, calculate
• I don’t know how to explain the dog’s strange behavior.
Example:
• We asked him to explain his reasons to us.
• My teacher will evaluate my paper and give me suggestions
Explain! Explain!
to improve my writing.
And always make it plain!
I evaluate cuz I’m the judge.
I critique without a grudge!
Identify
Definition: isolate, point out, find, discover, cite*
Synonyms: point, find, discover
Identify is to detect
information from the text!
Credit:
Teaching the Critical Vocabulary of the Common Core - By Marilee Sprenger
Infer
Locate
Definition: deduce; conclude; use information to make
Definition: find
educated guesses based on prior knowledge.
Synonyms: find, trace, discover, uncover
Infer! Read between the lines.
Antonyms: lose, miss, misplace
See what info you can find.
Locate and uncover
Text + What I Know = Infer (inference)
New things you discover
Integrate
Organize
Definition: put together, combine
Definition: arrange, classify, order, consolidate, unify
Synonyms: unify, unite, mix
Synonyms: sort out, systematize, planned
Integrate and unite,
Organize, arrange, get it done!
Make sure things fit just right!
This makes time to have more fun!
Interpret
Refer
Definition: describe what you have found out
Definition: mention or direct for information
Synonyms: translate, decode, explain*, clarify
Synonyms: name, cite*, talk about, bring up, describe*, signify,
Interpret and explain.
represent, relate, indicate, suggest*
Make things clear and you will gain!
Refer is to mention
Information for attention.
Credit:
Teaching the Critical Vocabulary of the Common Core - By Marilee Sprenger
Retell
Synonyms: repeat, restate, recap, relate again or differently,
Summarize/
Paraphrase
summarize*, paraphrase*, cite*
Definition: make a short statement of the main points of a
Example:
passage
• I like to listen to my uncle retell his stories from his trip to
Synonyms: review, condense, sum up
Alaska.
Summarize and make it shorter;
Retell means to repeat or recite;
Just the facts, like a reporter.
Definition: tell in your own words; tell again in your own way
Tell it again and do it right!
Suggest
Support
Definition: hold up, prove, help
Definition: propose as fitting
Synonym: back up, backing
Synonyms: advise, recommend, advocate, say, put forth,
Antonym: oppose, abandon
propose
Support! Support! Strengthen what you say.
Recommend, put forth, suggest;
Hold up your thoughts in another way.
Propose ideas that are the best.
Credit:
Teaching the Critical Vocabulary of the Common Core - By Marilee Sprenger
Synthesize
Analogy
Definition: combine to form a more complex product
Definition: figuring out how things are related; a similarity
Synonyms: create, produce, combine, blend, make
between like features of two things, on which a comparison
Antonym: take apart
may be based; when two different things share characteristics
Example:
that lead to a comparison between them
• He synthesized old and new ideas.
Synonyms: parallel ideas, correlation, comparison, similarity,
To synthesize is to become the creator
likeness
Of a product that is even greater!
Example:
• This is to that as what is to which
Trace
A is to B as C is to D;
I can make an a-nal-o-gy!
Definition: follow the course or development of; find or
discover by investigation
Synonyms: outline, copy, sketch, find, track, follow
Argument
Trace the steps from the start.
Definition: a reason or set of reasons that something is true
Follow it, outline it, part by part!
Synonyms: case, reason, claim
Let’s argue! Let’s argue! But I don’t want to fight.
Alliteration
Definition: words in a row with the same initial consonant
sound (The same sound starts words and syllables.)
Alliteration allows a sound
To actually astound!
I will find the facts to prove that I am right!
Credit:
Teaching the Critical Vocabulary of the Common Core - By Marilee Sprenger
Central Idea/Main Idea
Definition: most important point the author makes
Connotative Language
Figurative Language
Synonyms for main/central: chief, key, foremost
Definition of Connotative Language: the association that a
What’s the big idea you will find next?
word brings to mind; emotion determines the Definition
The author’s key point of his text!
Connotative meanings deal with emotion.
Conclusions
Word choice can be a powerful potion!
Definition of Figurative Language: changes the literal
Definition: making up your mind based on evidence
meaning, to make a meaning fresh or clearer, to express
Synonyms: determination, deductions, inferences,
complexity, to capture a physical or sensory effect, or to
assumptions
extend meaning
If you jump to a conclusion,
Simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, idiom.
You may cause some confusion.
Figurative language makes learning fun!
Connections
Details/Key Details
Definition: relating what you read to something else you know
Definition: isolated facts; points of information
Synonyms: links, associations, relations
Synonyms: facts, specifics, fine points, items
Make a connection; make a link,
A detail is a fact
Use your head and think, think, think!
That keeps you right on track!
Credit:
Teaching the Critical Vocabulary of the Common Core - By Marilee Sprenger
Evidence
Metaphor and Simile
Definition: knowledge on which to base a belief; facts or
Definition of metaphor: an indirect comparison; an implied
information helpful in forming a conclusion or judgment; details
comparison using a form of the verb “to be,” usually is or are
that support an assumption
A metaphor makes two things the same
Synonyms: proof, indications, confirmation
By giving one the other’s name!
E-vi-dence is simply proof.
Definition of simile: a direct comparison using like or as
Without it, you may goof!
Use similes to compare;
Be sure like or as is always there.
Illustrations
Definition: visual material used to clarify or add to a text
Point of View
Synonyms: art, pictures, photos, diagrams, graphics,
Definition: the vantage point from which a story is told
representations, examples, charts
Is it in first, second, or third?
Illustrations add to the reading—
How did the author want to be heard?
Important info you’ll be needing!
Rhetoric
Definition: language designed to have a persuasive or
impressive effect on its audience; the art of writing or speaking
effectively
You will do what I say
If I write in a rhetorical way!
Credit:
Teaching the Critical Vocabulary of the Common Core - By Marilee Sprenger
Stanza
Tone and Mood
Definition: a fancy poetry word for paragraph
Definition of Tone: the author’s attitude or outlook
Synonyms: verse, section
Definition of Mood: the way the author makes the reader feel
A stanza is a room
Tone is in the author’s head.
Where poetry can bloom!
Mood is my feelings as I read!
Structure
Classify/Categorize
Definition: how the information within a written text is
Definition of Classify: arrange in classes according to shared
organized
qualities
Synonyms: arrangement, organization
Synonyms: order, organize, sort
The structure of a text
Definition of Categorize: putting classified items into smaller
Helps you know what will come next!
groups
Synonyms: catalog, label, group
Theme
Definition: a unified idea carried through a text; the universal
Explicitly
idea that an author is trying to get across
Definition: fully and clearly expressed
Theme is the message you will find
Synonyms: precisely, clearly
Woven by the author through your mind.
Antonyms: implicitly
Write explicitly—be very clear.
To the rules you will adhere!
Credit:
Teaching the Critical Vocabulary of the Common Core - By Marilee Sprenger
Recognize
Definition: identify something you have seen before
Synonyms: know, spot
Recognize is something that I know;
I can spot it and make it show!
Recount
Definition: give an account of an event or an experience;
retell in detail and in order
Synonyms: retell, relate, report
Recount, relate, relay,
Explain it play by play!