| Analyse |
means
to show the main ideas and show how they are related and why they
are important. |
| Comment
on |
means
to discuss, criticise or explain its meaning as completely as
possible. |
| Contrast |
means
to show both the similarities and the differences. |
| Compare |
means to compare by showing the differences. |
| Criticise
|
means
to give your judgement or reasoned opinion of something, showing
its good and bad points. It is not necessary to attack it. |
| Define |
means
to give the formal meaning by distinguishing it from related terms.
This is often a matter of giving a memorised definition. |
| Describe |
means
to write a detailed account or verbal picture in a logical sequence
or story form. |
| Diagram |
means
to make a graph, chart, or drawing. Be sure that you label it
and add a brief explanation if it is needed. |
| Discuss
|
means
to describe, giving the details and explaining the pros and cons
of it. |
| Enumerate
|
means
to list. Name and list the main ideas one by one and number them. |
| Evaluate
|
means
to give your opinion or some expert's opinion of the truth or
importance of a concept. Tell the advantages and disadvantages. |
| Illustrate |
means
to explain or make clear by concrete examples, comparisons or
analogies. |
| Interpret |
means
to give the meaning using examples and personal comments to make
it clear. |
| Justify |
means
to give a statement of why you think it is so. Give reasons for
your statement and conclusion. |
| List |
See Enumerate |
| Outline |
means
to give a general summary. It should contain a series of main
ideas supported by secondary ideas. Omit minor details. Show the
organization of your ideas. |
| Prove |
means
to show-'by argument or logic' that it is true. (The word 'prove'
has a very special meaning in mathematics and physics). |
| Relate
|
means
to show the connections between things telling how one causes
or is like another. |
| Review |
means
to give a survey or summary in which you look at the important
parts and criticise where necessary. |
| State
|
means
to describe the main points in precise terms. Be formal. Use brief
clear sentences. Omit details or examples |
| Summarise |
means
to give a brief, condensed account of the main ideas. Omit details
and examples. |
| Trace |
means to follow
the progress or history of a subject.
|
