Academic Vocabulary
Verbs that you will see in test and homework questions
Analyze
0To break something into its individual parts, study them, and determine how they work together to form a whole.
0Other Forms: analysis, analyzing, analyzed
0Related words: break apart, dissect, deconstruct
0Sample question: Analyze the author’s use of literary devices in the following poem.
Apply
0To put the skills or information you have learned to use.
0Other Forms: application, applying, applied
0Related words: utilize, employ, use
0Sample question: Apply your knowledge of capitalization rules to edit the following paragraph.
Compare
0To determine how two things are similar or alike.
0Other Forms: comparison, comparing, comparable
0Related words: connect, relate, similarities(noun), liken
0Sample question: Compare Twilight’s Edward Cullen to Dracula’s Count Dracula.
Contrast
0To determine how two things are different or unlike.
0Other Forms: contrasting, contrasted, in contrast
0Related words: differentiate, distinguish, discriminate, draw a distinction
0Sample question: Contrast the themes of Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart and The Raven.
Comprehend
0 To understand or grasp the meaning or significance of something.
0 Other Forms: comprehension, comprehending, comprehended
0 Related words: understand, recognize, realize, grasp, appreciate
0 Sample question: What do you comprehend about the setting of A Christmas Carol?
Classify
0To group like items under a specific category.
0Other Forms: classification, classifiable, classifying
0Related words: order, organize, categorize, sort, catalogue
0Sample question: Classify the following pronouns as nominative, objective, or possessive.
Critique
0To examine or review something and discuss its strengths and weaknesses.
0Other Forms: criticism, criticize, critical, critic, critical
0Related words: examine, review, opinion(noun), appraise, assess
0Sample question: Critique your descriptive essay rough draft.
Describe
0To create a mental picture of someone or something.
0Other Forms: describing, description, described
0Related words: recreate, portray, depict, illustrate, express
0Sample question: Describe the Secret Annex in The Diary of Anne Frank.
Evaluate
0To determine or assess the value, worth, or condition of something.
0Other Forms: evaluation, evaluated, reevaluate
0Related words: assess, appraise, rate
0Sample question: Evaluate the importance of correct grammar in e-mails and texts.
Explain
0To clarify a statement by using facts, evidence, and details.
0Other Forms: explanation, explain, explained
0Related words: clarify, demonstrate, expound
0Sample question: Would you rather live forever and be poor, or die young but be rich? Explain your opinion.
Identify
0To find or recognize something and name it.
0Other Forms: identifying, identified, identifiable
0Related words: find, recognize, detect, distinguish
0Sample question: Identify the transitive verbs in the following sentences.
Infer
0To combine your prior knowledge (schema) and clues from the text to figure out something the author did not directly say.
0Other Forms: inference, inferring, inferred
0Related words: conclude, gather, understand, assume
0Sample question: What can you infer from Little Miss Muppet’s behavior when the spider appeared beside her?
Interpret
0To decipher or determine the meaning of something.
0Other Forms: interpretation, interpreting, interpreted
0Related words: clarify, understand, construe
0Sample question: Interpret the symbolism of the raven in Poe’s poem, “The Raven.”
Predict
0To draw a reasonable conclusion about what might happen next based on clues in the text.
0Other Forms: prediction, predictable, predicting, predicted
0Related words: guess, envision, expect, foretell
0Sample question: Predict what the story might be about based on the title and the cover illustration.
Summarize
0To reduce a text to its essential elements and main points.
0Other Forms: sum up, summary, summative, summarizing, summarized
0Related words: reduce, recap, condense, abridge
0Sample question: Summarize the first two paragraphs of this passage.
Synthesize
0To create or produce a new product by combining new and prior knowledge.
0Other Forms: synthesis, synthesizing
0Related words: create, produce, combine, make
0Sample question: Using your knowledge of Greek and Latin root words, synthesize a new word to mean the study of underwater alien life forms.