Page 249 - Keys to College Success

KEY 8.5 Focus on action verbs in essay tests.

ANALYZE Break into parts and discuss each part separately.
COMPARE Explain similarities and differences.
CONTRAST Distinguish between items being compared by focusing on differences.

CRITICIZE Evaluate the issue, focusing on its problems or deficiencies.
DEFINE State the essential quality or meaning.
DESCRIBE Paint a complete picture; provide the details of a story or the main characteristics
of a situation.
DIAGRAM Present a drawing, chart, or other visual.

DISCUSS Examine completely, using evidence and often presenting both sides of an issue.
ELABORATE ON Start with information presented in the question, and then add new material.
ENUMERATE/ Specify items in the form of a list.
LIST/IDENTIFY
EVALUATE Give your opinion about the value or worth of a topic and justify your conclusion.

EXPLAIN Make meaning clear, often by discussing causes and consequences.
ILLUSTRATE Supply examples.

INTERPRET Explain your personal views and judgments.
JUSTIFY Discuss the reasons for your conclusions or for the question’s premise.
OUTLINE Organize and present main and subordinate points.

PROVE Use evidence and logic to show that a statement is true.
REFUTE Use evidence and logic to show that a statement is not true or tell how you
8 disagree with it.
CHAPTER RELATE Connect items mentioned in the question, showing, for example, how one item

influenced another.
REVIEW
Explain clearly, simply, and concisely.
STATE Provide an overview of ideas and establish their merits and features.
SUMMARIZE Give the important ideas in brief, without comments.
TRACE Present a history of a situation’s development, often by showing cause and effect.

■ Have I covered all the points in my original outline or map?
■ Is my conclusion an effective wrap up?
7. Edit. Check for mistakes in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage. Correct
language—and neat, legible handwriting—leaves a positive impression and helps
your grade.
Even the most prepared and accomplished student can hit a wall during an essay
test and have trouble continuing, or even starting, an essay. If it happens to you, your
best bet is just to start writing, even if you are unsure of what you want to say. You
don’t want to be sitting in front of an empty page when time is called. One way to get

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