ACADEMIC VERBS

I can identify the task specific verbs require and respond appropriately to

1

Learning objective

Without looking up definitions, compare the following verbs and explain the difference between them.

• Analyze vs. Determine
• Interpret vs. Evaluate
• Explain vs. Describe
• Support vs. Compare

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2

MAIN ACADEMIC VERBS

1. Determine/Identify

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• Explain/Describe
• Interpret
• Evaluate
• Analyze
• Support
• Summarize

3

• Clarity in expectation for performance and proficiency

Determine/Identify

Establish, state, find, decide

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Determine one of the main claims in the author’s argument.

• The author thinks that cats are far superior to dogs, and she is right.

4

(Burke)

DETERMINE

Determine how the author’s heritage and culture sets her apart from her peers

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• Strikingly, Esperanza’s name means hope in Spanish, not English, like she told the audience in the short story. Maybe this is the first clue the reader gets that she doesn't feel like she fits in among her peers and her family. It is obvious that Esperanza is very in touch not only with her culture, but with herself as well. That is very uncommon for people our age. It is because of her awareness, Esperanza is able to look closely and understand that her heritage does not represent who she is. Her level of maturity and understanding are what set her apart from her peers.

5

Explain/Describe

elaborate, clarify, discuss

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Bad Example:

Describe the mood in the poem?

• The mood is sad.

6

(Burke)

EXPLAIN

Explain the characteristics students possess when they can effectively learn on their own. �

• The characteristics students possess when they are able to effectively learn on their own are being organized, focused, and responsible. Students who do possess these qualities succeed because they are able to stay on schedule and monitor their learning. When students are able to oversee their own work and manage their time, they will need less assistance from the teacher. When students do not possess these qualities, they will become discouraged more often and they will have a lower grade performance.

7

Interpret

Infer, translate, conclude

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Personal reaction… with support

Interpret what the beach symbolizes in the poem?

8

(Burke)

INTERPRET

Interpret the lines, But I have promises to keep; and miles to go before I sleep

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• Even though the horse rider would like to stop and look at the farmhouse they must keep going to fill their obligation. This shows that sometimes in life’s journey you must stop and look around or you’ll miss the importance of your journey. Then when the horse rider says, but I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep. They are telling the reader they have a mission or obligation to upkeep so they can only see the farmhouse in this one way before they go on and it changes. Just like in life where you have to keep moving forward, but you can still reminisce about the past.

9

Evaluate

Assess, figure out, gauge

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Personal reaction… with support. YOU get to place a judgement on something’s value or effectiveness.�

• Evaluate the author’s use of historical events in his memoir.

10

(Burke)

EVALUATE

Evaluate why success is more dependent on perseverance than IQ.

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• A strong ability to persevere raises the likelihood of success in a subject despite IQ, because when difficulties arise, a high IQ can’t always help with passing an obstacle. Rather, a strong ability to persevere through challenges will result in victory whether or not one has a high IQ. The characteristic of perseverance will help a student in any situation because if they don’t know how to do something, they will stick with it until they do, whereas intelligence at a given point in time can only help IF student has knowledge of the subject.

11

Brain dump!

Try to define the following verbs

Identify, Explain, Interpret, Evaluate

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STOP

Analyze

Break down, deconstruct, examine

13

(Burke)

ANALYZE

Analyze the ways in which the author’s heritage influences her way of thinking.

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• Esperanza clearly feels like she doesn’t fit in at school or at home. She feels as if nobody sees the real her, and partly blames her culture for this. She tells of how her name means hope, but then associates that sadness and weakness. She tells of her grandmother being a strong, independent woman, and despite that she lived her life in great sadness like many other women did as well. The negative aspects of Esperanza’s culture really sank in, leading her to have a negative outlook on life. The unique thing about Esperanza, however, is that she wants to change that. So, she renamed herself.

14

Support

Cite, justify, maintain

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Offer evidence, examples, details, data in order to back up your claim

Interpret what the beach symbolizes in the poem? Support your answer.

15

(Burke)

Summarize

Report, paraphrase

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An abbreviation of something… with nuance. Important to get the main ideas but cut out non-essential things.

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• Summarize the author’s support for their thesis.

16

(Burke)

VERB BATTLES!!!!

What’s the difference between the verbs?

17

VS

To find/point out/resolve

IDENTIFY

or

DETERMINE

Illustrate observations

In order to convey an idea to others

EXPLAIN

or

DESCRIBE

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18

VS

Clarify, illustrate the meaning of

EXPLAIN

Subject to analysis: break down for examination

ANALYZE

19

VS

Determination of meaning

INTERPRET

Determination of worth or value

EVALUATE

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VERB PRACTICE ACTIVITY

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Example

Explain the main character’s relationship to their name.

ON GOOGLE CLASSROOM

• Choose the poem, article, or short story.

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• Pretending that you’re leading a class discussion on this reading, use three different verbs to write three prompts to help guide discussion and understanding.

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• Respond appropriately to those prompts