Academic
Conversation
Vocabulary
elaborate
elaborate
Partner A: My favorite season is fall.
Partner B: Tell me more - why? What do you like about it?
Partner A: I really like fall because we go back to school and I can get ready for Halloween.
Partner B: My favorite season is summer because I like to go to the lake and swim. And we don’t have to go to school!
Partner A: What else do you do in the summer?
Definition: (verb) To elaborate means to provide more relevant information about a topic.
In other words, elaborate means to tell more about something. You can tell more by providing examples, giving more reasons and adding facts.
your turn - Tell me about your favorite season. Why do you like it? What makes it special for you?
Synonyms: build on, add, clarify, expand
evidence
evidence
Think of evidence or examples from:
a text
the world
your life
Definition: (noun) Evidence is specific information that logically supports your hypothesis or perspective.
In other words, evidence means proof that backs up what you are saying.
your turn - I would describe this character as _________. The evidence I find in the text to prove that is ________________________.
Synonyms: proof, facts
paraphrase
paraphrase
Partner A: Winter is no fun for me, all I do is stay inside and read. I prefer summer when I can swim and play outside all day.
Partner B: So in other words, you like summer better than winter because you prefer to do sports outdoors.
Partner A: Yes, that is what I mean.
Definition: (verb) To paraphrase means to listen to someone’s ideas, keep track of what you hear, organize the ideas then describe what you heard in your own words.
In other words, paraphrase means to restate information after listening to what someone else has said. Change the original words someone used to show you understand what they said.
your turn - Ask you partner “what is your favorite season?” Then paraphrase what they say by using “So what you’re saying is… or In other words….
synonyms: reword, restate, summarize
evaluate
evaluate
Examples:
Based on the evidence that John brings fruit for snack every day I can figure out that he likes to eat healthy foods.
Based on the evidence that you love to ski, I can figure out your favorite season must be winter.
Definition: (verb) To evaluate means to judge the condition of something/someone in a careful and thoughtful manner.
In other words, evaluate means to make a decision or figure out something based on evidence.
your turn - Based on the evidence _______________, I can figure out ______________.
synonyms: decide, gauge, figure out
compare
compare
Example: The tiger is bigger than the cat and more ferocious. The cat is smaller than the tiger and has a longer tail.
Definition: (verb) To compare is to notice how two or more things are similar.
A comparison (noun) is what you find that is the same or about things.
In other words, to compare is to show how things are the same.
your turn - Take two books off the shelf. How are they the same?
How are they different?
Synonyms: analyze, examine
synthesize
synthesize
Example: After we studied all of the habitats we synthesized our information into a summary.
Definition: (verb) To synthesize means to remember, highlight and fit together ideas from conversations into a thought statement.
In other words, synthesize means to take paraphrased ideas and combine them into a shared conclusion. In other words, synthesize means to use your research or conversations to put ideas together.
your turn - “Summer is the best season” Do you agree or disagree? Talk with a partner. Share using the frame:
As a result of this conversation, we think….
synonyms: combine, blend, integrate, unify