Clue Words For Kids
Mr. McPherson
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Clue Words For KidsMr. McPherson |
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| Clue Word | Action Required |
| Analyze: | Means to find the main ideas and show how they are related and why they are important. |
| Comment On: | Means to discuss, criticize, or explain its meaning as completely as possible. |
| Compare: | Means to show both similarities and differences. |
| Contrast: | Means to compare by showing the differences only. |
| Criticize: | Means to give your judgement or reasoned opinion of something, showing its good and bad points--it's 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 memorized 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 you label it and add a brief explanation in which you look at the important parts and criticize where necessary. |
| Discuss: | Means to describe giving the details and explaining the pros and cons. |
| Enumerate: | Means to list. Name and list the main ideas one by one. Number them. |
| Evaluate: | Means to give your opinion or some expert's opinion of the truth or importance of the concept. Tell the advantages or 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 or conclusion. |
| List: | Means to produce a numbered list of words, sentences, or comments. Same as enumerate. |
| Outline: | Means to give a general summary. It should contain a series of main ideas supported by secondary ideas. it's not necessary to attack it. Omit minor details and show the organization of the ideas. |
| Prove: | Means to show by argument or logic that it is true. The word prove has a very special meaning in philosophy, physics, and mathematics. |
| Relate: | Means to show the connections between things, telling how one causes or is like another. |
| Review: | Means to give a survey or summary if it is needed. |
| State: | Means to describe the main points in precise terms. Be formal. Use brief, clear sentences. |
| Summarize: | Means to give a brief condensed account of the main ideas. Omit details and examples. |
| Trace: | Means to follow the progress or history of the subject. |
The list is too long for most students to memorize, but try to remember the seven most often used clue words: contrast, compare, criticize, define, describe, discuss, list.