Terms and Definitions Examples

Account for: asks students to explain an outcome using reasonable evidence and present a reasoned case for the existence of something

Analyze: asks students to interpret information to reach conclusions. This includes relevant relationships between variables and the significance of the information.

Assess: asks students to measure the quality of an argument or concept. Argument must use evidence.

Calculate: asks for the precise answer to a problem

Compare and contrast: asks students to describe two things and present both the similarities and differences between them.

Construct: asks students to make a table or graph. (tabular= table form) (diagrammatic= graph/diagram)

Define: asks for a clear and precise meaning of a word or term

Describe: asks for a detailed picture of a given situation, does not come to a conclusion but is able to be followed by analysis

Discuss/consider: asks for consider a statement and offer a range of arguments, the student’s opinion, and support with evidence

Distinguish: asks for a clear distinction between terms

Evaluate: asks candidate to estimate the value of the investigation by examining the evidence, discussing the convincing aspects, and stating implications and limitations

Examine: asks for an investigation of an argument and to present analysis in a critical and detailed way

Explain: give a clear account including causes, reasons or mechanisms

Identify: recognize component parts or processes

Outline: asks for a brief summary of major aspects of the issue

To what extent: asks to evaluate the success of one concept over another and present a conclusion supported by evidence


Examples
Account for:
Question: Account for the change in data over the last few years
Answer: based on the data I found that Spiffy Sprockets have increased in profit by 15% because they have better sales team management

Analyze:
This is an example of analyzing the function of a keyboard
The keyboard assists the person communicating with the computer, it is a key component of the computer as a whole, and without it the average computer would be difficult to operate.

Assess:
Q: Assess the following statement: everybody should eat only purple candies
A: Based on documents purple candies have less sugar than all other candies. Because purple candies have less sugar they are healthier than other candies. Although eating no candies would be the ultimate solution, it is unreasonable and because of their qualities purple candies are the best choice.

Calculate:
Q: calculate 2+2
A: 4

Compare and contrast:
Q: Compare and contrast an apple and a pear
A: Some similarities between apples and pears are one, they are both fruit, two, they are both sweet, and three they both have a layer of skin that can be eaten or peeled off.
Some differences between apples and pears are one, pears are longer than apples and apples are round where pears have two round parts. Two, apples are crunchier than pears.

Define:
Q: Define tabular
A: Tabular is when data is presented in table form.

Describe:
Q: Describe the arrangement of keys on a key board
A: The keys with letters take up most of the space on the keyboard, on the far right there are numbered keys, and do the left of those are a section of command keys. The keys are organized in rows. The keys on the outer edges of the letter keys are larger.

Discuss/consider:
Q: Discuss the following sentence: Students would benefit from having less school in the day.
A: I agree with this sentence because students have a lot of stress and the students who have sports after school don’t have much time to do their homework. So homework cuts into sleep time and if students don’t get enough sleep they do poorly in school. So having less school would allow students to get more sleep and perform better.

Distinguish:
Q: Distinguish the difference between a football and a basketball.
A: A football is ovular and a basketball is round.

Evaluate:
Q: Read the excerpt provided and evaluate it
A: The excerpt presents information about the complications of hustle and bustle. The article says hustle and bustle usually happens in large cities because of the large amount of people. The article is limited though, because the author has not talked about small cities and their amount of hustle and bustle occurring within.

Examine:
Q: Look at the dynamic of driving to school opposed to taking the bus.
A: If a student were to drive to school they usually are only taking themselves and therefore polluting the environment because if five people drive their separate cars, that’s five times the emission as if they all took the bus. On the other hand if students all take the bus they don’t have the freedom they would have if they took a car. For example stopping for a coffee or for a sandwich for lunch. Considering this information one must weigh the effects of each, on the long term taking the bus will help the environment and the next generations. On the short term the person who drives a car has a lunch for the day. An ultimate solution would be carpooling and then the person has the freedom to take everyone in the car to lunch and cut down on emissions.

Explain:
Q: Explain the relationship between a mouse and a computer.
A: A mouse is necessary to the function of a computer because one must use it to open and close windows and navigate around the screen.

Identify:
Q: Identify the component of the computer that reads CDs.
A: The CD ROM reads CDs by running a laser over the surface which picks up small groves and translates them into useable information.

Outline:
Q: Outline a life plan
A:1. Go to school
--This includes elementary, middle, and high school. During this time one must learn basic values and skills that will be the foundation for the rest of their life.
2. Go to a good college
--Be sure to pick a major that is interesting and will get you into a good job.
3. Get married
--Pick a spouse that will has your values and that you get along with well.
4. Get a job
--Pick a job that makes you happy and that you can live with for a long time.
5. Have children
--Teach the children values and be a loving parent.
6. Retire
--Do useful things with your time, such as community service.