Test-Taking Vocabulary

Power Words• 12 Power Words• Trace - outline, list the steps• Analyze - break apart, study the pieces• Infer - read between the lines• Evaluate - judge, give value• Formulate - put together, create• Describe - tell about, 5W’s and the H• Support - back-up with details, give reasons• Explain - tell how, tell a story• Summarize - sum it up, give the main points• Compare - like• Contrast - different• Predict - make a guess, what will happen next

Trace: Show the order of events or progress of a subject or

event.

Trace?

Trace: Show the order of events, outline, list the steps.

Analyze: Break into

separate parts and discuss, examine, or

interpret each part.

Analyze?

Analyze: Break into

separate parts and study the

pieces.

Infer: Read between the

lines.

Infer:

Infer: Read between the

lines.

Evaluate: Give your opinion or cite the opinion

of an expert. Include evidence to

support the evaluation.

Evaluate?

Evaluate: Judge, determine

the value.

Formulate: Put together,

create.

Formulate?

Formulate: Put together,

create.

Describe: Give a detailed account. Make a picture with words. List

characteristics, qualities, and

parts.

Describe?

Describe: Tell about, the five W’s and the

H.

Support: Use evidence from the selection to

prove your answer.

Support?

Support: Back up with details, give

reasons.

Explain: Make an idea clear. Show

logically how a concept is

developed. Give the reasons for an

event.

Explain?

Explain: Tell how, tell a

story.

Summarize: Give a brief,

condensed account. Include

conclusions. Avoid unnecessary details.

Summarize?

Summarize: Some up, give the

main points.

Compare: Examine two or more things.

Identify similarities and differences.

Compare?

Compare: Identify

similarities and differences.

Contrast: Show differences.

Set in opposition.

Contrast?

Contrast: Show differences.

Predict: Use information

from the literature to

guess what will happen.

Predict?

Predict: Make a guess;

what will happen.

Power Words• 12 Power Words• Trace - outline, list the steps• Analyze - break apart, study the pieces• Infer - read between the lines• Evaluate - judge, give value• Formulate - put together, create• Describe - tell about, 5W’s and the H• Support - back-up with details, give reasons• Explain - tell how, tell a story• Summarize - sum it up, give the main points• Compare - like• Contrast - different• Predict - make a guess, what will happen next

Power Words• 12 Power Words1. Trace - 2. Analyze -3. Infer - 4. Evaluate - 5. Formulate -6. Describe - 7. Support -8. Explain -9. Summarize -10. Compare -11. Contrast -12. Predict -

Power Words• 12 Power Words• Trace - outline, list the steps• Analyze - break apart, study the pieces• Infer - read between the lines• Evaluate - judge, give value• Formulate - put together, create• Describe - tell about, 5W’s and the H• Support - back-up with details, give reasons• Explain - tell how, tell a story• Summarize - sum it up, give the main points• Compare - like• Contrast - different• Predict - make a guess, what will happen next

Power Words

• Purpose: A) Establish a school wide vocabulary aimed at improving test scores. B) Give students a visual memory key for each power word (12 words matrix).