Keyword |
Writing Goal |
What does it mean? |
Similarities, Differences |
Compare and/or contrast |
Look for similar and dissimilar ideas in your material. Why is each point important? What do these similarities and differences tell you about the subject’s ideas? |
Evaluate |
Rate or make a judgment |
Use evidence and logic to prove whether your subject or material is strong or weak, valuable or invaluable, significant or insignificant. How does this evaluation change one’s understanding? |
Summarize |
Describe, Explain |
Write about the most important aspects of the topic. Optional: give background information, content information, and analysis as necessary. |
Discuss |
Provide an extended description, explanation or analysis, including illustrations or details |
Your prompt is asking you to observe, unpack, and talk about a certain topic or aspect of the topic. Begin by deciding how you will approach the topic, or what exactly you want to say about the topic. Once you have your "angle," focus your argument on validating this angle while still keeping other opinions in the mix as counterarguments. |
Interpret |
Decode, decipher, convey the meaning of |
Translate what something means. What do you understand the material’s message to be? What details helped you come to that conclusion? Why is it important to understand it in that way? |
Argue |
Persuade, convince |
Take a stance towards an issue and write to convince your audience of your viewpoint. |
Analyze |
Examine, Think critically |
Critically consider the material by looking closely at all elements of the text you are writing about. Provide a detailed discussion of the material. This might be where a professional and logical critique comes into your writing. |
Reflect |
Connect to personal experience |
Write about the material and connect it back to a personal experience so that a general audience can relate and understand. |