Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 234 views

    Essay Writing Lexicon

    Uploaded by

    Zewen Wang
    This document provides definitions and explanations of common command words used in essay writing prompts and questions. It lists and defines 14 different command words, including: define, identify, outline, describe, summarize, explain, compare/contrast, agree/disagree, analyze, evaluate, support/refute, justify, significance, and assess. The document also lists and defines common transition words and phrases used in essays to connect ideas and paragraphs, organized into categories of addition, time, space, change of direction, illustration, causation, comparison, and contrast.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Essay Writing Lexicon

    Uploaded by

    Zewen Wang
    234 views3 pages
    This document provides definitions and explanations of common command words used in essay writing prompts and questions. It lists and defines 14 different command words, including: define, identify, outline, describe, summarize, explain, compare/contrast, agree/disagree, analyze, evaluate, support/refute, justify, significance, and assess. The document also lists and defines common transition words and phrases used in essays to connect ideas and paragraphs, organized into categories of addition, time, space, change of direction, illustration, causation, comparison, and contrast.

    Original Description:

    Lexicon for essays

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    This document provides definitions and explanations of common command words used in essay writing prompts and questions. It lists and defines 14 different command words, including: define, identify, outline, describe, summarize, explain, compare/contrast, agree/disagree, analyze, evaluate, support/refute, justify, significance, and assess. The document also lists and defines common transition words and phrases used in essays to connect ideas and paragraphs, organized into categories of addition, time, space, change of direction, illustration, causation, comparison, and contrast.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    234 views3 pages

    Essay Writing Lexicon

    Uploaded by

    Zewen Wang
    This document provides definitions and explanations of common command words used in essay writing prompts and questions. It lists and defines 14 different command words, including: define, identify, outline, describe, summarize, explain, compare/contrast, agree/disagree, analyze, evaluate, support/refute, justify, significance, and assess. The document also lists and defines common transition words and phrases used in essays to connect ideas and paragraphs, organized into categories of addition, time, space, change of direction, illustration, causation, comparison, and contrast.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 3

    ESSAY WRITING

    Command
    List

    Define

    Identify

    Outline
    Describe

    Summarize
    Explain

    Compare,
    contrast, and
    compare/contrast
    Agree or disagree

    Analyze
    Evaluate

    Support or refute

    Justify

    Command Word Lexicon


    Meaning
    Provide a list of events, features, names or concepts
    etc. relevant to the topic. No sequencing, ranking or
    evaluation is required.
    Give both the literal meaning of the term or topic and
    the implied meaning or connotation. Set it in the
    context of its time. Mere tautology such as The
    Reformation was when the church was reformed is
    inadequate.
    Similar to define. Make clear the nature of
    something, and what makes it different from other,
    similar things.
    Summarize briefly the main elements of the topic.
    Make clear the relevant features of the topic. If the
    topic is a process such as a revolution, this can be very
    similar to narrative. If the topic is something with many
    facets, such as a strategy, then the task is more like
    analysis.
    Recount, within the time and space available, the
    salient features of the topic.
    The nature of this command depends on the topic to be
    explained. More often than not, it is a variation on the
    question why? E.g. Explain the motives of the
    conquistadors implies saying why they did what they
    did.
    Show the degree of similarity or dissimilarity between
    things. Neither compare nor contrast can be done
    without looking at its opposite. Compare implies
    contrast, and vice versa.
    A one-sided command. Support or refute something
    with logic and evidence. It does not require that you do
    both.
    Break down into its component parts using some
    system of categorization.
    Pass judgment on the worth of something, supported
    by logic and evidence. It does not require that you do
    both.
    Like agree/disagree, this is a one-sided command.
    Either make arguments in support of a position or
    arguments against it, but not both.
    Give arguments for why a particular course of action

    Give the
    significance of
    To what extent

    Assess

    was the right thing to do. Cannot be done fully without


    looking at the other side (why it isnt).
    A variation on evaluate relating strictly to the
    question of importance. The standards by which
    importance is judged must be explained.
    Determine the degree to which something may be true
    or untrue. This command strongly implies that there
    are arguments on both sides, a large extent and a
    small extent.
    Judge the merit, or lack of it, of some claim, course of
    action or concept. Requires that both sides be
    examined.

    ESSAY WRITING
    Transition Words and Phrases
    Addition
    - And, in the first place, firstly, second, the third reason, also, next,
    another, in addition, too, moreover, further, furthermore, finally, last of
    all, last, lastly, as well, besides.
    Time
    - First, then, next, after, as, before, while, meanwhile, now, during,
    finally, in the short term, medium term, long term.
    Space
    - Next to, across, on the opposite side, to the left, to the right, behind, in
    front, above, below, behind, nearby.
    Change of direction
    - But, however, yet, in contrast, by contrast, otherwise, still, on the
    contrary, on the other hand, as opposed to, conversely, in rebuttal
    Illustration
    - For example, for instance, specifically, as an illustration, once, such as,
    in particular, in other words.
    Causation
    - Because, therefore, hence, consequently, as a result, in this way,
    hence, in consequence, for these reasons
    Comparison

    Similarly, in the same manner, likewise, by analogy, for the purposes of


    comparison, in the same way, equally important.

    Contrast
    - On the other hand, by contrast, however
    Conclusion
    - Therefore, consequently, thus, then, as a result, in summary, to
    conclude, in conclusion, last of all, finally, lastly.

    You might also like