Free Response Verbs

Question 1

a task that requires no more than a simple enumeration of some factors or characteristics.

Answer 1

List/Identify

Question 2

requires a student to provide a meaning for a word or concept.

Answer 2

Define

Question 3

involves providing a depiction or portrayal of a phenomenon or its most significant characteristics. Most often address “what?” questions.

Answer 3

Describe

Question 4

generally, require that students explore relationships between different concepts or phenomena.

Answer 4

Discuss

Question 5

involves the exploration of possible casual relationships.

Answer 5

Explain

Question 6

this task requires students to make specific links between two or more concepts.

Answer 6

Compare/Contrast

Question 7

involves considering how well something meets a certain standard and such generally requires a thesis.

Answer 7

Evaluate/Assess

Question 8

this task usually requires separating a phenomenon into its component parts or characteristics as a way of understanding the whole.

Answer 8

Analyze