Command word
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Definition
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Guidance
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Analyse
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Examine elements in detail
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- Select relevant information
- Separate information into components
- Identify their characteristics
- Determine how they relate to overall structure
- Make links between different sources of information
- Use logical thinking to identify cause and effect
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Apply
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Use a procedure in a given situation
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- Choose appropriate actions
- Demonstrate effectiveness
- Use technical terms
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Appraise
|
See definition for ‘Assess’
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See guidance for ‘Assess’
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Assess
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Make an informed judgement
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- Consider all the factors or events that apply
- Identify which are the most important or relevant
- Recognise evidence
- Apply systematic thinking
- Make a decision about the quality, value or importance
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Compare
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Identify similarities and differences
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- Identify and explain the similarities between two or
more concepts, theories or approaches
- Identify and explain the differences between those
concepts, theories or approaches
- Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the
concepts or theories in your answer
|
Critically
|
Identify similarities and differences
|
- Identify and explain the similarities between two or
more concepts, theories or approaches
- Identify and explain the differences between those
concepts, theories or approaches
- Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the
concepts or theories in your answer
|
Define
|
Often occurs before another command word, for example ‘Analyse’, ‘Assess’ or ‘Evaluate’ inviting a more in- depth examination of an issue from the point of view of a critic
|
- Look for more depth
- Use supporting details
- Apply the theory
- Focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the points of
view being expressed
- Challenge conventional thinking
|
Describe
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Give a detailed account of something
|
- Set out characteristics
- Use developed statements
- Make links between them
- Do not need to include a justification or explanation
|
Describe the process
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Give the steps of the process
|
See guidance for 'Describe'
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Describe the effect
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Write about what has changed/happened because of the event
|
See guidance for 'Describe'
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Discuss
|
Present key points
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- Identify different ideas or strengths and weaknesses of an idea
- Explore them by making links
- Take into account different opinions (where
appropriate)
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Evaluate
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Judge from available evidence
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- Review information in the question
- Consider several options, ideas or arguments
- Take into account different factors (when it may or may
not apply)
- Use available knowledge / experience / evidence
- Make a supported, evidence-based judgement
|
Examine
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Investigate closely
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- Consider carefully the indicated topic
- Establish the key facts and important issues
- Provide a detailed account
- Include cause and effect in the points that you make
- Provide examples and evidence to support your points
|
Explain
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Set out the causes of something and/or the factors which influence it
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- State the point clearly
- Develop it to address the question
- Include some element of reasoning/justification
- Use examples to support the understanding
|
Explain why/reasons for/consequences of
|
Give the cause of/rationale for something
|
See guidance for 'Explain'
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Explain how
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Give the steps, clarify what are the relationships between those steps
|
See guidance for 'Explain'
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Identify
|
Name or otherwise characterise
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- Provide brief facts or examples
- Include only key information
- Do not need to write in a lot of detail
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Illustrate
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Make clear by using examples
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- State the point clearly
- Develop it to address the question
- Incorporate relevant concepts and examples
- Ensure that your illustration relates to the specific
information in the case or context provided
|
Justify
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Give evidence to support an answer
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- Present a reasoned case
- Use supporting evidence from theory and practice to explain why something should happen in a particular
way.
- Discuss and discount alternative views or actions
- Analyse positives and negatives for each of the options
available
- To justify a recommendation, the positives have to
outweigh the negatives
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Recommend
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Offer a possible action or plan
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- Apply your knowledge to a situation
- Provide recommendations
- Explain why the recommendation should be considered
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Review
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Describe main features and assess them
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- Survey information, methods, outcomes, conclusions
- Decide what is effective or not
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Outline
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Provide a brief account of relevant information
|
- Give main features or general principles, ignoring minor
details
- Provide a description setting out the main
characteristics / points
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Propose
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Offer a possible plan or action
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- Apply your knowledge to a situation
- Provide a plan/action based on given criteria
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