Brigidine College

Core Curriculum Elements

Meanings of keywords

 

 

KEYWORDS

MEANINGS

Account for

give reason for

Analyse

to examine critically

Approximate

make an educated guess in context with the information given

Argue

to give reasons for or against something

Assess

to estimate the value of something

Calculate

work out an accurate response/result, as normally used in mathematics

Classify

to arrange items, quantities or objects into groups with similar characteristics

Comment on

present your opinion

Compare

to note the similarities or differences

Contrast

to compare by showing differences

Criticize

to make judgments as to merits or faults

Cycle

Highlight or emphasise differences

Define

to describe the nature or properties of

Demonstrate

to explain a process; to prove or show to be true

Derive

present a logical sequence of steps to arrive at an expression, equation or result

Describe

to give a picture or account of something

Determine

arrive at an answer, show required steps or strategies; calculate the facts about a problem

Diagram

a drawing or sketch used to explain a process, a cycle, a concept or an idea

Discuss

to argue for and against

Draw

(cf.sketch)

depict an object, idea or system pictorially, as in a clearly defined, illustration, diagram or flowchart

Estimate

to calculate an amount or quantity approximately

Evaluate

to judge or estimate the value of

Examine

to inspect, investigate carefully or in detail

Give an example

a problem or exercise used to illustrate a general principle or set of rules

Explain

to make clear, make known in detail; give reasons

Expound

Present a clear and convincing argument/explanation for a definite and detailed opinion

Express

tTo give a clearly stated and definite response in the requested format, e.g. express as a decimal (as normally used in mathematics)

Extend

enlarge upon given response, supplying further details

Extrapolate

use give data or information to project a future outcome, e.g. using current

Find

Arrive at an answer by your own strategy, unless otherwise specified

Hypothesis

a suggestion or statement offered as an explanation or starting point for discussion       

Flowchart

 a diagram showing he step-by-step operation of a system.

Generalise

 to infer (a general principle, etc.) from facts

Identity

to prove or recognise as being a certain thing

Illustrate

to make clear or explain

Indicate

to state briefly, to show or make know

Interpret

to give an explanation

Investigate

to examine or search into thoroughly, especially to discover facts, causes etc.

Justify

to show a satisfactory reason or excuse for something done

List

to set down together in a list

Outline

give a summary or account of

Plot

 

Present

 

Prove

 

Quote

 

Rank

 

Refer

 

Show

 

Sketch

 

State

 

Substitute

 

Suggest

 

Summarise

to make a short clear statement of the important details

Transcribe

 

Verify

 

 

Heinemann Australian student dictionary, 6th ed. (1999) Heinemann Educational Australia, Port Melbourne, Vic.

The Macquarie Dictionary (1981) Macquarie Library, St. Leonards, N.S.W.