Critical Verbs - Common Core Vocabulary

Below is a list of critical verbs students must comprehend for the Common Core State Standards K-12.

Analyze
Articulate
Cite
Compare
Comprehend
Contrast
Delineate
Demonstrate
Describe
Determine
Develop
Distinguish
Draw
Evaluate
Explain
Identify
Infer
Integrate
Interpret
Locate
Organize
Paraphrase
Refer
Retell
Suggest
Support
Summarize
Synthesize
Trace

Verb Definitions

1. analyze - the act of separating a whole into parts in
   order to understand that whole. (Any analysis of a literary work requires
   that the writer understand the intention (i.e., the theme) of the work and
   how that theme is revealed in the course of the work.)
2. articulate - able to express oneself clearly and well
3. cite - to quote by way of example, authority, or proof
4. compare - to examine the character or qualities of especially
   in order to discover resemblances or differences.
5. comprehend - to grasp the nature, significance, or meaning
   of; to understand.
6. contrast - compare or appraise in respect to differences
7. delineate - to describe, portray, or set forth with accuracy or in detail
   (delineate a character in the story) or (delineate the steps to be taken by
   the government)
8. demonstrate -to prove or make clear by reasoning or evidence; to illustrate
   and explain especially with many examples
9. describe - to represent or give an account of in words
10. determine - to find out or come to a decision about by investigation, reasoning,
    or calculation (determine the answer to the problem)
11. develop - to set forth or make clear by degrees or in detail : expound (as
    in, develop a thesis)
12. distinguish - to notice or recognize a difference between people or things
13. draw - to infer from evidence or premises or to produce a likeness or representation
    of by making lines on a surface
14. evaluate - to determine the significance, worth, or condition of usually
    by careful appraisal and study
15. explain - to make plain or understandable or to show the logical development
    or relationships of
16. identify - to show who someone is or what something is
17. infer - to derive as a conclusion from facts or premises (we see smoke and
    infer fire)
18. integrate - to combine (two or more things) to form or create something
19. interpret - to explain or tell the meaning of : present in understandable
    terms
20. locate - to find the place or position of (something or someone)
21. organize - to form into a coherent unity or functioning whole (trying to
    organize her thoughts)
22. paraphrase - a statement that says something that another person has said
    or written in a different way
23. refer - to look at or in (something) for information
24. retell - to tell again or in another form
25. suggest - to offer for consideration or as a hypothesis or to call forth
    : evoke
26. support - to promote the interests or cause of; to uphold or defend as valid
    or right
27. summarize - to tell (information) again using fewer words
28. synthesize - Includes: (1) It accurately reports information from the sources
    using different phrases and sentences; (2) It is organized in such a way that
    readers can immediately see where the information from the sources overlap;.
    (3) It makes sense of the sources and helps the reader understand them in
    greater depth.
29. trace - to discover by going backward over the evidence step by step