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.