Academic Vocabulary

School-wide focus2012-2013

affect

• To cause a change

• The story weather affected our plans to go swimming.

analysis

• A careful study of the parts of something in order to understand more about the whole

• The teacher’s analysis of the book helped the class understand

analyze

• To separate into parts for close study; examine and explain

• If we analyze the problem, perhaps we can solve it.

cite

• To use the words of someone else

• Max cited a website and news article when he wrote his report.

clarify

• To make easier to understand; make clear

• She drew a map to clarify the directions.

distinguish

• To tell apart by seeing differences

• The students had to distinguish the types of rocks in the science class by their shape and color.

effect

• Something that happens because of something else

• The medicine had a positive effect; my sore throat is gone!

evidence

• Something that gives proof or a reason to believe something

• The police searched for fingerprints to use as evidence.

illustrate

• To provide pictures to go along with written material.

• Susie wanted to illustrate the story he wrote with pictures of important characters.

infer

• To make a guess based on facts and observations; conclude.

• When I saw all the books on Mark’s shelf, I could infer that he loved to read mysteries.