An A to Z of Edexcel GCSE Product Design Instruction Words

A to Z of Product Design Instruction Words

A

• Analyse
• Take apart an idea, concept or statement and examine and
• criticise its sub-parts in detail. You have to be methodical and
• logical.
• Assess
• Describe a topic’s positive and negative aspects and say
• how useful or successful it is, or consider its contribution to
• knowledge, events or processes (this is usually about how important
• something is).

C

• Criticise
• Point out a topic’s mistakes or weaknesses as well as its
• favourable aspects. Give a balanced answer (this will involve some
• analysis first).
• Compare
• Put items side by side to see their similarities and
• differences – a balanced (objective) answer is required.
• Contrast
• Emphasise the differences between two things.

D

• Define
• Give the meaning of an idea, either a dictionary definition or
• from an academic authority in your subject of study (technical
• definition).
• Describe
• Give details of processes, properties, events and so on.
• Discuss
• Describe, explain, give examples, points for and against, then
• analyse and evaluate the results.

E

• Evaluate
• Similar to discuss, but with more emphasis on a
• judgement in the conclusion.
• Examine
• Take apart and describe a concept in great detail.
• Explain
• Give detailed reasons for an idea, principle or result,
• situation, attitude and so on. You may need to give some analysis
• as well.

I

• Illustrate
• Give concrete examples – including figures or diagrams.
• Illustrate is usually added on to another instruction.
• Interpret
• Explain and comment on the subject and make a judgement
• (evaluation).

J

• Justify
• Give reasons to support a statement – it may be a
• negative statement, so be careful!

L

• List
• Provide an itemised series of parts, reasons or qualities,
• possibly in a table.

P

• Prove/disprove
• Provide evidence for or against and demonstrate logical
• argument and reasoning – you often have to do this for
• abstract or scientific subjects.

R

• Relate
• Emphasise the links, connections and associations, probably
• with some analysis.
• Review
• Analyse and comment briefly, in organised sequences –
• sentences, paragraphs or lists – on the main aspects of a
• subject.

S

• State
• Give the relevant points briefly – you don’t need
• to make a lengthy discussion or give minor details.
• Suggest
• Give possible reasons – analyse, interpret and evaluate.
• (This is also the verb most commonly used to quote another
• author.)
• Summarise or outline
• Just give the main points, not the details.

T

• Trace
• Give a brief description of the logical or chronological stages
• of the development of a theory, process, a person’s life and
• so on. Often used in historical questions.