I&S : IB Command Terms

DESCRIBE

• Give a detailed account including reasons or causes.

• Break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure. (To identify parts and relationships, and interpret information to reach conclusions.)

• Give a detailed account or picture of a situation, event, pattern or process.

• Express precisely and systematically the relevant concept(s) or argument(s).

EXPLAIN

• Give a detailed account including reasons or causes.

• Offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or hypotheses. Opinions or conclusions should be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

• Consider the merits or otherwise of an argument or concept. Opinions and conclusions should be presented clearly and supported with appropriate evidence and sound argument.

• Give valid reasons or evidence to support an answer or conclusion.

ANALYSE

• Give a detailed account or picture of a situation, event, pattern or process.

• Offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or hypotheses. Opinions or conclusions should be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

• Consider the merits or otherwise of an argument or concept. Opinions and conclusions should be presented clearly and supported with appropriate evidence and sound argument.

• Break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure. (To identify parts and relationships, and interpret information to reach conclusions.)

EVALUATE

• Described the situation, event, pattern or process, you need to give reasons why they happened, or say what caused the situation, event, pattern or process.

• Offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or hypotheses.

• Results are presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

• Make an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations.

FORMULATE

• Give valid reasons or evidence to support an answer or conclusion.

• Express precisely and systematically the relevant concept(s) or argument(s).

• Give a detailed account or picture of a situation, event, pattern or process.

• Offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or hypotheses.

JUSTIFY

• Give a detailed account including reasons or causes.

• Give valid reasons or evidence to support an answer or conclusion.

• Break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure.

• Express precisely and systematically the relevant concept(s) or argument(s).

DISCUSS

• Consider the merits or otherwise of an argument or concept.

• Offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or hypotheses.

• Present opinions or conclusions clearly which is supported by appropriate evidence

• Evidence to support: Types of evidence can be statistical or data, quotes from experts, anecdotal, your own experiences, use of key ideas.

TO WHAT EXTENT

• Consider the merits or otherwise of an argument or concept. Opinions and conclusions should be presented clearly and supported with appropriate evidence and sound argument.

• Break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure.

• Give valid reasons or evidence to support an answer or conclusion.

• Give a detailed account or picture of a situation, event, pattern or process.