12 Power Words
From Larry Bell’s work
12 Power Words
• Trace: • Analyze:
– Outline – Break it into parts
– List in steps – Tell about the parts
– Follow the path
12 Power Words
• Infer: • Evaluate:
– Read between the – Judge it
lines – Tell the good and the
– What is the hidden bad
meaning
12 Power Words
• Formulate: • Describe:
– Create – Tell about
– Put together – Paint a picture with
words
12 Power Words
• Support: • Explain:
– Back it up or prove it – Teach me or show
with details me, tell me the steps
12 Power Words
• Summarize: • Compare:
– Tell the main idea – Similar
– Tell the beginning, – same
middle, and end
12 Power Words
• Contrast: • Predict:
– Different – What will happen
next?
Extended Response Questions
1. Do you think Germany was to blame for
World War I? Explain why or why not
To answer this question, we need to find the
power word.
In this case, our power word is…
EXPLAIN
Tell me why or why not you think Germany
was to blame for World War I?
Extended Response Questions
2. List three possible negative effects of the
terms of the peace reached after World
War I (be specific)?
What is our power word?
LIST = give or identify
Give three specific negative effects of the
terms of the peace reached after World
War I?
Extended Response Questions
3. How might Germany have prevented
World War I?
or (reword the question)
Tell me how Germany might have prevented
World War I?
Extended Response Questions
4. How did the machine gun change the
nature of fighting?
or (reword the question)
Tell me why the machine gun changed the
nature of fighting?