1. 12 Powerful Words
Classroom Posters

2. 12 Powerful Words Help all students:
To better understand what each question means
To become familiar with words that require higher order thinking skills
To relieve test anxiety
To achieve better on tests

3. Trace
List Steps
Outline

4. ANALYZE
Break apart
Study pieces

5. Compare
Alike
All of the ways they are alike

6. Contrast
Different
All the ways they are different

7. Describe
Tell about
Tell ALL about

8. Evaluate
Judge
Tell the importance of in your own words

9. Explain
Tell how
Tell about it in your own words

10. Formulate
Put together
Create

11. Infer
Read between the lines
Make an educated guess

12. Predict
What will happen next?
Tell what you think might happen

13. Summarize
Sum it up
Give me the short version
“Text” it to me

14. Support
Give the facts
Back up with details

15. Works Cited
Bell, Larry I. 12 Powerful Words. Manassas, Virginia: Multicultural America, 2005.
“FCAT Power Words.” Sarasota Middle School. 5 Sept 2008 <