know what it says, but what does it do?” “I Verbs that can be used to describe what a text does, whether you are articulating the project, the argument, or the claims. Verbs are also used to describe the ways evidence and strategies support claims and arguments. Acknowledges Debates Justifies Admits Deconstructs Maintains Advises Defends Observes Advocates Defines Outlines Amplifies Denies Parodies Analyzes Describes Points out Argues Disagrees Predicts (Constructs an) Discusses Problematizes Analogy Disputes Proposes Asserts Distinguishes (between) (Sets up a) Assumes Emphasizes parallel Attacks Establishes Qualifies Challenges Exaggerates Questions Claims Examines Rebuts Clarifies Exemplifies Refines Compares Explains Repeats Complicates Extends Reframes Concedes Forecasts Reports Concludes Faults Resolves Concurs (with) Frames Ridicules Contends Identifies Satirizes Contrasts Illustrates Stresses Contradicts Implies Suggests (Presents) Infers Summarizes Counterarguments Insists Supports (Presents) Introduces Synthesizes Counterexamples Investigates Theorizes Try to AVOID: thinks, believes, says, states, etc! Consider using the following construction: This paragraph [VERB] [IDEA] by [EXPLAIN HOW] . Also see They Say/ I Say for organized by use for when authors make claims, are in agreement, question or disagree, and when them make recommendations (see page 37). Paraphrasing
“I know what it says, but what does it do?” Verbs that can be used to describe what a text does, whether you are articulating the project, the argument, or the claims. Verbs are also used to describe the ways evidence and strategies support claims and arguments. Acknowledges Admits Advises Advocates Amplifies Analyzes Argues (Constructs an) Analogy Asserts Assumes Attacks Challenges Claims Clarifies Compares Complicates Concedes Concludes Concurs (with) Contends Contrasts Contradicts (Presents) Counterarguments (Presents) Counterexamples Debates Deconstructs Defends Defines Denies Describes Disagrees Discusses Disputes Distinguishes (between) Emphasizes Establishes Exaggerates Examines Exemplifies Explains Extends Forecasts Faults Frames Identifies Illustrates Implies Infers Insists Introduces Investigates Justifies Maintains Observes Outlines Parodies Points out Predicts Problematizes Proposes (Sets up a) parallel Qualifies Questions Rebuts Refines Repeats Reframes Reports Resolves Ridicules Satirizes Stresses Suggests Summarizes Supports Synthesizes Theorizes Try to AVOID: thinks, believes, says, states, etc! Consider using the following construction: This paragraph [VERB] [IDEA] by [EXPLAIN HOW] . Also see They Say/ I Say for organized by use for when authors make claims, are in agreement, question or disagree, and when them make recommendations (see page 37). Paraphrasing