Task Words - what you are trying to accomplish

TASK WORDS...are simply words that inform public speakers of what direction to take with particular good impromptu speech topics.


It's vital that you're familiar with a wide array of task words in order to convey the message and/or instructions that you're trying to get across.

 

ANALYSE → Look closely to a subject, argument, idea or topic, determine the essence of the components in detail and the relation to each other.
E.g. Examine closely a current social event you have learned about.

ARGUE → Present a systematic case built on reasons and evidence supporting or rejecting an idea, theory or proposition.

ASSESS → Decide the value, state positive and negative judgements, and conclude. (usually numeric by nature)

COMPARE → Show and discuss similar and different characteristics or qualities of two things.
E.g. Discuss the pros and cons of offline and online friendships.

CONTRAST → Emphasize differences of two things and give evidence to differentiate or distinguish their significance and consequences.

CRITICIZE → Give your judgment about merits and faults of an opinion, theory or statement, and support it with evidence.


DEFINE → Make clear what the precise meaning of a word, term, phrase or situation is and why this definition is necessary.
E.g. Give the exact meaning of of narcissism.

DESCRIBE → Present a detailed account of the features or characteristics. (usually containing some adjectives)

DISCUSS → Consider all pros and cons, and make claims on the evidence and arguments presented.

ENUMERATE → Mention separately steps and stages one by one.
E.g. Present the steps to simple life.

EVALUATE → Explain strong and weak aspects or opinions about the usefulness or utility and formulate a personal judgement.
E.g. The usefulness of diplomas and certifications.

EXPLAIN → Show clearly how something happens in detail and the reasons why.
E.g. Why sibling rivalry happens plus how.

ILLUSTRATE → Use examples, diagrams, figures and evidence to make a complex concept easily understood.

INTERPRET → Bring out the importance, meaning and implications of information data and state your personal judgement.

JUSTIFY → Defend adequate reasons and grounds for your decisions or conclusions, and support with good evidence.

OUTLINE → Provide the main points and principles in a logical order and name the relationship between each point.

PROVE → Demonstrate the truth or falsity with logical evidence and arguments.

REVIEW → Critically report the main facts, theories, issues of an event, and explain the importance

SUMMARIZE → Describe concisely the main points without examples or details.

TRACE → Identify and describe the stages, steps, phases, processes or the historical events and start from its origin.


Sources for this list:
Peterson, Jim A. (2007). How to Deal With Your Persuasive Speech Assignment.
Marshall, L and Rowland, F (2001). A Guide to Learning Independently.


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