GCSE 'Buzzwords' Explained

Throughout GCSE English there are lots of terms or ‘buzz words’ that get thrown about. But what do they mean? Let’s break them down.

Analyse

Break something down into its separate parts to understand how it is structured, what it is, how it works. Look at something to understand what it is about. 

Argue

Provide reasons or evidence to support or oppose something. Persuade another person through reasoning and/ or evidence. 

Compare/ Contrast

Identify similarities and/ or differences between two or more texts to understand how they are alike, equal, or opposite to each other. 

Describe

Report on what you observe in a text in order to tell others about how it is structured, written, and what effect it has on the reader. 

Evaluate

Determine the importance or effectiveness of a text to understand if it matters or means something else. What is good and/ or bad about a text and does that affect its importance?

Explain 

Teach me or show me how a character or theme is used in a text. Tell me where it is seen throughout the text.

Interpret (conclude/ infer/ translate)

Draw from a text a meaning or significance. Make inferences or ‘read between the lines’ at what is not obvious when reading the text. Draw conclusions on what the text might mean. 

Summarise (outline/ paraphrase/ report)

Retell the essential details of a text (or part of text), to better understand and remember it. Outline key details in easy-to-understand language. 

Support (cite/ justify/ maintain)

Offer evidence (quotes and/ or historical context) to bolster your argument or conclusion. Cite those sources of information (act and scene? chapter?) to justify your position. 

These 'buzzwords' may seem confusing but understanding what these words mean will help in understanding what an exam question is asking you to do, helping you achieve exam success. For more guidance about the GCSE exams, have a look at TWB's free Guide for Parents: Navigating GCSE English Literature and Language.