Command Terms for Improving Literacy

Command terms are words and phrases that direct a question in a certain direction. In order to help students respond to questions in a more detailed and concise manner, understanding what command terms are would greatly assist in this. 

Here are two common command terms used in Years 7-12. 

Define: 

To provide meaning or identify essential qualities of a word, phrase, concept within a question given 

Identify: 

To recognise key features in a word, phrase or concept within a question. This could be an event, ingredient, element, object or person which could come from something like a list, extended narrative, argument, diagrams or artwork.