A-List Words, why are they important?

Analyze – break something down methodically into its parts to understand how it is made, what it is, how it works; look at something critically in order to grasp its essence

Today we are going to analyze your current grades. We are going to look at your grades and break the overall grade apart to discover what parts are effecting the overall grade. What needs to be improved? How do you improve the parts that need improving? Questions that might be helpful include:

1. How are your test scores?
   1. Do you know the material?
   2. Are you studying before the test?
   3. Are you asking for help when you need it?
2. How are your writing scores?
   1. Are you using your in class writing time?
   2. Are you applying the vocabulary and grammar lessons you have had this year?
   3. Do you know what kind of writing you are being asked to do on each assignment?
   4. Are you using all five steps of the writing process?
3. How are you doing on the weekly WSQ’s?
   1. Have you downloaded the form?
   2. Are you following the directions on the form?
   3. Are you thinking about the lesson as you complete the form?
   4. Do your questions have examples?
4. Are you missing assignments?
   1. Is it because you don’t know how to do the assignment?
   2. Is it because you don’t know how to turn in the assignment?
   3. When you miss a day of school, are you making up the work in a timely fashion?
   4. Is it simply because you aren’t trying?
5. Are you using your class time effectively?
6. Have you taken any time outside of class (before or after school, or during AL) to talk to Mrs. Scales about what you need help with?

Our A-List vocabulary is important because each word helps you understand what you are being asked to do, and how to do it more effectively and on target. Understanding the questions and what they are actually asking you to do is the first step in answering them well. Today we are analyzing your grades, later this week you will be analyzing passages you read and the character development of two more characters in The Metamorphosis. You will need to use several of the A-List words we have covered recently to complete the upcoming tasks: Evaluate, Compare / Contrast, Imagine, Develop, Support, Argue, and Analyze.