CSAP Words

Language Arts

ad – Short for advertisement. A newspaper, radio, or TV ad will try to sell you a product or service.
analyze – When you analyze something, you break it down into it’s parts in order to improve your understanding.
antonym – An antonym is a word that means the opposite.
assessment – A quiz or test or other indicator that measures a student’s knowledge.
bubble – A small circle on a computer form test that the student will fill in to answer multiple-choice questions.
capitalization – To write an upper case letter for words at the beginning of sentences and for names, places as in Mr. Juan Montoya lived in Denver, Colorado.
clarify – To clarify is to make something more clear or understandable.
compare – When you compare two things, you say what they have in common.
content – The subject matter of a book or any writing. What the writing is about.
contrast – To contrast is to say what is the difference between two items.
conventions – The accepted or proper way to write text correctly. Included is capitalization and punctuation. Also called mechanics below.
correction – To fix an error in writing.
demonstrate – To demonstrate means to show clearly or make clear by evidence.
differentiate – To differentiate is to say what is different or unique.
distinguish – To distinguish means to recognize by some mark or special characteristic.
edit – To edit is to make corrections. The teacher asked the students to edit the their papers.
examine – To examine is to look at something more thoroughly.
figurative – Using metaphors, similes, or symbols when speaking or writing. He worked like a dog in an example.
grammar – The rules of how words form sentences and language. Grammar includes rules for punctuation, capitalization, order of words in a sentence, and what is the correct way to write or say a sentence.
icon – A picture symbol that represents something. For example, on a test a picture of a stop sign may indicate that you are to stop working, put down your pencil, and turn your test over.
illustrate – To illustrate is to draw a picture either literally or verbally. To illustrate often means to give examples.
interpret – To interpret is to say what something means in your own words.
long-constructed response – A long-constructed response is like an essay and contains more than one paragraph.
mechanics - The accepted or proper way to write text correctly. Included is capitalization and punctuation. Also called conventions above.
metaphor – A metaphor is when you compare one item with another (without the word as). An example metaphor would be, “The wind is a boxer punching at my face.”
multiple-choice –A question on a test that can have more than one answer, usually indicated with a letter (A, B, C, D) before each possibility. The student fills in the bubble to the right of the correct answer.
onomatopoeia – Onomatopoeia is when words sound like the object they represent such as the water splashing, a bee buzzing, or a snake hissing.
organization – Order or structure. In reference to writing, organization is the order of words in a sentence or paragraph. Transition words such as first, second, third, and finally at the beginning of each sentence help organize a paragraph.
paraphrase – To paraphrase is to say something in your own words.
personification – Personification is when you give human characteristics to an inanimate object.
phrase – A phrase is a portion of a sentence.
poem – A poem can be rhyming or not and is usually rhythmic and made of short lines.
prompt – A prompt is a question on a test that requires a written response.
proof – A proof is when you give reasons for your answer.
proofread – To go over text and make corrections.
punctuation – The marks in writing that indicate the end of a sentence (period, exclamation mark, question mark), or portions of a sentence (comma, quotation marks, colons).
relate – To relate is to draw a connection.
revise – To revise is to make changes to a draft, usually more substantial than editing.
short-constructed response – A short-constructed response includes the question and is usually in a paragraph form.
simile – A simile is when you use like or as to compare one thing with another. The sunset was like a colorful butterfly floating slowly down the sky.
spelling – To write letters in the correct order to make a word.
stanza –A group of lines within a poem or song.
style
summarize –To briefly write the main points.
synonym – A word is a synonym to another word when it means the same or nearly the same thing.
topic – The subject of a written passage or speech.
underline – Draw a line under text. This is often used for names of books.
usage – How you say or write something. The custom of how words or phrases used can change over time. For example, the usage of the word “gay” has gone from meaning happy to describing homosexual. In students today, I’ve heard the word being used to describe an activity that is dumb or not cool.

Math

area – The surface or amount of space inside of a shape.
average – The sum of a series of numbers divided by the number of items in the list. For example, the average of 2,2,2,3,4,4,18 is 5.
axis – The vertical or horizontal line generally on the left or bottom edge of a graph where quantities are indicated.
circumference – The outside or boundary line of a circle.
compute – To calculate or find the result.
diameter – The line that splits a circle into two equal pieces. This line goes through the center of a circle and connects two opposite sides on the circumference.
equation – A statement in mathematics that uses symbols. For example, 2+3=5 or x - y=5 are equations.
fraction – One number divided by another number as in ½.
grid – A pattern of horizontal and vertical lines that cross each other to form small squares. This is often used to draw graphs.
measure – To determine the quantity or size of an object.
mode – The number that occurs most frequently in a series or range of numbers. For example, the mode of 2,2,2,3,4,4,18 is 2.
perimeter – The line around the outside of a shape. For example, the perimeter of a circle is its circumference.
probability – The likelihood or chance that something will happen.
proportion – How parts or quantities compare to each other. Usually there are two ratios that are compared to each other. For example, 4/5 = 8/10.
radius – The line from the center of a circle to the outside edge or circumference.
range median – The middle of a set of numbers. For example, the median of 2,2,2,3,4,4,18 is 3.
ratio – One quantity divided by another. The ratio of 4/5 is also written as 4:5.
segment – A portion or piece of a line.
spatial – Relating to space or where things are located.
sum – To add up or the result of adding up a series of numbers. The sum of 2+3+4+5 is 14.
tabulate – To put or organize items in a table.

Science

adaptation – In biology this is the change in behavior or structure in an animal or plant in response to its environment.
cell – The basic building block of life. This is the smallest unit of life capable of functioning on it’s own.
control group – In a scientific experiment, you do not change one group. For example, one group
cycle – A recurring set of events.
data – Factual information often used to test a hypothesis.
design – In science, to create a process or procedures for an experiment that will test a hypothesis.
ecosystem – The environment and the plants and animals that live and interact within it.
environment – The surroundings and conditions that affect an animal or plant.
evaluate – Generally, to figure the value or worth of. In math, to calculate the answer. In science, to look at data and determine relationships, patterns, or explanations.
examine – Look at carefully and in detail.
experiment – A scientific test that will determine whether a hypothesis is true or not.
hypothesis – An educated guess that explains an observation or problem. This guess can be tested by further investigation.
scientific investigation – A process that scientists use to find out about things. This generally includes creating a hypothesis, testing with multiple trials, communicating the results, and having others evaluate and repeat the results.
system – A group of related parts that make up a bigger whole. In a human examples include the pieces that make up the skeletal or respiratory systems. Our earth is part of the solar system.
temperature – A measurement of heat or cold of an item such as the air outside or water in a beaker.
variable – In a scientific experiment, something that changes. For example, if you add more water (the independent variable), a plant may grow (the dependent variable) more.