analyze (verb) to examine; to study

• Sample Sentence: Some think schools should teach students to critically analyze what they see, hear, and read.

• Turn and Talk: How is analyzing a short story different from just reading it?

factor (noun) something that influences the result of something else

• Sample Sentence: People have different ideas about the most important factors in providing a good education.

• Turn and Talk: What are some factors that allow a team to win? 

*factor (in/into) (verb) to include in a decision

• Sample Sentence: Brittany factored the weather into her beach day plans. 

• Turn and Talk: What do you factor into your decision to buy new clothes? I factor _________ (price, style, need) into my decision to buy new clothes. 

function (noun) purpose; role; use

• Sample Sentence: Each of the three branches of government has a different function. 

• Turn and Talk: What is the function of homework?

*function (verb) to work or operate

• Sample Sentence: Edwin observed that his camera did not function properly in very cold weather.

• Turn and Talk: Does your brain function best in the morning, afternoon, or night? How do you know? 

interpret (verb) to understand or explain something’s meaning

• Sample Sentence: While many people agree school is important, they interpret the primary purpose of school differently.

• Turn and Talk: When a person is quiet or silent, how might you interpret this behavior? 

structure (noun) something made of different parts that relate to each other or work together

• Sample Sentence: They believe that this will help students understand the structure of our democratic government. 

• Turn and Talk: How does the structure of a cheetah’s body help it to run fast?

*structure (verb) to build or organize

• Sample Sentence: Aftab structured his presentation so that there would be time for questions at the end.

Turn and Talk: When there is no school, how do you structure your day so that you don’t get bored?

*alternate part of speech