Analytical Verbs

A strong analytical statement requires a strong analytical verb. Your analytical statements should have one of the verbs
from the list below, to show what exactly your essay aims to prove. A good analytical verb ensures that your essay does not
merely indicate something that definitely happens in the book, but rather, what you think the author intended.
Verbs that Move Toward Analysis
Advocates Expresses Substantiates detached or symbolism
Alludes to Facilitates Suggests sentimental conventional
Articulates Frames Supports sincere or ironic original
Asserts Gathers Underlines condescending or figures of speech
Balances Generates Validates reverent tropes
Builds Guides Verifies rhetorical figures
Bolsters Highlights *Also see metaphor
Catalogs Identifies Phrases That ATTITUDE vehicle
Categorizes Illustrates Move Toward WORDS tenor
Characterizes Implements Analysis
Clarifies Implies Concepts to Syntax (gram
Classifies Indicates By extension Consider mar/structure)
Collates Informs Juxtaposed
Compares Integrates against Irony – ironic exclamatory
Concludes Moves A vehicle for paradoxes and rhetorical
Confirms Perpetuates dichotomies declarative
Continues Persuades Phrases that analogy – interrogative
Contrasts Portrays Show analogous imperative
Conveys Presents Comparison/C satire – satiric loose or periodic
Correlates to Promotes ontrast contrasts/shifts sentences
Creates Propels parallel structure
Critiques Proposes In contrast to… Jargon of asyndeton
Debates Provoke Similarly, Analysis polysyndeton
Defends Raises While that…, this anaphora
Demonstrates Recalls too imagery – anastrophe /
Depicts Reduces This_______ is progression of inversion
Details Relates analogous to imagery
Develops Reinforces diction: register Diction (word
Differentiates Represents Words to and level choice)
Elevates Responds Describe Tone syntax
Elicits Reveals voice concrete vs.
Emphasizes Revitalizes calm or angry persona and/or abstract
Employs Shows strident or wistful speaker repetitive
Establishes States arrogant or shifts ambiguous
Expands Strengthens modest structure opposing