Academic Vocabulary List 2

fallacious Adjective Not true or accurate; containing a mistake EXAMPLE It is fallacious to think that eating too much candy will never catch up with you.

strategic Adjective Useful or important in achieving a plan or strategy EXAMPLE: Castles were built in strategic locations: mountains, rivers, cliffs, and high hills.

Evaluate Verb To judge the value or condition of (someone or something) in a careful and thoughtful way. Example: Each year students take tests that evaluate their level of knowledge.

Critical Adjective Using or involving careful judgment about the good and bad parts of something. Example: This program presents a critical analysis of students’ roles in education.

cumulative Adjective Including or adding together all of the things that came before. Example Your cumulative high school record shows each class and each grade earned in those classes. Then, officials can calculate your cumulative average.

Rhetoric Noun The art or skill of speaking or writing formally and effectively especially as a way to persuade or influence people. Example Most politicians’ rhetoric is only spoken to get elected, not to actually make social change.

evoke Verb To bring to mind or to cause to happen Examples: The smell of baking sugar cookies always evokes my memories to recall Christmas when I was a child. His choice to stay with his grandmother evoked a negative response in his father.

Vivid Adjective Very bright, clear, or detailed Example: I have such a vivid memory about the car accident. I can recall every small detail.

Analyze Verb To study closely and carefully Example: The doctor analyzed every symptom she gave, did a few tests, and determined that she had measles.

Analysis Noun An explanation of the nature and meaning of something Example: The teacher completed a full analysis of her math students’ scores and determined exactly what each student needed.

Cite Verb To write or quote the words of an author, etc. Example When you write an essay, you must write your own ideas, find an author whose work agrees with your opinion, and cite his/her words as support.

nuance Noun A subtle distinction or variation Example: We listened to the subtle nuances in the song.

Parallelism Noun Repeated syntactical similarities (such as same parts of speech) introduced for rhetorical effect. Example: The sentence exhibited parallelism by using successive adverbs followed by prepositional phrases.

Relevant Adjective Having significant bearing on the matter at hand Example: A good writer only places relevant information in his work.