Benjamin Bloom created a taxonomy of measurable verbs that describe and classify knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors and abilities. Using these action verbs in syllabi or course material can assist students in understanding in clear language what the student must do in order to demonstrate learning or meet course objectives.

Knowledge

Remember previously learned information.

• Arrange
• Define
• Describe
• Duplicate
• Identify
• Label
• List
• Match
• Memorize
• Name
• Order
• Outline
• Recognize
• Relate
• Recall
• Repeat
• Reproduce
• Select
• State

Comprehension

Demonstrate an understanding of the facts.

• Classify
• Convert
• Defend
• Describe
• Discuss
• Distinguish
• Estimate
• Explain
• Express
• Extend
• Generalized
• Give example(s)
• Identify
• Indicate
• Infer
• Locate
• Paraphrase
• Predict
• Recognize
• Rewrite
• Review
• Select
• Summarize
• Translate

Application

Apply knowledge to actual situations.

• Apply
• Change
• Choose
• Compute
• Demonstrate
• Discover
• Dramatize
• Employ
• Illustrate
• Interpret
• Manipulate
• Modify
• Operate
• Practice
• Predict
• Prepare
• Produce
• Relate
• Schedule
• Show
• Sketch
• Solve
• Use
• Write

Analysis

Break down objects or ideas into simpler parts and find evidence to support generalizations.

• Analyze
• Appraise
• Argue
• Assess
• Attach
• Choose
• Compare
• Conclude
• Contrast
• Defend
• Describe
• Discriminate
• Estimate
• Evaluate
• Explain
• Judge
• Justify
• Interpret
• Relate
• Predict
• Rate
• Select
• Summarize
• Support
• Value

Synthesis

Compile component ideas into a new whole or propose alternative solutions.

• Arrange
• Assemble
• Categorize
• Collect
• Combine
• Comply
• Compose
• Construct
• Create
• Design
• Develop
• Devise
• Explain
• Formulate
• Generate
• Plan
• Prepare
• Rearrange
• Reconstruct
• Relate
• Reorganize
• Revise
• Rewrite
• Set up
• Summarize
• Synthesize
• Tell
• Write

Evaluation

Make and defend judgments based on internal evidence or external criteria.

• Appraise
• Argue
• Assess
• Attach
• Choose
• Compare
• Conclude
• Contrast
• Defend
• Describe
• Discriminate
• Estimate
• Evaluate
• Explain
• Judge
• Justify
• Interpret
• Relate
• Predict
• Rate
• Select
• Summarize
• Support
• Value