ACADDEMIC LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS

Academic Language Functions

Academic

Language

Function

Student Uses

Language to:

Examples Thinking Map© Graphic

Organizers

Language Structures/Key Signal

Words

Tasks Associated with

Academic Language

Function

Questions

Commonly Asked

Seek

Information

Observe and explore;

acquire information;

inquire

Use who, what,

when, where, and

how to gather

information

Circle Map Attribute Diagram

Web

SQ3R

Concept Definition

Map

Outlines

Cornell Note-taking

To be, action verbs, prepositions Define, count, draw,

identify, indicate, label,

list, match, name, point,

recall, recite, reproduce,

repeat, trace, write,

state, select, record,

attributes,

characteristics, main

idea

Who ____?, What

happened?, Where

did it happen?, When

did it happen?,

Where did you find

that?, How do you do

that?

Inform Identify, report, or

describe information

Recount information

presented by

teacher or text, retell

a story or personal

information

Circle Map

Bubble Map

Web

SQ3R

Concept Definition

Map

Outlines

Cornell Note-taking

Adjective use, descriptive

language,

superlatives/comparatives,

_____said, the book says, first,

second, next, etc., according to

Retell, recount, reorder,

represent, depict,

paraphrase,

summarize, give

examples, draw,

explain, conclude,

convert, describe,

prepare, transform,

translate, restate,

rewrite, prepare, give in

your own words,

generalize, extrapolate

Retell the story in

your own words.

Summarize the

chapter on _______.

What happened?,

Report your findings.,

Describe the main

character. Tell about

____. What

happened? Show

how____.

Compare Describe similarities

and differences in

objects or ideas

Make/explain a

graphic organizer to

show difference and

similarity

Double bubble

Map

Bridge Map

Venn Diagram

Semantic Features

Analysis

T-Chart

Fact-Opinion Charts

However, but, as well as, on the

other hand, not only….but also,

either….or, while, although,

unless, similarly, yet,

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