ACADEMIC VOCABULARY

ACADEMIC VOCABULARY

The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.

Author Unknown

Strategies for Learning New Vocabulary

· Context Clues

· Context Clues in Textbooks

· Definitions

· Examples

· Punctuation

· Experiences

· Word Analysis

· Prefixes

· Suffixes

· Root words

III. Specialized Vocabulary

IV. Strategies for Remembering New Vocabulary

· Circle Words

· Write in the Margin

· Complete Journal Notes

· CRS Review System

V. Test Taking and Vocabulary

VI. Summary

VII. Practice Reading Passages

VIII. Post-Test

Vocabulary skills are among the most important comprehension strategies you can learn. By increasing your vocabulary, you increase your understanding of textbook information. A rich vocabulary:

· allows you access to many types of reading material.

· enhances your academic abilities.

· increases your chances of getting the job of your choice.

Although no one knows the meaning of every word, or interrupts his or her reading to look up every unfamiliar word in a dictionary, using the simple strategies presented in this chapter will help you figure out and remember the meaning of new words. These strategies include:

· using context clues

· using word analysis

· writing in your textbook

· creating word maps

· understanding denotation and connotation

· using the Card Review System (CRS)

· using new vocabulary daily when you talk and write

CHAPTER OPENER: COLLEGE LEVEL WORDS

Goal

The purpose of working with this list is to help students gain an awareness of their current lexical (vocabulary) ability.

dIRECTIONS

The list on the next page includes many words that students will be exposed to while attending college and will benefit from knowing. Have your students read through the list and identify all of those they know and use with a 2; all of those they think they know, but don’t really use, with a 1; and any of the words they don’t know with a 0. Then have them respond to their results in their learning journals.

Scoring the results

190 -200 = Outstanding

175 - 189 = Above average

135 - 174 = Average

134 and below = Below average

COLLEGE LEVEL VOCABULARY WORDS

Read through this list and identify all of those words you know and use with a 2; all of those you think you know, but don’t really use, with a 1; and any of the words you don’t know with a 0.

aberration acquiescence adroit affable ascetic

banal bigoted bilateral blatant brusque

bellicose bursar cathartic clandestine coalesce

cogent convivial condign copious credulity

debacle deductive didactic dogmatic dolorous

eclectic egregious emanate ennui esoteric

expiate façade fallible forte furtive

genre gestation gregarious guile heinous

heretic hiatus hybrid iconoclast illusive

impervious incipient indolent insular ineffable

jargon juxtaposition laconic lexicon lyric

maelstrom malign maxim minutiae mitigate

naïve nefarious noxious obdurate obsequious

ominous option ostracize parochial pedantic

pedagogy presage prolific punctilious quandary

quorum rancor rapacious recalcitrant rescind

rudiment sanguine satyr schism surreptitious

taciturn temporal termagant torpid turbid

ubiquitous urbane usurp vapid vacillate

versatile volition whimsical zealot zealous

COLLEGE LEVEL VOCABULARY WORDS (continued)

How many words did you identify for each category?

(2) know and use _____ (1) think you know but don’t use ______

(0) don’t know _____

________________________________________________________________________

The words in this list are representative of the kind of vocabulary you will be exposed to while attending college. If you know and use fewer than half of them, you need to work on developing both your general and your course specific vocabulary. On the other hand, even if you knew most of them, it's still important to continue developing your vocabulary. Your vocabulary ability can determine how much you earn in the future.

supplemental exercises

There are three supplemental exercises for this chapter. Information about each is provided on this page and the related material follows on separate pages that you can print out for use with your students.

Exercise 2-1: Creating Words (student material on page 31)

Have students get together in groups of three and ask them to create words using the lists of syllables on pages 31-32. For each list they should take syllables from each column and combine them to form words. No syllables can be used more than once. The first one in each list is modeled for them. (This activity is adapted from ideas presented in Higher Order Learning, J. Kollaritch)

Answers for Exercise 2-1a.

A. B. C

Model

mo bo er empower

tur pow sy ecstasy

pen o dy embody

re man nym homonym

hom bu nize recognize

rel e rant ignorant

em cog logue monologue

ig sta lent turbulent

9. ec no ship penmanship

10.em no vant relevant

Answers for Exercise 2-1b. (Medium Difficulty)

A. B. C. D.

Model

1. im nu o ble

2. hy pos si mic

3. mal po tri ment

4. chro ta ne tion

5. de nol op ous

6. spon vel der gy

________________________________________________________________________

1. impossible 2. hypodermic 3. malnutrition 4. chronology 5. development

6. spontaneous

Answers for Exercise 2-1c. (Challenging)

A. B. C. D. E.

1. re chro ni o late

2. syn per o ti gist

3. vo li ven a y

4. mis cab tol gra tion

5. der un der ci ing

6.hy mu u lar ty

7.bib ma ner stand phy

________________________________________________________________________

1. remuneration 2. synchronicity 3. vocabulary 4. misunderstanding 5. dermatologist

6. hyperventilate 7. bibliography

Exercise 2-2: Heavenly Speech (student material on pages 33-34)

Many common and some uncommon words and phrases in the English language are derived from the names of ancient Greek and Roman mythological characters. For example, the source of the word "terrestrial" is Terra, the Roman goddess of the earth. In this exercise students are asked to use the clues provided to guess the English word or phrase referred to in each sentence and the mythological source from which it came.

Answers for Exercise 2-2

1. Word: morphine Source: Morpheus

2. Word: jovial Source: Jove

3. Word: plutonium Source: Pluto

4. Word: marshal Source: Mars

5. Word: mercurial Source: Mercury

6. Word: chronology Source: Crones

7. Word: Herculean Source: Hurcules

8. Word: Olympian Source; Olympus

9. Word: cereal Source: Ceres

10. Word: circus Source: Circe

11. Word: vulcanize Source: Vulcan

12. Word: psychology Source: Psyche

13. Word and Source: terminal

14. Word: lethal Source: Lethe

15. Word and Source: Atlas

16. Word and Source: Calypso

Exercise 2-3: Etymology (student material on page 35)

This exercise gets most students interested in the origins of words. Have students look up the origins of the words listed on page 00. They can work in teams or individually - your choice. Many students don’t realize the wealth of information that can be found inside a dictionary. Ask your students to provide all of the information they can for each word, such as its meaning and the country in which it originated.

Answers for Exercise 2-3a.

1. Africa Latin - apricot

2. Kangaroo Aborigines - I don't know

3. Novi (acronym -Train stop number 6)

4. Man Latin - hand (woman - hand with womb)

5. Jazz West African - some say it means sexual activity

6. Ketchup Chinese - brine of fish

7. Gorilla Greek - wild hairy people whose females were called gorillas

8. Strategy Greek - leading an army

9. Whisky Gaelic - water of life

10. Zero Arabic - empty

Answers for Exercise 2-3b.

(Have students share their answers)

1.Words developed as a result of technology:

Examples: Ram, bytes, disk, CD's, digital, T.V., record, Internet

2. Words that developed as a result of cultural, political, technological or other events:

Examples: bomb, atomic, G.I.'s, 911, mob, mobile, electronic, digital, rock and

roll, and

3. Words that developed as a result of the Hip Hop culture.

Examples: fly (cool), slammin (cool,) dope (cool,) whack (stupid,,) phat (cool) dog (friend), cat (not a friend)

CHAPTER TWO: EXERCISE 2-1a.

Get together with two other students and practice using word parts to create words from the following lists of syllables. Take a syllable from column A, and combine it with one from each of columns B and C to form a word. No syllables can be used more than once. The first one is modeled for you. (This activity is adapted from ideas presented in Higher Order Learning, J. Kollaritch)

A. B. C

Model

mo bo er

10. tur pow sy

11. pen o dy

12. re man nym

13. hom bu nize

14. rel e rant

15.

em cog logue monologue

16. ig sta lent

17. ec no ship

18. em no vant

CHAPTER TWO: EXERCISE 2-1b.

Medium Difficulty

Take a syllable from column A, and combine it with one from each of columns B, C, and D to form a word. No syllables can be used more than once. The first one is modeled for you:

A. B. C. D.

Model

1. im nu o ble

2. hy pos si mic

3. mal po tri ment

4. chro ta ne tion

5. de nol op ous

6. spon vel der gy

CHAPTER TWO: EXERCISE 2-1c.

Challenging!

Take a syllable from column A, and combine it with one from each of columns B, C, D and E to form a word. No syllables can be used more than once.

A. B. C. D. E.

1. re chro ni o late

2. syn per o ti gist

3. vo li ven a y

4. mis cab tol gra tion

5. der un der ci ing

6.hy mu u lar ty

7.bib me ner stand phy

CHAPTER TWO: EXERCISE 2-2.

Heavenly Speech

Many common and some uncommon words and phrases in the English language are derived from the names of ancient Greek and Roman mythological characters. For example, the source of the word "terrestrial" is Terra, the Roman goddess of the earth. From the clues provided, try to guess the English word or phrase referred to in each sentence and the mythological source from which it came. The dashes indicate the number of letters in each word or phrase.

1. An addictive drug that is used to relieve pain, this word comes from the name of the Roman god of sleep and dreams.

Word: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Source: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

2. From another form of Jupiter, the chief Roman god, comes this familiar word meaning happy-go-lucky or good-humored.

Word: __ __ __ __ __ __ Source: __ __ __ __

3. An important radioactive element in the development of nuclear power has a name based on that of Roman god of death and the underworld.

Word: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Source: __ __ __ __ __

4. Warlike or aggressive actions are described by a term derived from the name of the Roman god of war.

Word: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Source: __ __ __ __

5. Someone whose moods are quick and changeable might be described by this term that comes from the name of the messenger of the gods in Roman mythology.

Word: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Source: __ __ __ __ __ __ __

6. Showing events according to the time order in which they may occur is the definition of a word that comes from a Greek over-god, father of Zeus and creator of the world.

Word: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Source: __ __ __ __ __ __

7. This word means requiring extraordinary effort or strength. It comes from the name

of a Greek hero (popularized by Steve Reaves in a host of Italian-made-movies), who had to perform twelve spectacular feats in order to escape from bondage.

Word: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Source: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

8. This word refers to extraordinary feats, to any labor, either physical or intellectual that is of far higher quality than most. It comes from the name of the mountain on which the Greek gods lived.

Word: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Source: __ __ __ __ __ __ __

CHAPTER TWO: EXERCISE 2-2 (continued)

9. Another word for a grain, and for a breakfast food make from grain, owes its beginnings to the name of the Roman goddess of agriculture.

Word: __ __ __ __ __ __ Source: __ __ __ __ __

10. A carnival-like show popular with children has a name based on that of a sorceress

who turned men into swine

Word: __ __ __ __ __ __ Source: __ __ __ __ __

11. A term from industry that refers to a process whereby rubber is strengthened and made more elastic comes from the name of the Roman god of the forge.

Word: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Source: __ __ __ __ __ __

12. A term for the study of the mind comes from the name of a goddess who was punished by Aphrodite in a fit of jealousy.

Word: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Source: __ __ __ __ __ __

13. The end of a railroad or other transportation route has the identical name to the Roman god of boundaries and limits.

Word and Source: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

14. A word meaning fatal or subject to death comes from the name of one of the three Roman Fates or goddess of destiny.

Word: __ __ __ __ __ __ Source: __ __ __ __ __

15. A book of maps and geographical information is called by the name of a mythical Greek giant who was said to carry the earth on his shoulders.

Word: __ __ __ __ __

16. Harry Belafonte popularized this type of West Indian music that goes under a name derived from that of an enticing sea nymph depicted by Homer.

Word and Source: __ __ __ __ __ __ __

(Author unknown – was shared at NADE (National Association for Developmental Education) 1990

CHAPTER TWO: EXERCISE 2-3a.

ETYMOLOGY

Look up the origins of the following words in a dictionary. Provide all of the information you can for each one such as the meaning of the word and the country in which it originated.

Words Meaning

1. Africa ______________________________________________________

2. Kangaroo ______________________________________________________

3. Novi ______________________________________________________

4. Man ______________________________________________________

5. Jazz ______________________________________________________

6. Ketchup ______________________________________________________

7. Gorilla ______________________________________________________

8. Strategy ______________________________________________________

9. Whisky ______________________________________________________

10. Zero ______________________________________________________

CHAPTER TWO: EXERCISE 2-3b.

1. Think of three words developed as a result of technology.

________________________________________________________________________

2. Think of three words that developed as a result of cultural, political, technological or

other events:

________________________________________________________________________

3. Think of three words that developed as a result of the Hip Hop culture.

________________________________________________________________________

supplemental HANDOUT

FOR YOU LEXOPHILES: (LOVERS OF WORDS)
1. A bicycle can't stand alone because it is two-tired.
2. What's the definition of a will? (It's a dead giveaway)
3. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
4. A backward poet writes inverse.
5. In democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.
6. She had a boyfriend with a wooden leg, but broke it off.
7. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
8. If you don't pay your exorcist you get repossessed.
9. With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.
10. Show me a piano falling down a mineshaft and I'll show you A-flat minor.
11. When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.
12. The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.
13. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blown apart.
14. You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
15. Local Area Network in Australia: the LAN downunder.
16. He often broke into song because he couldn't find the key.
17. Every calendar's days are numbered.
18. A lot of money is tainted. 'Taint yours and 'taint mine.
19. A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.
20. He had a photographic memory which was never developed.
21. A plateau is a high form of flattery.
22. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
23. Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.
24. When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.
25. Those who jump off a Paris bridge are in Seine.
26. When an actress saw her first strands of gray hair she thought she'd dye.
27. Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.
28. Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.
29. Acupuncture is a jab well done.
30. Marathon runners with bad footwear suffer the agony of defeat

supplemental vocabulary quiz

There is one supplemental vocabulary quiz for this chapter in the form of a crossword puzzle.

ANSWERS

CT Matters

Pages

ACADEMIC VOCABULARY

V. Test Taking and Vocabulary

dIRECTIONS

Scoring the results

________________________________________________________________________

Answers for Exercise 2-1a.

Model

Answers for Exercise 2-1b. (Medium Difficulty)

Model

Answers for Exercise 2-1c. (Challenging)

Exercise 2-2: Heavenly Speech (student material on pages 33-34)

Answers for Exercise 2-2

Answers for Exercise 2-3a.

Answers for Exercise 2-3b.

Examples: Ram, bytes, disk, CD's, digital, T.V., record, Internet

Model

Model