Transcript Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Strengthening Your Word Power Efficient and Flexible Reading, 8/e Kathleen T. McWhorter © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers In this chapter you will learn: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. To expand your vocabulary. To determine a word’s meaning from its context. To use word parts to figure out meanings of new words. How making a word map can help you learn new words. How the index card system can expand your vocabulary. How to select and use the best vocabulary reference sources. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Expanding Your Vocabulary Read widely and diversely. Use words to remember them. Be selective. Use what you already know. Work on vaguely familiar words. Learn multiple word meanings. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Using Contextual Aids You can figure out the meaning of an unknown word by looking for clues in the sentence or paragraph in which it appears. Definition Clues Example Clues Contrast Clues Inference Clues © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Using Contextual Aids Formal Definition Clues: A word’s meaning is either stated directly or given indirectly. Example: Horology is the science of measuring time. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Using Contextual Aids Indirect Definition Clues: Sufficient information is included to give a general idea of the meaning. Example: Hypochondria, excessive worry over one’s health, afflicts many Americans over forty. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Using Contextual Aids Example Clues: the examples used explain or clarify a word’s meaning. Example: Toxic materials, such as arsenic, asbestos, pesticides, and lead, can cause permanent bodily damage. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Using Contextual Aids Contrast Clues: a word or phrase opposite in meaning provides a clue to meaning. Example: During the concert the audience was quiet, but afterward the crowd became boisterous. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Using Contextual Aids Inference Clues: A word’s meaning can be figured out by reasoning about contextual information. Example: My father is a versatile man; he is a successful businessman, sportsman, author, and sports car mechanic. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Analyzing Word Parts Word parts have specific meanings and when added together can provide strong clues to the meanings of a particular word. Prefixes: Beginning–semihalf = semicircle Roots: middle–biolife = biology Suffixes: end–istone who = activist Tables 3.1, 3.2, & 3.3 contain common affixes and roots. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Using Word Mapping 1. Write the unfamiliar word in the middle of the word map. 2. Write the sentence the word appeared in at the top of the map. 3. Look up the word in your dictionary, and figure out the meaning that best fits the context. 4. Write in the word’s part of speech as used in context. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Using Word Mapping 5. Study the dictionary entry to discover other meanings of the word. 6. Find or think of two synonyms (words similar in meaning), and write them in the “Synonyms” box. 7. Analyze the word’s parts and identify any prefixes, roots, or suffixes. 8. Write two sentences using the word. 9. In the box labeled “Other,” include any interesting information about the word. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers A System for Learning Unfamiliar Words 1. Whenever you hear or read a new word that you intend to learn, jot it down in the margin of your notes or mark it in some way in the material you are reading. 2. Later, write each new word on the front of an index card, then look up the meaning (or meanings) of the word and write it on the back. 3. Whenever you have a few spare minutes, go through your pack of index cards. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers A System for Learning Unfamiliar Words 4. Sort the cards in two piles; separate the words you know from the ones you don’t know. 5. Periodically review the cards. 6. Work with classmates if you are a social learner. (See Learning Style Questionnaire in Chapter 1.) © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Using Vocabulary Reference Sources The Dictionary The Thesaurus © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Using the Dictionary 1. Look up a few words at a time. 2. Mark unknown words and look them up later. Keep reading. 3. Read through all the meanings of the word to choose the best one. 4. Write down the word and its meaning. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Using the Dictionary Use the Dictionary for: 1. 2. 3. 4. Word pronunciation. Part(s) of speech. Key to spelling. Information on language history. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Using the Dictionary Use the Dictionary for: 5. Restrictive meanings that apply to a specific field of study. 6. Foreign expressions used in English. 7. Idioms. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers The Thesaurus A dictionary of synonyms. Available in hardback, paperback, CD-ROM and on-line. Groups words with similar meanings. Useful for locating a precise, accurate, or descriptive phrase to fit a particular situation you are writing about. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Other Reference Sources for Vocabulary Subject-Area Dictionaries Pocket Dictionaries Standard desk Dictionaries Unabridged Dictionaries On-line Dictionaries © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Critical Thinking Tip #3: Vague Versus Clear Meanings Words that are exact and specific can help communication. Words that are vague or nonspecific can lead to misinterpretation and confusion. “The movie was great!” (What was so good about it?) “He received a large sum of money.” (How large is large?) © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers SUMMARY 1. How can you expand your vocabulary? 2. What are four types of context clues? 3. What are the three parts from which many English words are formed? 4. Why is it useful to learn about word parts? 5. What is word mapping? 6. What is the index card system? © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Go Electronic http://www.ablongman.com/mcwhorter Take a Road Trip to the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. on the CD-ROM! © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers