Transcript Example
Chapter 3: Vocabulary
Breaking Through, 8/e
by Brenda Smith
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
1 MILLION
WORDS IN
THE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE!
Some Vocabulary Facts
You use about 20% of the words you know.
In high school you recognize about 50,000
words and use only 10,000 of them.
In college you recognize around 70,000 words
and use about 15,000 of them.
You will learn about 20,000 new words in
college, many from specific disciplines.
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Remembering New Words
Association
Concept Cards
Dictionary
Practice!
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Unlocking the Meaning of
New Words
Use context clues.
Use knowledge of word parts.
Use the glossary of your textbook.
Use the dictionary.
Use a thesaurus.
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Types of Context Clues
Definition clues
Elaborating details
Elaborating examples
Comparison clues
Contrast clues
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Definition
Example:
The explorers landed in an alien
environment, a place both foreign and
strange to their beloved homeland.
Explanation:
The definition is set off by a comma.
Alien means strange or foreign.
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Elaborating Details
Example:
The natives were hostile when the settlers
approached their village. They lined up across
the road and drew their weapons. The settlers
were afraid to go farther.
Explanation:
As described in these sentences,
hostile means unfriendly.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Elaborating Examples
Example:
The bird’s appetite is voracious. In one day he
ate enough worms to equal three times his
body weight.
Explanation:
Because the bird ate an extraordinary amount,
voracious means extremely hungry or greedy.
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Comparison
Example:
The smell of the flower was as
compelling as a magnet’s pull on a paper
clip.
Explanation:
Since a magnet will pull a paper clip to it,
the comparison suggests that the smell
of the flower had an attraction.
Compelling means forceful.
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Contrast
Example:
In America she is an eminent journalist,
even though she is virtually unknown in
England.
Explanation:
Even though are signal words indicating the
opposite. Thus eminent means the opposite
of unknown; it means well-known or
famous.
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Multiple Meanings of a Word
Sally cannot bear to be in the house alone
at night. The bear approaches our
campsite.
Mr. Robinson served on the board of
directors for the school. Put the extra board
in the truck.
The owners suspected a dead animal was
the cause of the foul odor. The batter hit a
foul ball with three runners on base.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Word Parts
Roots
Prefixes
Suffixes
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Using the
Dictionary
Guide Words
Pronunciation
Spelling
Word Meaning
Parts of Speech
Word History
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Word Origins - Etymology
Moccasin comes from the Algonquin Indian
word for “shoe.”
Shampoo comes from the Hindi word meaning
“to press.”
We study etymology to make it easier to
remember the word.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Textbook Glossary
Specialized vocabulary is often
found in the glossary of a
textbook.
Example from biology:
continental drift, cranium,
cosmopolitan species.
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Check your wordprocessing program
on your computer to
see if they have a
built-in thesaurus.
Thesaurus
A thesaurus is a book with a list
of synonyms for a word.
Example: verb “cause” –
originate, give rise to, bring
about, produce, create, evoke
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Analogies
An analogy is a comparison that mimics
a previously stated relationship.
Example:
Mosquito is to insect as gasoline is to fuel.
Walking is to running as cool is to frozen.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Analogies
Example:
Apple is to fruit as potato is to _______.
Explanation:
Since an apple is a member of the fruit group,
the relationship is one part to a larger whole.
Solve the analogy by establishing a similar
relationship for potato. A potato is a vegetable
just as an apple is a fruit.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Categories of Relationships
for Analogies
Synonyms
Antonyms
Function, use or purpose
Classification
Characteristics and descriptions
Degree or variation of intensity
Part to whole
Cause and effect
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Easily Confused Words
principle - rule
principal – person
stationary – fixed position
stationery - paper
Memorize & associate to
keep these words straight.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Enriching Your Vocabulary
Use the Internet.
Get news from Web sites and forums.
Read a lot!
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Summary Points
How many words does the average college
student recognize?
How do context clues assist in unlocking
word meaning?
What should you include on a concept
card?
How can you recognize new words by
linking parts of old words?
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Summary Points
How should you use a dictionary while
reading?
Why use a glossary?
Why would you need a thesaurus?
What is the key to solving an analogy?
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Visit the Companion Website
http://www.ablongman.com/smith
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