Vocabulary Workshop 1

 As-pire  (Verb) – an action word  Meaning - To aspire is to want to do or be something  Examples 1.I aspire to become a professional basketball player. 2.I aspire to pass all of my classes this year. 3.I aspired to finish middle school. 4.I have aspirations of getting a college degree!

 What does someone in law school aspire to be? ◦ Someone in law school aspires to be…  What does someone in medical school aspire to do? ◦ Someone in medical school aspires to be…  If Jason practices free-throws everyday, what do you think his aspirations are? ◦ Jason’s aspirations are likely…  What is something that you aspire to do or be? ◦ Something that I aspire to (do/be) is…

 Cir-cum-stan-ces  (Noun) – a person, place, or thing  Meaning – Circumstances are facts and conditions that affect a situation.  Examples 1.A circumstance that might cause me to miss school is being sick. 2.A circumstance that might make me happy is if I get good grades. 3.Under the circumstances of a difficult class, I will have to study very hard.

 What circumstances might cause you to laugh very loudly? ◦ One circumstance that might cause me to laugh very loudly is if…  Under what circumstances would you get angry? ◦ In my opinion, a circumstance that would get me angry is if…  What circumstances would you expect to find if you went camping in the forest? ◦ If I went camping in the forest, I would expect very ______________ circumstances.

 Dras-tic  (adjective) – a describing word  Meaning – Drastic means extreme and sudden.  Examples 1.A drastic change for me would be moving to a new school. 2.Graduating from high school will have a drastic effect of my life. 3.A drastic punishment for forgetting my homework would be getting expelled.

 What would be a drastic change in your life? ◦ A drastic change in my life would be if…  What would be a drastic thing to do if you got mad at a friend? ◦ One drastic reaction if I was mad at a friend would be to…  What would be a drastic punishment for coming to class late? ◦ A drastic punishment for coming to class late would be…

 Sig-nif-i-cant  (adjective) – a describing word  Meaning – Significant means important and meaningful.  Examples 1.A significant part of my grade will depend on my effort. 2.My family is a significant part of my life. 3.The significance of this class, is that it will help me to do well in school.

 What do you think is the most significant meal of the day? ◦ In my opinion _____________ is the most significant meal of the day.  Who is the most significant person in your life? ◦ In my opinion, ________________ is the most significant person in my life.  What is the significance of knowing how to read well? ◦ The significance of knowing how to read well is that…

 Ur-gent  (Adjective) – a describing word  Meaning – Something that is urgent, is very important and needs to be dealt with immediately.  Examples 1.Homelessness is an urgent problem that must be solved. 2.When something is urgent, I call for help. 3.When the man called for a nurse, I could hear the urgency in his voice. 4.If you get an urgent message, you should call back right away.

 How would you talk to somebody if you had an urgent message? ◦ If I had an urgent message for somebody I would talk to them by…  Who would you call if there was an urgent problem? ◦ I would call ________________ if there was an urgent problem.

 An-guish  (noun) – a person, place, or thing  Meaning – A strong feeling of misery or distress  Examples 1.A hard test might cause student anguish. 2.Some people cope with anguish by talking with their friends.

 What might cause a teenager anguish? ◦ Something that might cause a teenager anguish is…  How can a teenager cope with anguish? ◦ In my opinion, one way a teenager can cope with anguish is to…

 Co-mmit-ted  (adjective) – a describing word  Meaning – dedicated; serious about something  Examples 1.Good students are committed to getting good grades. 2.Good friends are committed to each other.

 What is something that teachers are committed to? ◦ Something that teachers are committed to is…  What is something that a teenager might be committed to? ◦ In my opinion, something that a teenager might be committed to is…

 Fran-tic  (adjective) – a describing word  Meaning – done with great fear  Examples 1.I would be frantic if I was swimming and saw a shark in the water. 2.If there is a fire, it is important not to become frantic.

 Why is it important not to become frantic if there is a fire? ◦ In my opinion, it is important not to become frantic if there is a fire because…

 In-tent  (adjective) – a describing word  Meaning – to be determined to do something  Examples 1.I am intent on getting good grades this year. 2.The football player was intent on scoring a touchdown.  (noun) – a person, place, or thing  Meaning – something that you are determined to do  Examples 1.My intent is to get good grades this year. 2.The football player’s intent was to score a touchdown.

 What is something that a doctor might be intent on doing? ◦ A doctor might be intent on…  What might be a good student’s intent? ◦ A good student’s intent might be to…

 Per-spec-tive  (noun) – a person, place, or thing  Meaning – A point of view  Examples 1.From my perspective, I did not do anything wrong. 2.The perspective from an airplane is very different from the perspective on the ground.

 Why is it important to understand different perspectives if somebody has an argument? ◦ In my opinion, it is important to understand different perspectives if there is an argument because…

 De-vot-ed  (adjective) – a describing word  Meaning – giving your time to something  Examples 1.Boyfriends and girlfriends should be devoted to each other. 2.The loyal dog was devoted to his master.

 Why should teenagers be devoted to their parents? ◦ In my opinion, teenagers should be devoted to their parents because…  What might happen if a boy is not devoted to his girlfriend? ◦ If a boy is not devoted to his girlfriend…