Crime, Punishment…and Teens Page 187

Ac-cuse Part of speech: verb (action word) Definition: to accuse someone is to say that he/she has done something wrong Examples: 1. She was falsely accused of murder. 2. Brian tried to accuse his classmate of cheating. 3. Abigail’s false accusations lead to the deaths of many people.

What happened to Scott Peterson after he was accused of murdering his wife? What can be some consequences of falsely accusing anyone?

E-val-u-ate Part of speech: verb (action word) Definition: to evaluate is to think about something and decide if it is good or not Examples: 1. Students evaluate their teachers all the time. 2. Consumers are always asked to evaluate products. 3. Teachers are constantly evaluating students to see if they are actively learning. 4. Bobby evaluates his girlfriend to see if she is worth staying with for a long time.

Why do consumers continue to evaluate new products? How often do you evaluate your friendship with someone? Do you think student evaluations by teachers are important?

Ju-di-cial Part of speech: adjective (describing word) Definition: relating to the law Examples: 1.The members of the jury have to make a judicial decision.

What type of professions are involved in the judicial system? How can someone’s life change when the members of a jury make a judicial decision?

Po-ten-tial Part of speech: noun (person, place, thing, or idea) Definition: the possibility that something will happen Examples: 1.Jannel has the potential to succeed in life. 2.Store owners are constantly looking for ways to attract potential customers. 3.One of the potential benefits of using the computer for research is not having to carry heavy books.

If you were a store owner, what would be some ways of attracting potential customers into your establishment? What are some of the potential risks when using drugs?

Con-se-quence Part of speech: noun (person, place, or thing) Definition: Something that happens as a result of something else Examples: 1.A consequence of doing your work paying attention in class is getting good grades. 2.The consequence of committing a serious crime is going to jail.

What might be some consequences of breaking the law? What are some consequences teenagers might have to face for disobeying their parents.

Cru-cial Part of speech: adjective (a describing word) Definition: to be extremely important Examples: 1.Passing your tests and doing your homework is crucial to passing this class. 2.It is crucial for athletes to stay in good physical condition.

Why might being a good reader be crucial to getting a high paying job? What are some qualities that are crucial for success in school?

Treat – ment Part of speech: noun (a thing) Definition: A way to help someone Examples: 1.Hospitals provide crucial treatment to people with serious injuries. 2.One effective treatment for high-blood pressure is a healthy diet and exercise.

What type of treatment might be given in a hospital? What type of treatment would help a recovering drug addict?

En-cour-age Part of speech: verb (an action word) Definition: to support or praise Examples: 1.One way for parents to encourage their children to read is to take them to the library. 2.One way to encourage a friend with personal problems is to listen to them talk.

How might a teenager go about encouraging a friend going through a tough time? In what ways do friends and family encourage you?

E-vi-dence Part of speech: noun (person, place, or thing) Definition: facts or objects that make you believe that something is true. Examples: 1. The broken window was evidence that our home had been robbed. 2. The crumbs on my dogs cheeks were evidence that he had eaten my cookies.

What sort of evidence might police expect to find at a crime scene? What are some forms of evidence that a student is working hard?

Sen-tence Part of speech: noun (person, place, or thing) Definition: An amount of time served in jail. Examples: 1. The judge reduced the prisoner’s sentence because of his good behavior.

What is an appropriate jail sentence for a bank robber? What is an appropriate jail sentence for a teenager who decides to rob a store?

Tran-si-tion Part of speech: noun (person, place, or thing) Definition: a change Examples: 1.Moving from the city to the country was a difficult transition for James. 2.Making the move from middle school to high school can sometimes be a difficult transition.

How might it be difficult for some students to transition from middle to high school? How might it be difficult for some students who transition to a new school after moving?

Ac-count-a-bi-li-ty Part of speech: noun (person, place, thing, or idea) Definition: responsible Examples: 1.All students are accountable for finishing their homework. 2.The justice system is designed to keep criminals accountable by providing consequences.

Why is it important for students to be accountable? Why do think employers demand that workers are accountable?

Sta-tis-tic Part of speech: noun (person, place, or thing) Definition: A fact or piece of information expressed as a number. Examples: 1.A new statistic showed that housing costs in my town are rising. 2.Statistics show that those with high school diplomas earn on average 27% more than those without high school diplomas.

What is a statistic that might be used in sports?