Vocab. Warm-up, 1/3/12 Use 3 of the following 5 vocabulary words to describe a holiday tradition your family has, or something you enjoyed over the Christmas break. Underline/highlight your words in your sentences.

Rhetoric (n)- the art or study of using language effectively and persuasively; over-elaborate language Dogmatic (adj)- characterized by authoritative, often arrogant, assertion of opinions or beliefs Philippic (n)- a verbal denunciation characterized by harsh, insulting language; a tirade Pandemic (adj)- widespread, general Idyllic (adj)- charming in a rustic way; naturally peaceful

Example: One thing I look forward to every year is watching the movie, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Everyone wishes for an idyllic Christmas. In the movie, the family’s Christmas is a pandemic disaster. Clark’s dogmatic relatives keep rhetorically insisting he overdoes his Christmas lights. Clark unleashes bitter philippics when his house, painstaking decorated, won’t light up. The message about the holidays from this movie isn’t cryptic- family is wonderful, but can drive you crazy at times, no matter what the season.