1. Word Precision
How to describe it

2. Process of translating experience into words
How words interconnect with thinking & perceiving
A good dictionary helps thinking.
Words are defined.
Words convey/evoke feeling.
Concepts abstract thought.
Critical reading works
How do you work with words? Word confusion, word clarity affects your thinking? How can word precision satisfy the spirit?

3. Dictionary & Thesaurus
“The search to find the right match between words and experiences can lead to the learning of new idea Enables us to see even more of the world.”

4. Clear thinking depends on clear word definition.
What is the name of the dictionary you own?
Do you make it a habit to have your dictionary by your side when reading?
If you can’t find a word in your dictionary, do you have a backup (e.g., another dictionary, online dictionary, etc.)
What is the name of the thesaurus you use?
What advantages does a thesaurus offer the reader/writer?
Do you understand a vocabulary notebook? Have you done this with reading before?
Confusion about words
Confusion about discussion

5. Kinds of definitions “Definitions clarify words through boundaries.”
Dictionary defns = describe terms according to shared and separate characteristics. General agreement
Scientific defns = more fixed than any other type of definition because they are specific and technical. Medical terminology/a&p.
Stipulative defns = based on individual or group agreements e.g. middle class as defined by politicians….75,000 vs. 200,000

6. Kinds of definitions
Definitions can be inventive: describing previously unrecognized ideas, etc.
Personal defns = familiar concepts made personal, e.g. many definitions of hope
Poetic or whimsical: “Happiness is a commute before the rush hour.”
Philosophical: Death is the invisible companion of life.”
Eccentric: opinions offered as though given truths…..

7. Word Connotations “Word connotations are about feelings.”
Connotations = association the word suggests to us
These associations can evoke reactions, images, emotions, or thoughts. E.g. snake – dict defn contains the word reptile, and others. Connotations of … evil, poisoning,
Synonyms for cheating

8. Statistics
Concept – a word that organizes an abstracts a body of related experience, a general idea. From Latin means a thing conceived. E.g. pluralism, aristocracy, etc.

9. Word Concepts
Concepts convey abstractions of experience from the past, e.g. pluralism, hegemony
Concepts convey new ideas, e.g., sustainability, postmodern
Concepts help us make distinctions between words, e.g., heuristic or algorithm.
LOVE is a concept, experience translate to words, and love is manifest by actions, e.g., holding hands, kissing….

10. Words!