1. Building a Lasting Vocabulary

2. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7–27–2 Much of our thinking is done in words The more words we have at our disposal, the more precise our thinking can be.

3. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7–37–3 Ways to boost your vocabulary Harness the power of interest Use the right tools Explore the boundaries of your existing vocabulary Learn the components for building new words Appreciate the vivid histories of many words

4. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7–47–4 Interest can provide the engine for increasing your vocabulary Malcolm X saw a large vocabulary as a ticket to success. Once he did, he had a compelling interest in building his own vocabulary. A golf course caddy realized that a larger vocabulary resulted in bigger tips. He had an interest in increasing his vocabulary because it made him more money.

5. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7–57–5 How do you develop an interest in words? Look around you. Words are being used in exciting and creative ways –In newspaper headlines –In billboards and other advertisements

6. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7–67–6 The tools you need to build your vocabulary A dictionary A stack of file cards

7. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7–77–7 A dictionary for every purpose Pocket dictionary: Always have it handy to look up unknown word Abridged dictionary: Keep it at your desk as you study Unabridged dictionary: Use it for in-depth investigation of words and their origins

8. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7–87–8 Preserving words on file cards File cards allow you to recite and overlearn new words

9. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7–97–9 Guidelines for vocabulary cards Put each new word on a separate card Include its context: Write the sentence where the word appeared. Write down the word’s pronunciation as well as its prefix and root Put the word’s definitions on the back of the card and star the closest one

10. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7–10 How to master a stack of vocabulary cards Starting with the front of each card –Pronounce the word properly –Read the sentence it occurs in –Define the word in your own words and from memory

11. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7–11 How to master a stack of vocabulary cards (cont’d) Flip over to the back of each card –Check to see if your definition was correct –If your definition was incorrect, try again until you recite it correctly –Mark troublesome words with a dot in the upper corner

12. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7–12 Reciting your other words Grab another stack of cards and repeat the process Periodically review the stacks of cards you’ve mastered.

13. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7–13 The Frontier Vocabulary System Based on natural learning processes: from simple to complex The best words to learn are those you partially know: These are on your frontier Frontier words are anchored in your background

14. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7–14 Ways to find your own Frontier Words Unusual words you use in writing or speaking but can’t fully define Words you recognize but rarely use in writing or speaking Antonyms of words you already know Use only those words that appeal to you

15. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7–15 The components of words Most words are not indivisible Many words are made up of a prefix, a root, and a suffix Learning these components can introduce you to constellations of words Knowing the meaning of word components can increase your understanding of individual words

16. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7–16 Learning a word’s history Words, like people, often have their own stories Learning a word’s history can help you to like that word Knowing a word’s story strengthens your bond with it.