Vocabulary – Meaningful Sentences
Vocabulary this year will be focused around meaningful sentences, which is just another
way of saying sentences that use context clues.
In the past you’ve studied how to use context clues to deduce the meaning of unfamiliar
words. For our vocabulary, you will do the opposite. Your vocab sentence should
include context clues that tip off your reader (me) as to what the word means. Context
clues come in several different forms. By using synonyms, antonyms, and parts of
the definition, your reader can figure out the word’s meaning.
Here’s how it works:
1. For each list of words, find definitions that match the part of speech specified for
each word.
2. Using that definition, think of a synonym and antonym that fit the word. Some
words will have very obvious syns. and ants.; others will take some thought and
creativity on your part. BE SURE the syns and ants are the same part of speech
as the word itself!
3. Create a sentence incorporating one of the aspects you found about the word
that shows its meaning. NOTE: the sentence should be perfect – spelling,
grammar, punctuation, capitalization should all be flawless.
HINT: sentences that are meaningful tend to be more complex. If your sentence
has less than EIGHT words, find a way to add more details so you are sure it is
meaningful.
How this will work:
After ten words are worked (two sets of words), a CUMULATIVE test will be given over
FIVE of those ten words. For the cumulative test, you may/should write the same five
sentences that you already learned and/or got corrected from the daily. There’s no fillin-the-blank or matching – just the sentences.
How you get to TAKE the vocab test:
1.
Daily “boxes” vocabulary is due the next class day after they are assigned.
I’ll check these and return them during the next block we meet. Daily vocab
is your ticket to the test. That means that you can’t take the test unless you
have at least a 70 on BOTH of the daily vocab sets you’ll be tested over.
2.
If you didn’t get a 70 on the daily, correct it ASAP and get it rechecked.
Corrections WILL NOT get checked the day of the test, so plan ahead!
3.
You may get sentences corrected ON YOUR OWN as many times as needed
to get the score on it up to at least a 70 – I encourage you to improve it to a
100!
4.
Corrections may be made via email, but PRINTED copies of email must be
presented with the handwritten copy of the daily vocabulary on test day, so
FIND A PRINTER! (Remember, the library has those if you use your school
email account. Print the ACTUAL email response I send you.)
5.
When the test day arrives, you must have both vocab sets and their
corrections – scored at 70 or higher on both – to get to take the test
during class.
a. If they aren’t at 70 or better OR you don’t bring them to class, you may
not take the test AND you lose the chance to retake it.
b. You have FIVE calendar days to get the corrections to the daily made
AND take the test – YOU WILL NOT take the test the same day as you
check corrections, so plan ahead.
c. My tutoring times are posted on my website – get familiar with those if
you haven’t already. Extra curricular activities are NOT an excuse for
failing to take the test…
Once we’ve done the first list, there is a DAK possibility with vocabulary. If you
work old vocab words into your writing AND underline them, you may receive one
additional point for each word used correctly. This means that the meaning is correct as
well as spelling. This DAK is available on ALL WRITING ASSIGNMENTS, daily or
major! Work 5 old words into your sentences for a new vocab list or into your next
essay, you could get 5 DAK points on the test grade. Work 5 old words into the daily
grade writing, you could get 5 DAK points on the daily grade. See how it works?
NOTE: DAK words used incorrectly won’t get credit AND you could have a mistake if
you try for DAK and don’t use the word correctly, so be smart about this option!
Remember that you must mark the words to receive the DAK point!