Welcome to Seminar for
UNIT 3
Dr. Angela Lavine
KU120
The Effective Reader
(Updated Edition)
by D. J. Henry
Chapter 2: Vocabulary Skills
REFERENCE: PowerPoint Presentation
by Gretchen Starks-Martin
St. Cloud State University, MN
Key Concepts
• The context of the reading is one to
deduce the meaning of a word
• Improving you vocabulary will increase
reading comprehension
Unit Outcomes
• Identify meanings of unknown vocabulary
words using different methods
To-Do List
• Respond to Discussion Board Question
30 points
• Attend synchronous seminar or submit
seminar option 2 assignment
5 points
• Take Diagnostic Skills Test
50 points
Reading
• Reading 1
• Read Chapter 2 pages 47–104
• Reading 2 (Online)
• Using Vocabulary Words in Reading
Key Unit Terms
• Antonym - A word that has the opposite meaning of
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another word.
Context clues - Information that surrounds a new
word, and is used to understand its meaning.
Glossary - A list of selected terms with their definitions
as used in a specific area of study.
Prefix - A group of letters with a specific meaning
added to the beginning of a word (root) to make a new
word.
Root - The basic or main part of a word. Prefixes and
suffixes are added to roots to make a new word.
Suffix - A group of letters with a specific meaning
added to the end of a word (root) to make a new word.
Synonym - A word that has the same or nearly the
same meaning as another word.
Vocabulary - All the words used or understood by a
person.
Vocabulary is all the words used
or understood by a person.
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By the time you are 18, you know about 60,000 words.
During college you learn an additional 20,000 words.
Each subject has its own set of words.
You can learn new words through:
– Context Clues
– Word Parts
– Visuals
Context Clues: The SAGE
Approach
• A context clue is the information that
surrounds a new word, used to
understand its meaning.
• The four types of context clues are:
– Synonyms
– Antonyms
– General sense of the passage
– Examples
Synonyms
• A synonym is a word that has the same
or nearly the same meaning as another
word.
• Synonym signal words are: or, that is
• Example: The dentist gave me laughing
gas to alleviate (or ease) the
pain of taking out my
wisdom teeth.
Antonyms
• An antonym is a word that has the
opposite meaning of another word.
• Antonym signal words are: but, not,
unlike, in contrast, yet, however.
• Example: During dinner, Anne let out a
loud burp that mortified her mother, but
amused her friends.
General Context
• Sometimes a definition is provided.
• Sometimes a description is provided.
• Sometimes logic and reasoning skills are
needed.
• Example:
To insure safety, written and road tests
should be mandatory for everyone who seeks a driver’s
license for the first time; no exceptions should be
allowed.
• Jamie speculated about how much weight he
wanted to gain during the three-month
bodybuilding program he was beginning for the
first time. “Speculated” means:
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Knew
Wondered
Worried
Celebrated
• Jamie speculated about how much weight he
wanted to gain during the three-month
bodybuilding program he was beginning for the
first time. “Speculated” means:
– Knew
– Wondered
– Worried
– Celebrated
Examples
• An example is provided of the word.
• Example signal words indicate that an
example is coming: for instance, such as,
consists of, including
• Example: Some authors use pseudonyms; for example,
famous American author Mark Twain’s real name was
Samuel Clemens.
Textbook Skills: Using a
Glossary
• A glossary is a list of selected terms with
their definitions as used in a specific area
of study.
• Skim the chapter before reading and look
for specialized terms (Pre-reading!).
• Use the glossary to make vocabulary lists.
Word Parts
• Root: the basic or main part of a word.
• Prefix: A group of letters added to the
beginning of a root word to make a word.
• Suffix: A group of letters added to the end
of a root word to make a word.
• Example: in-vis-ible
Complete the Practices in
your book for an in depth
explanation of roots,
suffixes, and prefixes and
how they can help you
understand words.
Practice
• 1) I took the tome off the shelf and opened it
to page 94. Then I began to read.
• What does tome probably mean?
• A) some food
B) a bad dream
C) a cigarette
D) a book
Practice
• 1) I took the tome off the shelf and opened it
to page 94. Then I began to read.
• What does tome probably mean?
• A) some food
B) a bad dream
C) a cigarette
D) a book
• 2) Hurricanes and tornadoes are
treacherous. Only a very foolish person
would go out during that kind of weather.
• What does treacherous probably mean?
• A) exciting
B) dangerous
C) delirious
D) safe
• 2) Hurricanes and tornadoes are
treacherous. Only a very foolish person
would go out during that kind of weather.
• What does treacherous probably mean?
• A) exciting
B) dangerous
C) delirious
D) safe
• 3) Many ships have vanished during
hurricanes. No survivors from the lost
ships have ever been found.
• What does vanished probably mean?
• A) arrived
B) departed
C) returned
D) disappeared
• 3) Many ships have vanished during
hurricanes. No survivors from the lost
ships have ever been found.
• What does vanished probably mean?
• A) arrived
B) departed
C) returned
D) disappeared
• 4) By anticipating the robber's next move, the
police were able to arrive at the bank before the
next robbery happened. Now the robber is in
jail.
• What does anticipating probably mean?
• A) thinking ahead, expecting
B) drawing, painting
C) horrifying, amazing
D) strange, unusual
• 4) By anticipating the robber's next move, the
police were able to arrive at the bank before the
next robbery happened. Now the robber is in
jail.
• What does anticipating probably mean?
• A) thinking ahead, expecting
B) drawing, painting
C) horrifying, amazing
D) strange, unusual
• 5) I'm really hungry! That apple didn't
appease my hunger. I want a sandwich
now.
• What does appease probably mean?
• A) frustrate
B) increase
C) satisfy
D) confuse
• 5) I'm really hungry! That apple didn't
appease my hunger. I want a sandwich
now.
• What does appease probably mean?
• A) frustrate
B) increase
C) satisfy
D) confuse
• 6) The dispute about marijuana in
California will probably never be resolved.
• What is a dispute?
• A) theory, rule
B) argument, debate
C) agreement
D) a type of medicine
• 6) The dispute about marijuana in
California will probably never be resolved.
• What is a dispute?
• A) theory, rule
B) argument, debate
C) agreement
D) a type of medicine
Visual Vocabulary
• A graph, chart, cartoon, or photograph
gives a visual image of a word.
Chapter Review
• There are four types of context clues
(SAGE):
– Synonyms
– Antonyms
– General context
– Examples
Chapter Review
• Antonyms help you see the shade of a word’s
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meaning by showing you what the original word
is not.
The root is the basic or main part of a word.
The prefix is a group of letters with a specific
meaning added to the beginning of a word
(root) to make a word.
The suffix is a group of letters with a specific
meaning added to the end of a word (root) to
make a new word.