Academic+Vocabulary

Wednesday, July 6th

Activity 2.1 Let's Get Started:


 * 1. What did you learn about academic vocabulary from watching the video clip?**
 * -** I learned that they are actually everyday words that a normal person would use, EXCEPT that the words are more fancy and are larger. Though they may mean the same thing it sounds less simplistic like the words that you would use everyday.
 * 2. How would you define academic vocabulary?**
 * -** I would define academic vocabulary as: a more complex, and larger word that generally is a synonym to simpler words. Academic words aren't used at whenever or whatever time that someone wants to, it is when a word that is simplistic but has a similar meaning to a more advanced word can be substituted.
 * 3. Predict how academic vocabulary can help you be successful in your social studies classes as well as other academic classes?**
 * -** Academic vocabulary can be used to make anything, even speaking seem more intelligent. If it was used rather than the simple, bland words, teachers would be more impressed. Academic words maybe the words that you see at school. For example, the words that are int he word box below are the words that I have seen many times in many of my tests.

Activity 2.2 What You Know About Academic Terms:


 * **Academic Term** || **Definition/Explanation** || **I think…I connect this to…I wonder if….I find this valuable because….I find this difficult because….** ||
 * **Analysis** || To think deeper and critically about a topic or thing. An investigation of a component parts of a whole and the relations that make it a whole. || This should be used when writing an essay or doing notes, like I had during History last year. For something like an experiment, it is often used to give it more details. ||
 * **Assess** || To test oneself on a topic or thing. To evaluate the significance of. || This should be tests or quizzes taken in class. When I am studying I assess, especially with vocabulary terms, to make sure that I remember all of them. To find something important.So an assessment is an evaluation for you of the significance of a topic. ||
 * **Bias** || To lean your opinion or view more to one side of a topic or argument then the other side. A partiality. || Most often, history books have biased views. It is important to know both sides of the topic/argument. So it basically is when you stick to one view more than the other. ||
 * **Context** || To look around surrounding words to have an educated guess about a topic. surrounding words that help to determine the unit/word's interpretation. || I mostly think of context clues, where you try to come up with an educated guess about what a word mean with the words around it. As I have said, context clues. ||
 * **Correlate** || To make correct of something. To bring to a mutual relation. || I think that this means to correct something that is wrong after you have given it a try. It kind of means to match two things together. It is something that actually goes together. ||
 * **Criteria** || What needs to be done or fulfilled. A reference point that is used to evaluate other things. || I think that this is like a rubric for an essay. I think that this does refer to something like a rubric or something that can be used to give a grade. ||
 * **Debate** || To have a peaceful argument about a topic, where opposite views both have representation by a person or people. To respectfully argue about a point. || I find this difficult because sometimes both sides have great points that balance out each other (like the importance of slavery). When reasons are advanced for and against a topic/proposition. ||
 * **Evaluate** || To figure out something about a topic. Making a judgement based off of some analysis. || This can be evaluating your essay, etc. on your first try to make it better afterward. This can be like breaking down something into its Pro's and Con's. ||
 * **Inference** || To think about a point or points based off of something like details. Idea or conclusion that came from evidence and reasoning || I think that this is like a really educated guess. When you read between the lines or when you look carefully at the facts. ||
 * **Imply** || To make a point or points off of something like a topic or details. To express or state something indirectly. || I think that this has a similar definition to inference except that instead of a guess it is more of stating a point. It is NOT similar to infer. ||
 * **Interpret** || To logically find a synonym for something. To make sense of something. || I think that interpret can be used as in interpreting information like research so that it's easier to understand. When you are trying to get a better understanding of something. ||
 * **Justify** || To make something right. To make excuses for actions taken. || I think that this means to point out details on why a topic should be righted. This is when you are being dishonest or being sneaky. ||
 * **Thesis** || The main idea or topic of a work of literature or essay. Foundational idea of an argument. || I think that this is valuable in essays. It is used in writings, art, scientific research, etc. ||
 * **Perspective** || A view that you have taken on. What you see in that view. The way you see something. || This reminds me that with different perspective, something would be different. A sensible outlook. ||
 * **Point of View** || How you perceive something. Personal feelings that affects the way you view things. A mental position from which things are viewed. || I think that this is similar to perspective except that it is more visual than how perspective seems to require some thinking. The unique way you see things, is your individual perspective. ||

Activity 2.3 What You Know About Academic Terms:

I ** mply/Infer: **Imply and infer are different because when you think or use the word infer it is a conclusion that is direct (and based off of evidence), but to imply to when you say something indirectly.
 * Bias/Point of View: **Bias and point of view are similar because they both have to do on your views and how your personal feelings or opinion can shift you to believe or see something in one way than the other.
 * Evaluate/Assess: ** I think that evaluate and assess are similar because they both require one to go deeper into a topic and find the significance of it. Also, to asses you need to evaluate, to these two words are tied together.


 * Thesis / Debate:** I think that debate and thesis are words that are similar because when you debate you have to have a point, or the main point of the argument. Thesis is the foundational idea of an argument which makes it very useful in a debate, so these words are tied together in a way and it makes them similar.
 * Correlate / Justify:** I think that justify and correlate are two words that are different because correlate is when two things have some mutual connection but justify is when dishonest actions are done. These two words are completely different.



Activity 2.4 New Vocabulary:


 * **Academic Term** || **Definition/Explanation** || **I think…I connect this to…I wonder if….I find this valuable because….I find this difficult because…** ||

Activity 2.5 Evaluate Other Vocabulary Tools:

I think that the Natural Reader will be the most helpful to me because when I come across a word that I can't seem to say or pronounce, I can use it to read it to me. (I actually like all three of these sites because they can help me, each in a different way.)