Active Vocabulary General and Academic Words - Amy E. Olsen 2013
Preface
Because students benefit greatly from increased word power, the study of vocabulary should be enjoyable. Unfortunately, vocabulary workbooks often lose sight of this goal. To help make the study of vocabulary an exciting and enjoyable part of college study, I have written Active Vocabulary.
The goal of this book—the second in a three-book interactive vocabulary series—is to make the study of vocabulary fun through a variety of thematic readings, self-tests, and interactive exercises. As a casual glimpse through the book will indicate, these activities involve writing, personal experience, art, and many other formats. The goal of these activities is simple: to utilize individual le^fung styles in order to help students learn new words in a large number of contexts.
Underlying the text's strong visual appeal is a central philosophy: an essential part of letarnmg vocabulary is repeated exposure to a word. Active Vocabulary provides eight exposures to each word in the text plus more opportunities for exposure through the Collaborative Activities and games in the Instructor's Manual.
Content Overview
Active Vocabulary is an ideal text for both classroom and self-study. The sixteen main chapters follow a specific and consistent format.
✵ Thematic Reading: Because most vocabulary is acquired through reading, each chapter, with the exception of the Word Parts and Review Chapters, begins with a thematic reading that introduces ten vocabulary words in context. These readings come in a variety of formats, from newspaper reviews to journal entries. The goal is to show that new words may be encountered anywhere. Rather than simply presenting a word list with definitions, students have the opportunity to discover the meanings of these new words via context clues.
The themes for Active Vocabulary were chosen from areas most interesting to students of all ages and from disciplines that most students will encounter at some point in their college careers. In choosing the words, I've been guided by five factors: (1) relation to the chapter theme, (2) use in popular magazines, newspapers, novels, and textbooks, (3) occurrence in standardized lists and tests such as the Academic Word List, SAT and GRE, (4) containing word parts introduced in the text, and (5) my experiences teaching in developmental reading and writing classrooms.
✵ Predicting: The second page of each chapter contains a Predicting activity that gives students the chance to figure out the meaning of each vocabulary word before looking at its definition. The Predicting section helps students leant the value of context clues in determining a word's meaning. While the text does offer information on dictionary use, I strongly advocate the use of context clues as one of the most active methods of vocabulary development.
✵ Self-Tests: Following the Predicting activity are three Self-Tests in various formats. With these tests, students can monitor their comprehension. The tests include text and sentence completion, true/false situations, matching, and analogies. Some tests employ context clue strategies such as synonyms and antonyms and general meaning. Critical thinking skills are an important part of each test. (Answers to the ■ Self-Tests appear in the Instructor's Manual.)
✵ Word Visions: The Word Visions activities, new to this edition, give students the opportunity to connect the vocabulary words to visuals. The Word Visions are either located within the Self-Tests section or as an Interactive Exercise. The activities ask students to identify a
vocabulary word represented in a drawing or photo or to use a photograph as inspiration to write sentences or a paragraph using the chapter's vocabulary words.
✵ Word Wise: Following the Self-Tests is the Word Wise section that teaches a variety of skills that are helpful to vocabulary acquisition. There are six types of activities: Internet Activities, Context Clue Mini-Lessons, Collocations, Word Pairs, Connotations and Denotations, and Interesting Etymologies. Each activity is explained in the Getting Started section. By doing these activities and reading more about how words are used, students will get additional practice and insight into the words they are learning.
✵ Interactive Exercise: Following the Word Wise section is an Interactive Exercise, which asks the student to begin actively using the vocabulary words. The exercises may include writing, making lists, or answering questions. The Interactive Exercises give students the chance to really think about the meanings of the words, but, more importantly, they encourage students to begin using the words actively. Some instructors like to have their students do the Interactive Exercise in small groups (or pairs) and then have the groups share their responses with the whole class. (See the Instructor's Manual for more ideas on collaborative activities.)
✵ Hint, Word Part Reminder, or Conversation Starters: Each chapter includes a Hint, a Word Part Reminder, or Conversation Starters. The Hints cover tips for developing vocabulary, reading, or study skills; the Hints are brief and practical, and students will be able to make use of them in all of their college courses. The Word Part Reminders are short exercises that give students a chance to practice using a few of the word parts they have recently learned. The Conversation Starters are questions that ask students to use the words while talking with each other. The goal of the Conversation Starters is to get students using the words in daily life.
✵ Word List: The last page in a chapter contains a list of the vocabulary words with a pronunciation guide, the part of speech, and a brief definition for each. I wrote these definitions with the idea of keeping them simple and nontechnical. Some vocabulary texts provide complicated dictionary definitions that include words students do not know; I've tried to make the definitions as friendly and as usefol as possible.
✵ Words to Watch: The final activity asks students to pick 3-5 words they may be having trouble with and to write their own sentences using the words. This section is an additional chance for students to grasp the meaning of a few words that may be difficult for them.
Additional Features
In addition to the thematic vocabulary chapters, Active Vocabulary includes a Getting Started chapter, three Word Parts Chapters, five Review Chapters, a Glossary, a Flash Card section, a Word Map section, a Pronunciation Key, and a Word List.
✵ Getting Started: Active Vocabulary begins with an introductory chapter to familiarize students with some of the tools of vocabulary acquisition. The "Parts of Speech" section gives sample words and sentences for the eight parts of speech. "Using the Dictionary" dissects a sample dictionary entry and provides an exercise for using guide words. "Completing Analogies" explains how analogies work, provides sample analogies, and gives students analogy exercises to complete. This section will prepare students for the analogy Self-Tests contained in several chapters of the text. The "Benefits of Flash Cards and Word Maps" section explains the advantages of these study tools and encourages students to make flash cards and word maps beginning with Chapter 1. The "Word Wise Features" section provides background information for the various Word Wise activities.
✵ Word Parts: The three Word Parts Chapters introduce prefixes, roots, and suffixes used, throughout the book. Students learn the meanings of these forms, and sample words illustrate the forms. Self-Tests in each Word Parts Chapter give students the opportunity to practice using the word parts.
✵ Review Chapters: Five Review Chapters focus on the preceding three or four chapters. They divide the words into different activity groups and test students' cumulative knowledge. The words appear in test, written, visual, puzzle, and collaborative formats. These repeated and varied exposures increase the likelihood that the students will remember the words, not just for one chapter or test, but for life.
✵ Glossary: The Glossary lists all the vocabulary words along with the part of speech and the definitions given in each chapter. Students may find it handy to refer to the Glossary when reviewing words from several chapters.
✵ Create Your Own Flash Cards: The "Create Your Own Flash Cards" section teaches students how to make and use flash cards. Students can use the cards for self-study. Additionally, instructors can use them for the supplemental activities and games that are provided in the Instructor's Manual.
✵ Make Your Own Word Maps: The "Make Your Own Word Maps" section is new to this edition. This feature teaches students how to make word maps that focus on learning the definition, synonyms, and antonyms for a word. Students can use the maps as another strategy for self-study.
✵ Pronunciation Key: On the inside front cover is a pronunciation key to help students understand the pronunciation symbols used in this text. The inside front cover also offers some additional guidelines on pronunciation issues.
✵ Word List: The inside back cover features a list of all the vocabulary words and the page numbers on which the definitions are given. A list of the word parts from the Word Parts Chapters is also included on the inside back cover with page references.
Features New to This Edition
This fifth edition has several new features in response to instructor comments. The new materials have been employed to make the text more appealing to students and easier for instructors to use.
✵ New Word Visions Activity: The Word Visions activity calls on students to use visuals to help them interact with the vocabulary words. Students today are experienced in using various visual environments from the Internet to video games. The Word Visions activities expand on students' familiarity with visuals. The activities come in different formats, including having students identify vocabulary words in drawings or photographs, draw pictures or find photos of the vocabulary words, or write sentences or a paragraph using a photograph for inspiration. These new activities use students' critical- and creative-thinking skills in fun ways that relate to the words they are learning.
✵ Expanded Content in the Review Chapters: The Review Chapters contain three new Self-Tests that give students more practice with the words. Students are asked to identify synonyms and antonyms, work with the collocations introduced in the Word Wise sections, and review some of the Word Parts introduced in earlier chapters. There is also a new Word Visions activity in each Review Chapter.
✵ Added Content: Learning Objectives have been added to help students understand foe goals of foe text and to allow them to better see foe benefits of studying vocabulary. Sentence starters have been added to some chapters as an Interactive Exercise. The sentence starters come in two formats: the vocabulary word is in foe starter and students need to finish the sentence so that the use of the vocabulary word makes sense, or students need to incorporate a vocabulary word into the completion of a sentence. Five new word parts have been added to the Word Parts Chapters to provide a greater focus on root forms. A new "Make Your Own Word Maps" section gives directions on how to make and use word maps for studying vocabulary.
✵ New or Updated Readings: Four chapters have new readings, and the readings in two other chapters have been updated with additional content. Twenty-two new words have been added to the text.
✵ Updated Design: The Word Visions activity has provided additional photographs and drawings that further enhance the visually-friendly nature of the text.
✵ New Price: In response to the current economic climate, the price of the text has been lowered from past editions. The new price is intended to allow more students access to a book that provides a comprehensive and creative approach to vocabulary instruction.
The Teaching and Learning Package
Each component of the teaching and learning package for Active Vocabulary has been carefully crafted to maximize the main text's value.
✵ Instructor's Manual and Test Bank (ISBN 0-205-21198-4): The Instructor's Manual and Test Bank includes options for additional Collaborative Activities and games. The collaborative section explains ways students can share their work on the Interactive Exercises in pairs, in small groups, or with the whole class. Ideas for other collaborative activities using different learning styles are also offered. The games section presents games that can be used with individual chapters or for review of several chapters. Some of the games are individual; others are full-class activities. Some games have winners, and some are just for fun. The games may involve acting, drawing, or writing. The Collaborative Activities and games give students the opportunity to use the words in conversational settings and a chance to work with others.
The Test Bank, formatted for easy copying, includes two tests for each chapter as well as combined tests of two chapters. There are also Mastery Tests to accompany the Review Chapters and full-book Mastery Tests that can be used as final exams.
✵ Active Vocabulary Weh Site: In the computer age, many students enjoy learning via computers. Available with this text is access to the Active Vocabulary Web site, which features additional exercises and tests (including new exercises using visuals) that provide for even more interaction between the students and the words. The Web site has an audio component that allows students to hear the pronunciation of each word as often as they choose. Students are often reluctant to use the new words they learn because they aren't sure how to pronounce them. The pronunciation guides in each chapter do help to address this fear, but actually hearing the words spoken will give students greater confidence in using the words. Visit www.pearsonhighered.com/olsen.
For Additional Reading and Reference
The Longman Basic Skills Package
In addition to the book-specific supplements discussed above, many other skills-based supplements are available for both instructors and students. All of these supplements are available either at no additional cost or at greatly reduced prices.
✵ The Dictionary Deal. Two dictionaries can be shrink-wrapped with Active Vocabulary at a nominal fee. The New American Webster Handy College Dictionary is a paperback reference text with more than 100,000 entries. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, eleventh edition, is a hardback reference with a citation file of more than 14.5 million examples of English words drawn from actual use. For more information on how to shrink-wrap a dictionary with your text, please contact your Pearson publishing representative.
✵ Longman Vocabulary Web Site. For additional vocabulary-related resources, visit our free vocabulary Web site at http://www.ablongman.com/vocabulary.
✵ MyReadingLab (www.myreadinglab.com). The lab, where better reading skills are within reach, is a collection of reading, vocabulary, and study skills activities consolidated into a central suite. At the heart of MyReadingLab is the interactive tutorial system Reading Road Trip, the most widely used reading tutorial software. Reading Road Trip takes students on a tour of sixteen landmarks in different cities throughout the United States; at each attraction students le^ and practice a different reading skill while absorbing the local color. MyReadingLab will also include access to the Longman Vocabulary Web site, Pearson Study Skills Web site, and Research Navigator.
Acknowledgments
I want to thank the following reviewers for their helpfol suggestions as the fifth edition took shape: Yolanda Cooper, Bossier Parish Community College; Robert Mann, Des Moines Area Community College Urban Campus; Lisa Kovacs Morgan, UC San Diego English Language Institute; Mark Poupard, UC San Diego English Language Institute; Carolyn Smith, Baton Rouge Community College; Pamela Walsh, Schenectady County Community College.
Additionally, I am grateful to Amanda Dykstra, Assistant Editor at Pearson, for her help and enthusiasm in preparing this edition. Thanks also to the Production, Marketing, and Supplement departments of Pearson for their efforts on various aspects of the book. I am grateful to my colleagues and students for enlightening discussions. I warmly thank my family for their encouragement now and over the years. And I shower my husband with gratitude for listening as I tried out ideas on him.
I am pleased that this edition continues to combine traditional and innovative approaches to vocabulary study. I am proud to present the fifth edition of Active Vocabulary, a book that makes learning vocabulary fun and meaningful.
—Amy E. Olsen
Also Available
Book 1 of the Vocabulary Series:
Interactive Vocabuicry: General Words, by Amy E. Olsen
Book 3 of the Vocabulary Series:
Academic Vocabuicry: Academic Words, by Amy E. Olsen
A reader that combines a holistic and specific-skill approach with thought-provoking readings and activities that ask students to connect with what they read:
Reading Now, by Amy E. Olsen
To the student
This book is designed to make learning vocabulary fun. You will increase the benefits of this book if you keep a few points in mind:
1. Interact with the words. Each chapter contains eight exposures to a word, and your instructor may introduce one or two additional activities. If you're careful in your reading and thorough in doing the activities for each chapter, learning the words will be fun and easy.
2. Appreciate the importance of words. The words for the readings were picked from popular magazines and newspapers, novels, lists of words likely to appear on standardized tests (such as SAT and GRE), and textbooks from a variety of academic disciplines. These are words you will encounter in everyday life and in the classroom. Learning these words will help you be a more informed citizen and make your academic life much richer. Even if you don't currently have an interest in one of the readings, keep an open mind: the words may appear in the article you read in tomorrow's newspaper or on an exam in one of next semester's classes. The readings also come in different formats as a reminder that you can learn new vocabulary anywhere—from the newspaper to journal entries.
3. Find your preferred learning style. This book aims to provide exercises for all types of learners—visual, aural, and interpersonal. But only you can say which learning style works best for you. See which activities (drawings, acting, matching, completing stories) you like most, and replicate those activities when they aren't part of the chapter.
4. Value critical thinking. The variety of exercise formats you will find in the following pages make the book fun to work with and build a range of critical-thinking skills. For example, the analogies will help you see relationships between words, the fill-in-the-blank formats will aid you in learning to put words into context, and the true/false Self-Tests will focus your attention on whether words are used correctly in a sentence. Each type of activity will develop your critical-thinking skills while building your vocabulary.
5. Remember that learning is fun. Don't make a chore out of learning new words, or any other new skill for that matter. If you enjoy what you're doing, you're more likely to welcome the information and to retain it.
Enjoy your journey through Active Vocabulary!
—Amy E. Olsen
Access to the Active Vocabulary Web Site
The Web site features additional exercises and tests for more interaction between you and the words. The Web site also has an audio component that allows you to hear the pronunciation of each word as often as you choose. Ask your instructor how to access the Web site.