Rationale

In his book, On Writing, Stephen King describes what he calls the writer’s “toolbox.” In the top “tray” of the “toolbox,” he places the writer’s most frequently used tools, including his/her vocabulary. Although King (and others) caution against using unusual words just for the sake of using unusual words, it is obvious that part of the writer’s job is always to use the best word for any given situation. The more words you know, the more easily and successfully you’ll be able to do that. For that reason, one of our goals for this course is increasing your word-power through the study of vocabulary.

Assignment

Each week, we will cover two chapters in the book, Building an Enriched Vocabulary. We will start with Chapter 16, and work our way through Chapter 26. For each chapter, you are to do the following:

1. Familiarize yourself with the words in the chapter by reading through the list of 15 words, their definitions, synonyms, and antonyms

2. When you think you have a good sense of what the words mean, write an illustrative sentence for each word. An illustrative sentence is one that illustrates your understanding of the word. If I can’t tell from the sentence that you know what the word means, you may be asked to write another sentence.

3. For each even-numbered chapter, you should also do the exercises found in the “Completing Verbal Analogies” portion of the chapter.

Deadlines

Turn in your sentences and your analogy exercises to the Vocabulary Collection Box in accordance with the schedule below. (Note: All vocabulary work is due at the start of class.)

Date What’s Due

6/13 BEV Ch. 16 Sentences and Verbal Analogies exercises*

(*Due at end of class; we will work on these together.)

6/15 BEV Ch. 17 Sentences only

6/18 BEV Ch. 18 Sentences and Verbal Analogies exercises

6/20 BEV Ch. 19 Sentences only

6/25 BEV Ch. 20 Sentences and Verbal Analogies exercises

6/27 BEV Ch. 21 Sentences only

7/2 BEV Ch. 22 Sentences and Verbal Analogies exercises

7/5 BEV Ch. 23 Sentences only

7/9 BEV Ch. 24 Sentences and Verbal Analogies exercises

7/11 BEV Ch. 25 Sentences only

7/16 BEV Ch. 26 Sentences and Verbal Analogies exercises

7/18 BEV Ch. 27 Sentences only

Evaluation

This is the only assignment for this class which will be graded using a point system. You can earn 1 point for each sentence and 1 point for each item in the Verbal Analogies exercises.

· To earn an A for this assignment, you must earn 90-100% of the points.

· To earn a B for this assignment, you must earn 80-89% of the points.

· To earn a C for this assignment, you must earn 70-79% of the points.

· To earn a D for this assignment, you must earn 60-69% of the points.

· To earn an F for this assignment, you must earn less than 60% of the points.

You may choose to re-do up to three sets of sentences and up to three Verbal Analogy exercises

for purposes of “grade improvement.” You may not, however, “re-do” assignments that were not submitted on time in the first place.

Format

Please format your vocabulary assignments as follows:

Your Name

Sophomore Writing/Lamonica

June 13/BEV Chapter 16

Sentences

176.          The sudden rainstorm caused a general exodus from the beach area as people ran helter-skelter for the shelter of their cars.

Verbal Analogy Exercise I

1.                  chapter: novel = act: drama (d)

Verbal Analogy Exercise II

1.                  teacher:students

2.                  astronomer:stars

Verbal Analogy Exercise III

      1.   augment: increase :: horrify: appall