GROUP 4 PRESENTATION

VOCABULARY BUILDING .

UENR 201: ANALYTICAL READING AND REASONING.

INTRODUCTION

Good reading comprehension depends on understanding the words you are reading. The more words
you recognize and understand in a text , better your comprehension will be.

Vocabulary building is the process of expanding one’s repertoire of words and understanding their
meanings, usage and nuances in context .It involves various strategies and techniques to enhance
language proficiency. Here is a detailed breakdown of some strategies you will use to build your
vocabulary .

READING

Reading widely exposes you to different words in various context .Fiction and non fiction ,articles and
literature all offer opportunities to encounter new vocabulary. Building vocabulary through reading
involves actively exploring diverse genres ,using contextual clues ,maintaining a vocabulary
journal ,leveraging technology tools ,annotating text ,focusing on thematic reading and practicing
reading aloud for a holistic and effective learning experience.

Certainly! Let’s consider a brief example to illustrate how building vocabulary through reading works :

Approach:

1.contextual Understanding: From the context of a mystery novel ,you gather that the detective is
examining mysterious symbols or writings.

2.Vocbulary Journal :You jot down “cryptic” as a new word in your vocabulary journal.

3.Tecnology tool: If you encounter difficulty ,you might use a language learning app to get an instant
definition and pronunciation

4.Annotation :You underline “cryptic” to highlight it for future reference.

2.CONTEXTUAL LEARNING :

Contextual learning is a process of acquiring knowledge or skills by placing them in a real word
context ,making the learning experience more meaningful and practical.

Pay more attention to how words are used in sentences and paragraphs. Understanding context helps
grasp meaning more effectively .Expose yourself to different contexts where you encounter the
language naturally ,such as through movies ,podcast or conversations with native speakers.
Example ;In a language –learning context, understanding a word’s meaning from the surrounding
sentences rather than memorizing definitions fosters contextual learning. For instance ,learning the
word “torrential” by encountering it in a description of heavy rainfall in a story provides a more
contextual and memorable understanding compared to a standalone definition.

In essence ,contextual learning promotes a deeper understanding by anchoring knowledge or skills in

situations that align with their actual use ,creating a more robust and applicable learning experience.

3.DICTIONARY USE:

Using a dictionary effectively involves more than just looking up definitions. Here’s a brief overview on
how to make the most of a dictionary:

1.Word Definitions:

Purpose: Understand the meaning of a word.

How to use: look up the word in alphabetical order and read the provided definition.

2.Pronunciation:

Purpose: learn how to pronounce a word correctly.

How to use: Many dictionaries include phonetic symbols or audio guides to aid pronunciation .

3.Part of Speech:

Purpose: Understand whether a word is a noun, verb ,adjective etc.

How to use :Definitions often indicate the word’s grammatical category.

4.GUIDELINES FOR INFERRING MEANING FROM THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT.

Analyze the way a word is used in a sentence .What part of speech is it (noun, verb, adjective or
adverb.)?

Look at the words that are used with it .These often help determine meaning. For example ,if it is an
adjective ,what is the noun? If it is a verb ,what is the subject?

Think about the topic and the meaning of the sentence .How does the word fit in?

5.GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING A DEFINITION IN A DICTIONARY.

Determine the part of speech of the unknown word. This is necessary because there may be several
dictionary entries for one word as different part of speech.

Look at the words that are used with it .If it a part of a frequent combination of words ,the definition
may be listed separately .For example ,you will separately numbered definitions for sign up and sign off.
The same is true of on sight and sight unseen(both listed in the dictionary under sight).

Analyze the context for clues to the general meaning of the word.
Think about the topic and the meaning of the sentence

6.KEEP A VOCABULARY JOURNAL/NOTEBOOK.

Keeping a vocabulary journal or notebook is a valuable habit for enhancing your language skills .

Purpose:

Record New Words: Document unfamiliar words you encounter in your reading or daily life .

Reinforce Learning: Reinforce the learning process by writing down definitions and examples.

Personalization :Your vocabulary journal is a personalized resource tailored to your learning style.

7.WORD ROOTS:

The fundamental linguistic unit from which words are formed. It carries the core meaning of a word.

How to Identify Word Roots:

Look for Core Elements:

• Identify the central part of a word that remains unchanged when prefixes or suffixes are added.

Consider Language of Origin:

• Understand the language of origin, as many roots come from Latin, Greek, or other languages.

Common Word Roots:

1. "Bio" (Life):

Example: Biology (study of life), biography (writing about someone's life).

2."Chron" (Time):

Example: Chronology (arrangement of events in time), synchronize (occurring at the same time).

3. "Tele" (Distant):

Example: Telephone (device for distant communication), television (seeing from a distance).

4. "Aud" (Hearing):

Example: Auditory (related to hearing), auditorium (large room for listening).

5."Graph" (Writing or Recording):

Example: Autograph (one's own writing), biography (written life story).

Building Word Families:

Understand the relationships between words with the same root, contributing to a richer vocabulary.
Example:

• Root: "Cede" (to go, to yield)

Example

• Concede (to admit, yield, or surrender)

• Recede (to move back or withdraw)

• Proceed (to move forward or continue)

Understanding the root "cede" helps you recognize the common thread of yielding or movement in
these words.

By developing a familiarity with word roots, you gain a systematic approach to deciphering and learning
new words, making your vocabulary acquisition more efficient and interconnected.

8.MNEMONIC DEVICES:

Mnemonic devices are memory aids or techniques that help enhance recall by associating information
with easier-to-remember cues. Here's a brief overview:

Types of Mnemonic Devices:

1. Acronyms:

Example: ROYGBIV to remember the colors of the rainbow (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo,
Violet).

2. Acrostics:

Example: "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally" to remember the order of operations in mathematics
(Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction).

3. Rhymes and Songs:

Example: "I before E, except after C" to remember spelling rules.

4. Chunking:

Example: Breaking down a long number into smaller chunks (e.g., 867-5309 becomes 867-53-09).

5. Method of Loci (Memory Palace):

Example: Associating items with specific locations in a familiar place.

• Mnemonics often involve creative and personalized elements, making learning more engaging.

9.PERSISTENCE AND PATIENCE/FOCUS ON THE WORSDS USED IN ACADEMIC TEXT:

To build a robust vocabulary within academic contexts:

Persistence:

1. Approach: Consistently engage with academic texts, research papers, and scholarly articles.

2.Action: Regularly encounter and understand specialized vocabulary through persistent reading and
exposure.

3.Impact: Develop a comprehensive understanding of academic language over time.

Patience:

4.Approach: Take the time to delve into complex academic concepts and theories.

5.Action: Patiently navigate intricate discussions, patiently decode intricate sentences, and refrain from
rushing through dense material.

By embodying persistence and patience in the pursuit of academic knowledge, individuals can
systematically and effectively build a vocabulary that aligns with the intricacies of scholarly
communication.

10.COLLOCATIONS:

Collocations are groups of words that frequently occur together. Every language develops different
collacations. For example ,in these three languages ,different adjectives are used to describe tea:

English: strong tea ,weak tea

Italian: strong tea, long tea

Japanese: dark tea, thin tea

When you are reading in English, it is very important to notice collocations and to learn them together
with the individual words. You will gain fluency and improve comprehension if you are familiar with
common collocations.

In summary, build vocabulary through collocations by reading diversely, recognizing common pairs,
learning from authentic examples, creating themed lists, understanding contextual nuances, utilizing
online resources, actively incorporating them in writing, focusing on thematic areas, regularly reviewing,
and engaging in spoken language. This dynamic approach weaves a rich tapestry of words, enhancing
both written and spoken expression.

GROUP MEMBERS .

1.Mamele Elorm Gabriel -UEBO7O4722

2.Fosu David Boateng - UEB0705422

3.Agbattey Yvonne Dziedzorm UEB0704422

4. Musah Abdul-Malik UEB0704622

5. Akuse Samuel-UEB0704922

6. Oduro Jephthah-UEB07051222

7. Alhassan Mohammed Marzuk -UEB0704822

8. Nyarko Akosua Bel-UEB0705722

9.Bright Adabor UEB0705822

10. Sarfo Morrison UEB0704522

11.Biney Isaac Jesse- UEB0705222

12.Kusi Agyemang Prempeh -UEB0705022

13.Kwabena Acheampong - UEB0705522