Academic Academic VocabularyVocabulary

Keys To SuccessKeys To Success

Academic VocabularyAcademic Vocabulary

““Acquiring academic Acquiring academic language, the language that language, the language that

is used in schools, testing is used in schools, testing and in scholarly discourse, and in scholarly discourse,

is the key to success…”is the key to success…”

Dr. Robin ScarcellaDr. Robin Scarcella

UC, Irvine UC, Irvine

Academic Academic VocabularyVocabulary

What is academic vocabulary?What is academic vocabulary?language used in various textbooks, language used in various textbooks, assignments, content area standards, and assignments, content area standards, and examinationsexaminations

words that explain what you read or create, words that explain what you read or create, what your assignment asks you to do what your assignment asks you to do

provide specific details about what you provide specific details about what you must do and provide very important must do and provide very important information about how to do an assignment information about how to do an assignment

You cannot expect to succeed on You cannot expect to succeed on assignments if you do not understand the assignments if you do not understand the directions.directions.

www.englishcompanion.com Jim Burke www.englishcompanion.com Jim Burke

Academic Academic Vocabulary ListVocabulary List

ExplicitExplicit

ImplicitImplicit

SubjectiveSubjective

ObjectiveObjective

Prior KnowledgePrior Knowledge

DiscourseDiscourse

AffectAffect

EffectEffect

DemonstrateDemonstrate

JustifyJustify

Relevant Relevant

ParaphraseParaphrase

Summarize Summarize

CoherentCoherent

CohesionCohesion

ComprehensiveComprehensive

Tone Tone

AnalyzeAnalyze

SynthesizeSynthesize

Plagiarize Plagiarize

Academic Academic Vocabulary Vocabulary DefinitionsDefinitions

Explicit -Explicit - fully and clearly expressed; fully and clearly expressed; directly and clearly developed and directly and clearly developed and formulatedformulated

Implicit – contained or inherent; Implicit – contained or inherent; implied; indirect implied; indirect

A. V. Definitions A. V. Definitions cont.cont.

Objective – undistorted by emotions and Objective – undistorted by emotions and personal biaspersonal bias

Subjective – appraised by emotions and Subjective – appraised by emotions and personal biaspersonal bias

A. V. Definitions A. V. Definitions cont.cont.

Affect – (a.) a cause (b.) to produce an Affect – (a.) a cause (b.) to produce an effect or change in; to impress the mind effect or change in; to impress the mind or move the feelings ofor move the feelings of

Effect – a result; consequence Effect – a result; consequence

A. V. Definitions A. V. Definitions cont.cont.

Relevant – having to do with the Relevant – having to do with the topic/matter in question or discussed; topic/matter in question or discussed; germane; pertinent germane; pertinent

Justify – to show to be right; to show a Justify – to show to be right; to show a satisfactory reason or excuse for something satisfactory reason or excuse for something donedone

Demonstrate –(a.) to make evident or Demonstrate –(a.) to make evident or establish by arguments or reasoning; prove establish by arguments or reasoning; prove (b.) to describe, explain, or illustrate by (b.) to describe, explain, or illustrate by examples, specimens, experiments examples, specimens, experiments

A. V. Definitions A. V. Definitions cont.cont.

Prior Knowledge – information Prior Knowledge – information previously stored in memory. [It acts as previously stored in memory. [It acts as a lens through which we view and a lens through which we view and absorb new information. It is a absorb new information. It is a composite of who we are, based on composite of who we are, based on what we have learned from both our what we have learned from both our academic and everyday experiences. academic and everyday experiences. (Kujawa and Huske, 1995)] (Kujawa and Huske, 1995)]

A. V. Definitions A. V. Definitions cont.cont.

Discourse - (a.) verbal communication; Discourse - (a.) verbal communication; talk; conversation (b.) a formal talk; conversation (b.) a formal treatment of a subject in speech or treatment of a subject in speech or writing, such as a sermon or writing, such as a sermon or dissertation dissertation

A. V. Definitions A. V. Definitions cont.cont.

Comprehension – the capacity to Comprehension – the capacity to understandunderstand

Coherent – consistent and orderly; Coherent – consistent and orderly; harmoniousharmonious

Cohesion – the act or process of sticking Cohesion – the act or process of sticking togethertogether

A. V. Cont.A. V. Cont.

Tone – the attitude that the author or a character in a story/discourse takes on the audience, subject matter, or another character within the story/discourse

A. V. Definitions A. V. Definitions cont.cont.

Analyze – (a.) to break apart into Analyze – (a.) to break apart into components or essential features (b.) to components or essential features (b.) to examine carefully and in detail so as to examine carefully and in detail so as to identify causes, key factors, possible identify causes, key factors, possible results, etc. results, etc.

Synthesize – to formulate a new Synthesize – to formulate a new idea/information from parts of idea/information from parts of materials/discoursematerials/discourse

Plagiarize –to take credit for someone Plagiarize –to take credit for someone else’s work. (copying, using illegally, or else’s work. (copying, using illegally, or failing to cite source.) failing to cite source.)

QuestionsQuestions

Review/QuizReview/QuizWhat are academic vocabulary?What are academic vocabulary?

In what curriculum/capacity would avIn what curriculum/capacity would av

How would attaining a solid grasp of How would attaining a solid grasp of the av assist you in your life?the av assist you in your life?

What word(s) do need additional What word(s) do need additional assistance for complete understanding?assistance for complete understanding?

ReferencesReferencesBeers, Kylene, Carol Jago, Deborah Appleman, Beers, Kylene, Carol Jago, Deborah Appleman, Leila Christenbury, Sara Kajder, and Linda Rief. Leila Christenbury, Sara Kajder, and Linda Rief. Elements of Literature Third CourseElements of Literature Third Course. Austin, . Austin, Texas: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2010. Print.Texas: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2010. Print.

http://dictionary.references.comhttp://dictionary.references.com

www.englishcompanion.com www.englishcompanion.com

"Dr. Robin Scarcella." "Dr. Robin Scarcella." Meet the AuthorsMeet the Authors. Web. . Web. 11 Jul 2011. Online. 11 Jul 2011. Online.

www.u-46.org/roadmap/files/vocabulary/www.u-46.org/roadmap/files/vocabulary/acadvoc-over.pdfacadvoc-over.pdf