English Language Arts
Grade 9
15 min
Use dictionary entries
Use dictionary entries
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify and interpret all major components of a dictionary entry, including pronunciation, part of speech, etymology, and multiple definitions.
Select the appropriate definition of a multiple-meaning word by analyzing its context within a sentence or passage.
Use a dictionary's etymology information to analyze a word's origin and its evolution in meaning.
Apply pronunciation guides to correctly articulate unfamiliar academic and literary vocabulary.
Utilize a dictionary to find synonyms and antonyms to enhance the precision and sophistication of their analytical writing.
Determine a word's grammatical function in a sentence by referencing its part of speech.
Distinguish between a word's denotation (literal meaning) and its potential c...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Entry WordThe word or phrase being defined, typically shown in bold at the beginning of an entry. It may also show syllable breaks.re·sil·ience
Pronunciation GuideA phonetic spelling of the word, using symbols to represent sounds, that shows you how to say it correctly.For 'rhetoric': (ˈrɛt ə rɪk)
Part of SpeechAn abbreviation that tells you the word's grammatical function in a sentence.n. (noun), v. (verb), adj. (adjective), adv. (adverb)
DefinitionThe meaning of the word. Multiple-meaning words will have numbered definitions, often ordered by most common usage.For 'pragmatic': 1. dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.
EtymologyThe origin and historical devel...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Context is King
Always read the sentence or paragraph where the unfamiliar word appears before, during, and after looking it up.
The surrounding text provides critical clues that help you select the correct definition for a multiple-meaning word. Never assume the first definition listed is the right one; match the definition to the context.
Part of Speech Dictates Function
Identify the word's part of speech in the sentence and match it to the corresponding part-of-speech label in the dictionary entry.
A word like 'record' can be a noun ('She broke the world record.') or a verb ('Please record the meeting.'). Knowing its function in the sentence is essential for choosing the correct set of definitions.
Trace the Roots
Use the etymology...
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Challenging
An entry for 'nice' notes its etymology from Latin *nescius* ('ignorant') and an archaic definition meaning 'precise or fastidious.' How does this historical information challenge a modern reader's interpretation of a sentence from a 17th-century text describing a 'nice distinction'?
A.It implies the distinction was pleasant and agreeable.
B.It suggests the author was being sarcastic and meant the distinction was ignorant.
C.It reveals the most likely meaning is 'a precise or subtle distinction,' which is very different from the modern sense of 'nice.'
D.It proves that the word 'nice' has always had a positive connotation.
Challenging
A student is analyzing a political speech and looks up 'demagogue' (/ˈdɛməˌɡɒɡ/). The entry shows the etymology from Greek *dēmos* ('the people') + *agōgos* ('leading') and the definition 'a leader who appeals to popular prejudices.' How could the student synthesize all these dictionary components for a sophisticated rhetorical analysis?
A.By stating that the speaker is a demagogue because they are a leader.
B.By arguing the speaker's harsh-sounding name, as shown in the pronunciation, proves they are a bad person.
C.By explaining that the speaker is a 'leader of the people' (etymology) who, instead of using logic, manipulates their audience's emotions and prejudices (definition) to gain power.
D.By focusing only on the Greek origin to argue that the speaker is wise like an ancient philosopher.
Challenging
A legal document states, 'The board will sanction the proposal, but any deviation will be met with a severe sanction.' Based on the tutorial's discussion of 'sanction' as a contranym, what is the most likely rhetorical effect of this deliberate word choice?
A.It creates confusion, showing the author is a poor writer.
B.It establishes a tone of absolute authority by simultaneously granting permission and threatening punishment with the same word.
C.It suggests that the proposal is both good and bad at the same time.
D.It is a spelling error that should be corrected to two different words.
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