Word Aware for LIFE!!!!

Over All Reaction: BIG THUMBS UP!
I really enjoyed keeping this vocabulary blog over the past semester. I've had to participate in "word learning" activities before, and I can honestly say I've disliked every single one of them, even those actives following a vocabulary self selection model. I did like this way of learning new words, largely impart because I was already sold on blogging.

Using a blog allowed me to be more creative with my learning and more interactive. I was able to engage with the vocab words in a fuller capacity than if I had to look up the definition and record it in a notebook. I appreciated the freedom to choose words from any situation, as well as the two word requirement. I really liked how my learning of new words was not private, but rather a shared experience.

Since starting this blog, I have become more aware of words I do not fully understand. I don't always stop to figure the word out, but at least I'm no longer simply skipping over the term. I'm also more interested in learning new words... I'm just looking for the time to do this! As I've become more word conscious, I've noticed my mystery words come from all over the place: conversations with others (or those I'm eavesdropping on), science videos I show my students, books I read for pleasure (specifically Christopher Moore). I plan to continue devoting some time to learning new words, maybe I'll continue with this blog, maybe through working with my students and their blogs, but I would like to become more articulate.

Reading-to-Learn and Writing-to-Learn
Keeping this blog has influenced my ability in reading-to-learn as well as writing-to-learn. When I come across words from our VSS tests in outside texts or situations, I now have a fuller understanding of what the meaning is of the text. Often times, the vocab term I came across was not imperative to the message contained in the sentence, however it did add a deeper shade of meaning. The message was a bit more detailed. In terms of writing, using the blog to learn the new vocab was influential because I had to reflect on the many facets of knowing a word in my posts. Considering the context of the word, where I heard it, how it was used, how well I knew it, the definition, a picture to show this definition, and finally my reflection on the term caused me to analyze the word as well as synthesize my understanding of the term from various texts. Both of these tasks require higher-order thinking, but to top this, I than had to reflect to a public audience, which forced me to think even more about the message I wanted to convey. Lastly, and I think this falls more under writing than reading, my exposure to these new vocabulary words has allowed me to write more precise messages. For example, because of this project I feel like I FINALLY have an understanding of the difference between affect and effect. While this may seem ridiculous, I've gotten by all these years not really understanding when to use affect because I usually just didn't use it, and when I have, I don't think any one caught if I was using it correctly! Now I use the word affect (and I'm pretty sure I'm using it correctly) where as in the past I would have just rearranged my sentence (possibly into a poorer version) than attempting to use a term I wasn't sure of.

The VSS Tests:
I really liked the VSS tests. This may sound kind of sick, but I actually thought they were fun! I especially enjoyed the final section of the last test with the pictures. I had a great time trying to come up with a way to incorporate the vocabulary terms into one sentence. I thought the VSS tests were fair and a much better assessment than the worn out "match the term with the definition" quiz. I haven't figured it out yet, but I will definitely incorporate the VSS in my own classes some day.

Final Thoughts: This has been the best vocab assignment I've been forced to partake in:) I feel like I actually learned something, and had an interesting time doing so. I was inspired by this project and would like to continue learning words in some way. Furthermore, I'm going to incorporate a project like this in my own classes to promote writing-to-learn, reading-to-learn and word awareness.

8.2 Contentious

Where/When: In my environmental class I was showing a video concerning the survival of horse shoe crabs. The narrator stated " The moratorium on horse shoe crab fishing has been deeply contentious".

Familiarity: I don't personally use this word. I think it means something like controversial.

Definition: By google

con·ten·tious

kənˈtenCHəs/

adjective

adjective: contentious

1. causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.

   "a contentious issue"

   synonyms:

   controversial, disputable, debatable, disputed, open to debate, vexed

Reflection: I was right! The word used in the context of the film I was showing specifically relates tot the argument between the fisherman who use the crab as bait and the researchers who know the number of horse shoe crabs are dwindling to an unsafe rate. I guess I'm not really sure how this word is different rom controversial. Why would one choose to use contentious over controversial?

8.1 Eschew

Where/When: I was showing a video on scientific literacy and the speaker (Neil deGrasse Tyson) said "To the extent in which we eschew the innovations of science engineering and technology, that is the unraveling of the technological society we've come to know and love ".

Familiarity: I think I've heard this word before. I don't know what it means. Maybe ignore?

Defintion: Provided by Google

es·chew

esˈCHo͞o

verb

verb: eschew; 3rd person present: eschews; past tense: eschewed; past participle: eschewed; gerund or present participle: eschewing

 

1.) deliberately avoid using; abstain from. 

 

Reflection: I'm comfortable with this definition. Tyson was specifically discussing in this video America's lack of scientific literacy. He made the point of stating people need not to know everything about everything, but they should be knowledgeable enough about the world to ask questions in order to validate a claim. Because people are abstaining from pursuing education in science, tech, math and engineering, the USA is losing out on innovations.

 

 

Please follow the advice from the unicorn and eschew drugs!

 

7.2 Polemical

Where/ When: I was trying to find out the particular type of design used to produce the video Story of Stuff. The resulting websites had the following description: The Story of Stuff is a short polemical animated documentary about the lifecycle of material goods.

Familiarity: I have never heard this word before. Since I was thinking in my head "stick figures...
graphic design.... special name for graphic design used to produce this video... story is told by an invisible hand drawing out one's thoughts" I thought the world polemical had to do with the particular type of story-telling/design/production of this animated video.

Definition provided by Merriam-Webster
Polemic
a :  an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another
  b    :  the art or practice of disputation or controversy —usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction

Reflection: Boy was I wrong in my prediction! I was actually shocked to find out what this word really meant! Mostly because I had a prediction which was way off. The definition of the word does make sense in the context in which it was read. The author of this video is extremely vocal about the hidden cost of the stuff we use on a daily basis. Not only does she discuss the environmental cost, but also the human cost... we purchase products made in China for extremely low prices mostly because the wages of those who produce these products are ridiculously low.

7.1 Affect

Where/When: I hear and use this word every single day of my life I'm sure. I'm including it in this blog because I'll be honest... it boggles my mind. Warps my brain... I just can't pin the meaning down!

Familiarity: I'm including it in this blog because I'll be honest... it boggles my mind. Warps my brain... I just can't pin the meaning down!

Definition: Instead of recording just the definition, I decided to contrast affect with effect because I confuse the meaning of these two words. Definitions provided by: Vocabulary.com and Diffen.com

                              Affect:                                                                          Effect
    Verb: To influence something or cause change              Verb: To produce or bring about
        Noun: Relates to the display of emotion                        Noun: The result of an action
          Affect is often used as a verb!                                       Effect is often used a s noun!

Reflection: I think I have a difficult time with this word for a few reasons. One, I'm not sure I was explicitly taught the difference between these two words or if I was, I did not get enough practice using them correctly. Two, I wonder how many other people really understand the word affect, and if they know when I'm saying it wrong. I know it is common place to go about correcting people in public, but I've never had anyone at any point in time I was using the word wrong when I know I must have been. Three, affect and effect have similar definition, to cause change vs. to produce?! So close, but YET, a distinction. When effect is used as a verb, it makes me think something is beginning, hence the word produce. To change, or affect, does not necessarily mean the start of something. To help me get this straight in my head... I really need to focus on the verb vs. noun piece. It helps me to know affect is more commonly used as a verb.

6.2 Precarious

Where/When: When watching an episode of BBC's "Life", the video zoomed into a frog climbing
up a steep cliff and the narrator said: "the frog's future looks precarious...."

Familiarity: This word is not new to me. I wouldn't say that I hear it often, but it is certainly more common than some of my other vocab words. I don't feel comfortably enough to use this word... I think it probably has something to do with uncertainty.

Definition by Google:

pre·car·i·ous

 

adjective: precarious

1.

not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.

"a precarious ladder"

2.

dependent on chance; uncertain.

"she made a precarious living by writing"

 

Reflection: In the context of the video, I believe both meanings of the word were intended. The frog was not in a stable location and it was actually be stalked by a tarantula. In this case, the frog was likely to fall but it was also uncertain whether it would become a meal for the large spider. Click to witness the awesome escape of the pebble toad!

6.1 Draconian

Where/When: I heard this word when someone was talking about another person's reaction. I didn't
hear the full conversation, but I heard the person say something like "I didn't think it called for such a draconian reaction".

Familiarity: I've heard this word before, but not often and I've never used it. I think it has a negative connotation to it.

Definition by Google:

dra·co·ni·an

 

adjective

adjective: draconian

1.

(of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe.

 

... and more from Wikipedia:

 

Draconian is an adjective meaning great severity, that derives from Draco, an Athenian law scribe under whom small offences had heavy punishments (Draconian laws).

 

Reflection: This definition makes sense considering what I recall of the conversation. Like I said, by the person's tone... it didn't seem like the person's response was a good response. I know now, the person reacting was probably overreacting, and probably responded with some harsh words that were not necessary.