Reflection

I really enjoyed keeping my vocabulary blog this semester. It allowed me to keep track of new words, as well as clarify ones I had a very tenuous grasp on. In the past when I would come across a new word I would sometimes look it up, sometimes not, but I would intend to later. This assignment helped me become more structured in my word learning because it gave me the space and a structure (where I found it, level of familiarity, what it means, and reflective commentary) to learn new words.

Looking through my blog, I notice many of my words are adjectives. I wonder if that is because of the types of texts I read (mostly narrative fiction)? Or maybe I just notice adjectives? Most of the texts I read are either books for my own enjoyment, which are typically anything you would find in the fiction section at Barnes and Noble, or texts for my job: non-fiction articles, novels, or books for my two Literacy courses. Within this list is opportunity for many words, but I found it difficult at times to come up with words. There were some weeks where I came across quite a few though. If i were not keeping this blog I would have skimmed past some of theses words, and therefore never fully understood what I was reading.

I really liked the reflective commentary section because it allowed me to reflect on the word, the context I found it in, and other applications. Deciding whether I would use the word in my own speaking or writing was interesting, as was deciding if the owrd was something I thought important for all to know. The Level of familiarity section was also another one that helped me define and work through my understanding of the words. This section allowed me to break the word down, recall if I had heard it before, consider context and try out multiple possible meanings.

I really loved the tests! :) I looked foward to them and enjoyed the challenge they presented. I thought the way they were designed was great, and forced us to know the word beyond just its definition, however I know many do not share the passion I have for tests (especially vocab tests). So as far as my own teaching goes, I don't think I am ready to do vocab tests, but to have students exposed to new words and have them use them in their writing and conversation. Although I will not test myself, I do intend on keeping track of new words as I go on. I will probably continue to use my blog because it works as a great tool that I can refer back to and view my progress!

Extemporaneously--9:2

Where I Found It

While reading chapter 6 of Hicks (2013) Crafting Digital Writing I came across this word.
The context is "composing a live action video of themselves speaking extemporaneously or delivering scripted narration can help students meet many of these standards"

Level of Familiarity

I do not believe I ever heard this word before, but I recognize the prefix "ex" and the root word "temp" and the suffix "ly" so the word seems familiar. I think the word means "done outside of time"?

What it Means

Dictionary.com defines this words as:
"done spoken or performed without special advance preparation"
or "previously planned but delivered with the help of few or no notes"
or "speaking or performing with little or no advanced preparation"

Reflective Commentary

This now makes sense in the context. My prediction was not correct, but close in some ways. Like, done without (instead of outside) time (to prepare)? I like this word because of its many parts. I like when words can be like a puzzle, we can take apart its pieces. I do not see myself using this word in speaking, but possibly in writing and especially with students to expose them to a new word.

Torrid--9:1

Where I Found It

My boyfriend was reading an article on ESPN.com about Arian Foster, a football player for the Houstan Texans and came across the sentence "Foster was torrid before sustaining the injury in week 7." My boyfriend then asked me what it meant, because he thought that word meant something negative, like "terrible", but that didn't make sense to him based on Foster's playing, so he asked me, and that is how I encountered it.

Level of Familiarity

I know I have heard this word, and I thought I knew the meaning, so when he asked me what it meant, I answered confidently, "it means clouded or obscure." He said it couldn't that that didn't make any sense based on the context, so he told me the context and then he looked it up.

What it Means

Dictionary.com defines torrid as: subject to parching or burning heat, especially of the sun

Reflective Commentary

After looking up the defintion, we could clearly see what the sports analyst was trying to say, that Foster was "on fire." However, every defintion we saw related mostly to weather and climate, so we concluded that this was not the best word to describe a person. Also, I tried to find the word I had torrid confused with (clouded, obscure) and it was turbid :) Torrid is a nice word to know, and I can definitley use it while reading A Long Walk to Water to describe the setting, the Akobo desert connecting Sudan and Ethiopia.

Specious--8:2

Where I Found It

I went online to find a word I did not know, and came across "specious." It was listed under 100 words every college student should know, but I did not know it! I searched it in context and an excerpt from Lord of the Flies came up. It said "Ralph had been deceived now by the specious appearance in a beach pool and he approached this one preparing to be disappointed"


Level of Familiarity

I do not believe I have heard this word before, although I have read Lord of the Flies twice, so I must ahve come across it. It sounds like spacious, so that's immediately what I think of when I see this word. Judging by the context up above, I would say ugly, or lacking in something amazing.

What it Means

Dictionary.com defines specious as: apparently good or right though lacking in merit; pleasing to the eye but deceptive.

Reflective Commentary

I can actually see myself using this word, both in writing and speaking. I am surprised that I cannot recall ever hearing it, but know I must have at least came across it, I just wasn't practicing "word awareness" back then I guess. I am really hoping I see this word more often now, I hope it is used widely enough where I will encounter it.

Ubiquitous--8:1

Where I Found It

I came across the word while doing research for my genre expert share project for LTED 618. I was browsing through a favorite book of mine, Judith Ortiz Cofer's Silent Dancing: A Partial Remembrance of a Puerto Rican when I saw the word ubiquitous. The sentence read: "the thick sweetness of women's perfume mixing with the ever present smells of food cooking in the kitchen: meat and plantain pasteles, the ubiquitous rice dish made special with pigeon peas--gandules--and seasoned with the precious sofrito."

Level of Familiarity

Seeing as I read this book before, I have 100% encountered this word before. I also came across it recently in reading for class, I believe in Hicks (2012) for LTED 618. I don't really know what it means, even though once I brought it up in our class (625) and Dr. Hopkins provided a definition for it, I do not remember it. Based on the above context, I think the word means "special" or "a staple" like a necessity.

What it Means

Dictionary.com defines the word as:
 /yuˈbɪkwɪtəs/ Show Spelled 

existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; omnipresent.

 

Reflective Commentary

 

 

I was way off with the "special" definition, but a little closer with the "staple." I thought it could mean that because of how popular rice is in Puerto Rican cooking.The word itself sounds unique and special though, so I find it odd that for something that can be found everywhere can be called something so unique sounding. Hopefully this will help me remember the word once and for all.

Fracking--7:2

Where I Found it

I have seen this word on countless signs littering lawns all over the place. Signs that say: Say no to Fracking or something along those lines. Last night while watching tv, a commercial came on advocating for some politician, and there the word was again! I have no idea what this word means.

Level of Familiarity

I have seen this word as mentioned above many times, never is it used with any decsription, so I do not know what it means. I am pretty sure it has something to do with the environment, but thats about all I got.

What it Means

Google gives me the defintion: Another term for hydraulic fracturing

That is not good enough for me, since I do not know what "hydraulic fracturing" means.

Wikipedia says that hydraulic fracturing is the fracturing of rock by a pressurized liquid.

I guess this is bad...ground water can be contaminated, there are risks to air pollution involved, and risk for noise pollution (whatever that is).

Reflective Commentary

So, I am coming away with still a very tenuous grasp on this "fracking" term, and am wondering why, with all the other problems we have, why people have these "No Fracking" signs, when it really does not seem altogether so horrible, BUT, I am sure I do not understand this very much.

Rife--7.1

Where I Found it

I didn't necessarily come across or find this word, it found me. Whil I was writing my annotated bibliography, I was writing about how a student came from a neighborhood that was rife with poverty and crime. Once I had that written, I realized I was not sure if I used the word correctly because I was not sure what it meant, but it sounded right, and it came to me naturally.

Level of Familiarity

I am not sure where I heard or encountered this word before, but since I was able to use it correctly, and it just popped into my heda as being a good fit, then I am sure I have encountered it multiple times. I thought it meant "full of".

What it Means

Dictionary.com defines Rife as:
1. of common or frequent occurrence; prevalent; in widespread existence, activity, or use

2. current in speech or report: Rumors are rife that the government is in financial difficulty. 

3. abundant, plentiful, or numerous.

4. abounding (usually followed by with )

 

Reflective Commentary

 

I chose this word because I thought it was interesting how the word came to me yet I didn't really know I knew it. Like, it sounded right, and I was pretty sure it made sense, but...I didn't really now the word. This just demonstrates the complexity of word awareness and knowledge!