Building Academic Vocabulary
Aligned to L.7.6 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.
What this lesson teaches
Learn and use grade-level academic words (used across subjects) and domain-specific words (tied to one field). Using them accurately sharpens your speaking and writing.
Worked examples
Example 1
Instead of 'The story shows the idea grows,' write 'The narrative demonstrates how the theme develops.' 'Narrative,' 'demonstrates,' and 'theme' are precise academic words that sound and read stronger.
Example 2
'The author juxtaposes the two scenes' says in one word what 'puts them next to each other so you compare them' takes nine to say.
Example 3
Academic vocabulary used to sound smart reads as insecure. Used because it is exact, it reads as fluent.
Practice questions
- Pick one new academic word this week and use it correctly in a sentence.
- Replace a plain word in your writing with a stronger academic synonym.
- List two domain-specific words from a subject you're studying and define them.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Construir vocabulario académico
Aprende y usa palabras académicas de tu grado (útiles en varias materias) y palabras propias de un campo. Usarlas con precisión afina tu forma de hablar y escribir.
Ejemplo 1: En vez de 'El cuento muestra que la idea crece,' escribe 'La narración demuestra cómo se desarrolla el tema.' 'Narración,' 'demuestra' y 'tema' son palabras académicas precisas.
Ejemplo 2: 'El autor yuxtapone las dos escenas' dice en una palabra lo que 'las pone una junto a la otra para que las compares' tarda nueve en decir.
Ejemplo 3: El vocabulario académico usado para sonar inteligente se lee como inseguridad. Usado porque es exacto, se lee como fluidez.
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