Academic & Domain Vocabulary
Aligned to L.8.6 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.
What this lesson teaches
Grade 8 work demands precise general academic words and subject-specific terms. Learn them in context and use them accurately in your own speaking and writing.
Worked examples
Example 1
Instead of writing 'the story shows a big change,' you use the academic term 'the narrative depicts a significant transformation,' which is clearer and more exact.
Example 2
'Corroborate' means a second independent source agrees. 'Confirm' is looser and gets used when only one source exists.
Example 3
Use the academic word when it is more exact and the plain word when it is not. 'Utilise' is never more exact than 'use'.
Practice questions
- Replace a vague word with a precise academic term.
- Use one subject-specific word correctly in a sentence.
- Explain what a new academic word means in your own words.
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
Vocabulario Académico y Especializado
El trabajo de octavo grado exige palabras académicas precisas y términos propios de cada materia. Apréndelos en su contexto y úsalos con exactitud al hablar y escribir.
Ejemplo 1: En vez de escribir 'el cuento muestra un gran cambio,' usas el término académico 'la narración representa una transformación significativa,' que es más claro y exacto.
Ejemplo 2: 'Corroborar' significa que una segunda fuente independiente coincide. 'Confirmar' es más laxo y se usa cuando solo hay una fuente.
Ejemplo 3: Usa la palabra académica cuando sea más exacta y la sencilla cuando no. 'Utilizar' nunca es más exacto que 'usar'.
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