Vocabulary develop is essential as a college students

Memory

Imagine entering your first college course and the pro= fessor begins to spout off vocabulary you have never heard before. At first you think, “Am I in= the right class”, and then you say to yourself “maybe if I read som= e of the textbook I will be fine”. Then the bad news – you read the textbook, and you are just as confused. Of course you know = that vocabulary development is essential for college students, but how can you learn all of that stuff when you are taking 15 – 20 hours.

Hopefully there are things here that you can use to he= lp make the vocabulary you face in your classes less overwhelming.

One thing you could try when faced with a long list of vocabulary is to turn it into a game.

Here is an example:

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gamma rays. ( 3Dgamma -rays) gamma radiation

A very high energy form of electromagnetic radiation 3D"*" , typically with wavelengths 3D"*" of less than 3 pm. Gamma rays are produced by certain nuclear decay processes, and are used to sterilize food.

Definition and word provided by: http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/quantum/glossary.shtml

After making cards for each vocabulary word and defini= tion cut them out and turn them face down on a table to play a “Memory type” game; matching the words and definitions together.

YOUR TURN: Use the attached sheet with a study card template to take your no= tes from a class and turn them into study cards (vocabulary and concepts can be used).

Study Cards
http://edtech= .wku.edu/~ppetty/vocabstudycards.doc
(click above for blank forms)

The cards can also be used with another game. Get a small paper bag (lunch = bags) and shake them up, then when you open it pull out one card. The card may be a definition = or a vocabulary word; regardless try to name to vocabulary word or definition. As you get t= he definitions and vocabulary word correct keep those cards out, then the words/definitions that are giving you a hard time can be focused on.

Graphic Organizers

Graphic organizers also help when faced with difficult vocabulary. Here are some lin= ks with useful graphic organizers.

This graphic organizer has the vocabulary word and its meaning in the cent= er and uses the other boxes for synonyms, antonyms, and main characteris= tics or illustrations of the word being used.

This site can be used in the same way as the first mentioned graphic organizer.

YOUR TURN: Us= e the word map format or concept map format below to help with remembering that vocabulary for any class that just can’t stick in your head. This graphic organizer might be be= st used with the most difficult vocabulary you come across.

This is a concept of definition map that can be sued to help you brake down words and how they are used in the text being read.
The term goes in the center box, illustration/examples go on the bottom, properties/or what the word is like is put on the right, a comparison term is put on the left and the category or what is it is put on the = top.

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Vocabulary Journal

http://edtech.wk= u.edu/~ppetty/vocabjournal.doc
(click above for blank form) =

- A vocabulary journal is also an option to help organize tough words use= d in classes. Here is a samp= le of the organizer that could be used.

Word/Phra= se (with pg. #)	What I th= ink it means	Context c= lues

YOUR TURN: Use the attached vocabulary journal organizer to help organized required vocabulary for a class.

This word map has the word in the middle with four slots around the word f= or a definition, synonyms, using the meaning in a sentence and a picture/illustration of the word.

- contributed by Sharon L. Wilson, LTCY 524