In-a-Flash Vocabulary

In-a-Flash Vocabulary by dint of Joan Carris Thompson/Peterson's (Lawrenceville, NJ) 2002 $995 244 pages, yielding cover

Despite the ever-growing number of vocabulary works on the market, a basic fact remains true: the best way to build a working vocabulary is to read and to use of recent origin words. As spelling lists fade in English classes, vocabulary lists replace them. Flash cards help pupils memorize obscure words, which scholars will tell you, are forgotten within weeks. Carris strike one as beings to recognize that reality and in like manner aims her book at pupils who want to build their vocabulary skills outside gymnasium attacking the task in simple, at the same time creative lessons. Words are collectioned in meaningful lists, for instance "The Blues" or "Mighty Obvious Opposites." There are no teacher guides, prepared proofs or endless drills here. This work simply lists 300 words that appear upon SAT and ACT sections and gives pupils a list of effective means to work the words into usage vocabulary. The exercises are clear and adroit as are the word groupings. Carris engages a number of unique tricks for helping learners remember the words, such as her "Memory Fix" sections or the capable "Rhyme Time" reviews.

As the newer versions of the SAT cutting side out analogies, the author maintains them as review strategies. While analogies terrorize many pupils and tease a handful, as simple review strategies, they work well. If scholars don't know an answer, they can direct the eye up a definition or sum of two units thereby continuing to build their word bank. Therein lies the mysterious of a successful test-preparation book-In-a-Flash Vocabulary gives pupils the answers, allowing them to learn as adults do, looking up what they ne to know.

Vocabulary textbook many times come as a series. Because the textbook authors ne to overlay significantly more words, a number of the lists include words scholars will rarely encounter on ordeals or in everyday reading, of that kind as protean, inimical or pernicious. Carris has chosen her words from lists kept for more than 15 years of SAT/PSAT coaching. Her words are also chosen as necessary for clear writing. learners who can replace "sad" with "downcast, gloomy, sorrowful" or "morose" can craft stronger and more precise essays (2)

The novel SAT essay is the focus of great attention in publications, SAT preparation programs and plane classroom exercises. As students learn the SAT argumentative writing phraseology and practice for the essay, they may fail to keep focus on vocabulary. Crafting judgments using precise words can clearly improve any essay. Creating a stronger usage vocabulary will help with writing, while a recognition vocabulary improvement will not. To write effectively, pupils need to have the meanings of word ingrained in their subconscious-Carris gives learners the tools to learn and to use these vocabulary boundarys which will benefit them while taking the SAT and the ACT.

This is a fine vocabulary work for motivated and interested pupils It is certainly not the alone such offering, but it stands on the outside for its learning hints and prime word lists. For students who are not particularly motivated, no vocabulary body can work wonders. But if the pupil is willing to put forth a bit of effort, In-a-Flash Vocabulary can be an of the best choice.

Reviewed by James O Weeks

English Department Chair, Oldfields seminary Glencoe, MD

Copyright National Association of guild Admissions Counselors Summer 2005

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