9:2 Etiolated

When and Where I Found It:  I came across this word as I was reading Wicked:  The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Maguire, 1995).  The word was used in the following sentence:  "She sat down, looking a bit etiolated, and allowed him to call for a cup of mineral tea" (Maguire, 1995, p. 108). 
Maguire, G. (1995). Wicked:  The life and times of the wicked witch of the west.  New York, NY:  HarperCollins.    


What It Means:  According to dictionary.com, this word means "to whiten or grow pale through lack of light."  I think this definition is particularly interesting, as the sentence in the book refers to how Elphaba looks, while the definition refers mainly to plants.  I like this comparison, since anyone who has read the book or has seen the musical knows that Elphaba's skin is green-colored, like a plant's green leaves.  
Etiolated (v.) In dictionary.com Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/etiolated


Level of Familiarity:  Prior to reading this word in the novel, I had never heard of this word before.  I had no idea that the word was even a legitimate word, and I could only guess at its pronunciation.  Once I heard its correct pronunciation on dictionary.com, I realized I wasn't even pronouncing it correctly.  Also, when I first read the word in the sentence, I guessed that it could mean "irritated" or "uneasy."  Then I realized that, the way that the sentence is written, the reader could substitute a number of different words in for the word "etiolated," and the sentence would still make sense.  

Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?  Yes, I want to know this word well, simply because I was so completely unfamiliar with it prior to reading this novel.  Also, this is an interesting word to know, since I have seen plants that have changed to a pale color.  Now that I know the correct terminology for this action, I can use the word to refer to plants as well. 

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, Who and Why?  I think it is not necessary that everyone know this term, as it is not a term that most people encounter on a daily basis.  However, it could be good to know this word, since it refers to plants, and most people have plants either in their houses or on their property.  Also, the popularity of the novel Wicked (Maguire, 1995) leads me to want to encourage those who read this book to at least have a basic level of familiarity with this word.  Otherwise, readers will miss Maguire's (1995) clever comparison of Elphaba's sudden lack of color to that of a green plant becoming pale. 

9:1 Impertinent

When and Where I Found It:  I came across this word as I was reading Wicked:  The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Maguire, 1995).
Maguire, G. (1995). Wicked:  The life and times of the wicked witch of the west.  New York, NY:  HarperCollins.   

What It Means:  According to dictionary.com, this word means "intrusive or presumptuous, as persons or their actions" and "insolently rude; uncivil."  This definition seems appropriate, as the word is used in the novel by the Wicked Witch to refer to Dorothy's "impertinent feet" that had possession of the red shoes (Maguire, 1995, p. 3).  Maguire (1995) uses the word "impertinent" to refer to Dorothy's "intrusive" or "rude" feet that currently hold the Witch's shoes (p. 3).
Impertinent. (adj.) In dictionary.com. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/impertinent

Level of Familiarity:  Previously, I had only heard this word a few times.  However, as I was reading the novel, I was able to determine a vague definition of the word based on context clues and my previous exposure to the word.  However, prior to checking the definition on dictionary.com, I had thought that the word's meaning was closer to "disobedient," rather than intrusive and uncivil.  I am glad that I clarified my own personal definition of this word by looking up the actual definition.  

Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?  Yes, I want to know this word well, since now I have not only heard it used in conversation, but I have also read the word in a novel.  I feel that it would be beneficial for me to know this word, as my own personal definition was not completely accurate.  Now, the next time I see this word, I will know exactly what it means.  

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, Who and Why?  Yes, I think others should know this word well.  Since I read this word in a book that is quite popular (and that inspired an equally popular musical), I feel that many other people will be exposed to this word and should know what it means.  I think that, like me, many people have heard the word used before and have a vague idea of its meaning.  However, this vague idea could need a little refining, as mine did.  Thus, everyone should know the actual definition of the word and should know it well to prepare themselves for encountering this word in the future.      

8:2 Persnickety

When and Where I Found It:  I came across this word in an advertisement for Sargento brand cheese products.  The word "persnickety" is part of their slogan, which is:  "Persnickety People.  Exceptional Cheese."

What It Means:  According to dictionary.com, "persnickety" means "overparticular" or "fussy."  It could also mean "snobbish or having the aloof attitude of a snob" or "requiring painstaking care."  Given this definition, it seems that Sargento is implying that the people who work for the company are fussy about their cheese and take great care with it, so that they are then able to sell a high-quality, or "exceptional" cheese.  
Persnickety. (adj.) In dictionary.com. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/persnickety

Level of Familiarity:  I have heard this word used many times before.  My parents have used this word in that past to describe me or my sister's behavior when we were young.  Hearing my family use this word has led me to use the word often in conversation.  Lately, I have used the word to describe my pet chinchilla's fussy eating habits.

Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?  Yes, I want to know this word well because I use it often in conversation.  If I use this word, I want to make sure that I'm using it correctly and that the word's meaning can be applied to the situation that I am referring to.  

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, Who and Why?  Yes, I think that others should know this word well.  The general public should definitely know this word well, since they are being exposed to this word in the advertisements for Sargento cheese.  I am assuming that the Sargento company would also advocate that its consumers are familiar with this word, so that they are better able to understand Sargento's slogan.  I believe that others should know the word's general meaning (not necessarily related to the cheese company) well because, not only is it a sophisticated way to refer to fussy behavior, but it is also an extremely fun word to say.   

8:1 Clerihew

When and Where I Found It:  I came across this word as I was reading the chapter about poetry in my Teaching Writing (Tompkins, 2008) book for my LTED 618 course.  This word was located on p. 253 of this book (Tompkins, 2008).

What It Means:  According to Teaching Writing (Tompkins, 2008), a clerihew is "a four-line rhymed verse that describes a person" (p. 253).  This type of poem was named after Edmund Clerihew Bentley, who originally invented it (Tompkins, 2008).
Tompkins, G. E. (2008). Teaching writing:  Balancing process and product (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ:  Merrill.

Level of Familiarity:  Prior to reading the word in this chapter, I had never heard of this type of poetry before.  I was actually very surprised that this type of poetry had never been taught to me during the course of my education.  

Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?  Yes, I want to know this word well, since I could potentially teach this type of poetry to my students in the future.  If I do need to teach clerihews, I would like to know as much about this form of poetry as possible, so that I can teach it effectively.  

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, Who and Why?  I think this word is important for other future English teachers to know, as it can be an interesting form of poetry to teach.  Students could have an extremely positive experience writing a poem about a famous person or about someone who is important in that particular student's life.  Since it is a relatively specialized word, it might not be necessary for everyone to know this word well, since many people will not encounter this word in their daily lives.   

7:2 Miscreant

When and Where I Found It:  I was watching an old episode of Gilmore Girls.  At one point in the episode, Rory called Logan a "miscreant" because she was angry at him.  

What It Means:   According to dictionary.com, miscreant is a noun (in this case) that means "a vicious or depraved person; villain."  Rory was so angry with Logan for playing a prank on her in class that she called him a villain.
Miscreant. (n.) In dictionary.com. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/miscreant

Level of Familiarity:  While I know that I have heard this word used once or twice before, I was unsure of its exact definition.  I knew that calling someone a miscreant is an insult, but I was always under the impression that "miscreant" referred to someone who "makes mischief" or plays tricks.  I probably figured that because "miscreant" and "mischief" sort of sound the same.  However, I had no idea that it refers to a "depraved person" or "villain."  The actual definition of the word is much harsher than I initially thought.

Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?  I want to know this word well because I had only a basic understanding of it previously.  I want to know that I have learned the correct definition and usage of this word.  Also, the word is used so rarely, but it is such a powerful word, so I would like to know that I could use the word when the appropriate circumstances arise.

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, Who and Why?  I think others should know this word well, because it is such a better, more sophisticated way to insult someone than the words that most other people use.  It would be nice if others knew this word and used it when they are upset with someone else, instead of using other language that might result in more conflict and a less mature argument.  

7:1 Unwieldy

When and Where I Found It:  One of my customers used this word to describe a large box of merchandise that she had in her cart.  When I went to turn the box so I could scan it, she said, "it's awfully unwieldy, isn't it?"

What It Means:  According to dictionary.com, this word means "not readily handled or managed in use or action, as from size, shape, or weight; awkward; ungainly."  In terms of my encounter with this word, my customer meant that the box was so large that it was awkward to handle or to lift up to scan it.
Unwieldy. (adj.) In dictionary.com. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/unwieldy 

Level of Familiarity:  I have only heard this word used a few times before, and whenever it is used, it always makes me think of Juliet's line in "Romeo and Juliet."  In Act II, Scene V, Juliet uses the word "unwieldy" to describe older people as she waits for the Nurse to come back with news from Romeo.  Aside from this example, I had not heard this word used much in everyday conversation.

Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?  Yes, I want to know this word well because it can be useful when describing something that is awkward to handle or bulky (which pretty much describes most of the merchandise at my store).  It is also fun to know a word that was used by Shakespeare.  Maybe knowing and using this word will help to keep it in use in the present-day as well.

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, Who and Why?  When I have my own English classroom, if my students are studying "Romeo and Juliet," I will be sure that they know this word well.  It is a word that is not only useful to know in the context of the play, but it can also be used in present-day situations.  It would also be a good word for everyone else to know, since clearly it is used in conversation.  If I had not known this word when my customer used it, I probably would have been confused or would have thought she was crazy.  Instead, I felt like asking her if she was an English major.

6:3 Inchoate

When and Where I Found It:  I came across this word as I was ready Nancy Sommers' (1982) article "Responding to Student Writing" for my LTED 618 course.  

What It Means:  According to dictionary.com, inchoate (pronounced in-koh-it) means "not yet completed or fully developed; rudimentary."  This makes sense, as this word was being used to describe "ideas ready to be exploited in this paragraph" (Sommers, 1982, p. 154).  In other words, the author was stating that the ideas in that particular paragraph might be "rudimentary" or lacking complete development.
Inchoate. (adj.) In dictionary.com.  Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/inchoate

Level of Familiarity:  Prior to seeing this word in the article, I had never heard of this word before.  In fact, I was drawn to look up its definition specifically because I was unsure if it was a real word!  If this word had not been located in a journal article that I was reading for a graduate course, I think I would not have believed that it was a legitimate word; if I had read it somewhere on the internet, my initial thought would have been that this was a made-up word.  

Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?  Yes, I want to know this word well, since it is used in a course text.  In addition, I would like to be able to use this word in a sentence and be able to pronounce it correctly, as I was unable to do both of these upon first encountering the word.  

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, Who and Why?  I think others should know this word because it is an interesting word and can be used as a good descriptor in place of other words, such as "rudimentary."  While this is not a word that everyone encounters in ordinary speech, I believe it would be beneficial for others to at least know that this word exists. 
 

6:2 Superfluous

When and Where I Found It:  I actually used this word in a conversation with my mom a few days ago.  While I can't remember the exact situation, I think I was asking her if I should delete a minor detail from a piece of writing.  I asked her if the detail was "superfluous."

What It Means:  According to dictionary.com, superfluous means "being more than is sufficient or required; excessive" or "unnecessary or needless."  I'm still trying to determine which definition is more appropriate to the context in which I was using the word.  Since I was asking my mom if I should remove the detail, my initial reaction was to go with the first definition, because I was considering removing a detail that delves further into an issue in my writing piece.  However, the detail could be "unnecessary or needless," which would lead me to believe the second definition is more appropriate in this circumstance.  
Superfluous. (adj.)  In dictionary.com  Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/superfluous

Level of Familiarity:  Prior to using this word in my conversation, I have been exposed to the word through print, and I may have also heard the word used in conversation once or twice.  In spite of these limited experiences, I did know the correct definition of the word and how to use it properly in the given situation.

Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?  Yes, I want to know this word well, because I have already had some occasion to use it in conversation.  I enjoy knowing the definition of the word and knowing that I can use this word when appropriate.  In addition, I think this word is fun to say, so having a thorough sense of its definition will aid me in using this word in conversation whenever possible.

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, Who and Why?  I think that others should know this word well, if for no other reason than to be able to understand when this word is used in conversation.  While it's not a word I hear entirely often, it is still used occasionally and would be beneficial for others to know.  

6:1 Verbose

When and Where I Found It:  I came across this word as I was reading chapter 4 in Word Wise and Content Rich (Fisher & Frey, 2008) in preparation for next week's class.  

What It Means:  Fisher and Frey (2008) use "verbose" as a descriptive word for people who are "too wordy," or who talk too much (p. 61).  The authors use this word to characterize one of the ways vocabulary skills can affect how we are perceived by others.  Dictionary.com supports Fisher and Frey's (2008) definition, as the website defines "verbose" as "characterized by the use of many or too many words."
Verbose. (adj.) In dictionary.com Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/verbose

Level of Familiarity:  Prior to reading this word in the text, I had heard it used in conversation a few times.  Through its contextual use, I had a basic understanding of this word, but I probably could not have provided an accurate definition.  

Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?  Yes, I want to know this word well because it can be used as another way to say that someone uses many (or too many) words to communicate.  I feel that this word can be helpful to know, since I have already come across it a few times and have not been completely certain of its correct definition.  Also, as an English major, I like this word and will probably have occasion to use it in the future.  

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, Who and Why?  I think it would be useful for others to know this word, especially if they have heard it used in conversation in the past.  However, I'm sure that many people will never hear this word or want to use it in conversation, so it may not be necessary for everyone to know the word.   

5:3 Plethora

When and Where I Found It:  I came across this word as I was reading Malena's article for her reciprocal teaching session this week.  The word was on page 292 in "Digital Storytelling:  Extending the Potential for Struggling Writers" (Sylvester & Greenidge, 2009).


What It Means:  According to www.dictionary.com, "plethora" means "overabundance" or "excess."  When used in context of this article, "plethora" refers to the numerous amount of sources that students will draw from when choosing graphics for their digital stories.
Plethora. (n.)  In dictionary.com  Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/plethora

Level of Familiarity:  Prior to seeing this word in the article, I have heard the word used in conversation and have also used it in conversation myself once or twice.  

Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?  Yes, I want to know this word well because it is a useful term to use when you want to refer to a large amount of something.  It sounds much better to say "a plethora" of sources" than to say "a bunch of" or "a lot of."  Plethora is also a fun word to say out loud.

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, Who and Why?  I think others should know this word well as it can be used in a number of different situations.  The word "plethora" can be used to refer to an overabundance of almost anything, whether it be papers, books, desks, grapes, or other objects.  Because of its versatility, I believe that everyone should know what the word "plethora" means and should be able to use the word in conversation or writing.

5:2 Schemata

When and Where I Found It:  I found this term as I read the article "Counterpart Strategies:  Fine Tuning Language With Language" by Kucer and Rhodes (1986, p. 187) for my LTED 618 course.

What It Means:  Kucer and Rhodes (1986) refer to schemata as "understandings about the world" that people construct as they experience events in their lives (p. 187).  According to dictionary.com, schemata (the plural form of "schema") is "an underlying organizational pattern or structure; conceptual framework."
Schemata. (n. pl.) In dictionary.com.  Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/schemata

Level of Familiarity:  Prior to reading this article, I had seen and heard this word before, but usually only in its singular form (schema).  

Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?  Yes, I want to know this word well as I think it is a valuable word.  Since schemata refers to one's understandings or thoughts, this word could be used to describe how students think about our content.  For example, someone might say that a student's existing schemata regarding social studies will influence his or her ability to learn about the feudal system.  In this circumstance, it would be essential for me to know what "schemata" means.

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, Who and Why?  I think others should know this word well.  Not only is it an interesting word (and a fun word to say out loud), but it is useful when explaining your "conceptual framework" or understandings about a topic.  Thus, I think everyone should know this word and its meaning.

5:1 Principled Understanding

When and Where I Found It:  I found this term as I read chapter 19 in the Handbook of Reading Research (Kamil, Mosenthal, Pearson, & Barr, 2000).  The term was located on page 287 in the Handbook.

What It Means:  According to the Handbook of Reading Research, "principled understanding" refers to the "development of knowledge organized around pivotal concepts or principles" (Kamil et al., 2000, p. 287).  For example, those of us in LTED 625 probably have principled understanding regarding literacy or literacy-related concepts. 

Level of Familiarity:  Prior to reading this chapter, I had never seen this term before and had no idea what it means. 

Do You Want to Know This Word Well and Why?  Yes, I want to know this term well because I think it effectively explains how we want our students to learn from text.  We want them to have a "principled understanding" of the concepts contained in our content-area texts, rather than just a mix of vague ideas related to these concepts.  I think it will be helpful for me to know this term so that I can articulate the kind of knowledge that I want my students to gain. 

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, Who and Why?  I think everyone in our LTED 625 course should know this word well as it could be useful in explaining the type of understanding we want our students to glean from content-area texts.  Since this is a rather specialized term, I am not sure whether everyone needs to know it, but I think it would also be important for others in the field of education to have at least a basic understanding of what this term means.