When and Where I Found It: I came across this word as I was reading Teaching Writing by Gail Tompkins (2008) for my LTED 618 course. The word was used in the sentence, "Marion Crowhurst (1991) identified several problems in children's persuasive writing that this organizational scheme can help to ameliorate" (Tompkins, 2008, p. 269).
What It Means: According to dictionary.com, "ameliorate" means "to make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; improve; meliorate." Tompkins (2008) uses this word to indicate that organizing a persuasive essay can help to improve children's writing.
Ameliorate (v.) In dictionary.com Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ameliorate
Level of Familiarity: Prior to reading this word, I had heard the word used in conversation and had read this word in books a few times. However, I had never actually determined the correct meaning of the word. Previously, I had only guessed what the word meant. I had thought it meant "alleviate" or "get rid of."
Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why? Yes, I want to know this word well because I have already encountered this word in other contexts, and I am sure I will encounter this word in the future. For these reasons, I think it is important that I know the correct definition of the word.
Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, Who and Why? Yes, I think others should know this word well because it is a rather frequently used word, especially in textbooks. When others come across this word in writing or in conversation, it is important that they know what this word means.
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