At the end of week 3

Wow!  Three weeks have passed quickly.   You seem to be getting deeper into all this stuff.   I hope by deeper this means increased understanding, not deeper confusion.    If you are perplexed, please raise your hand and ask a question.     What makes studying literature interesting is all the uncertain answers and varied interpretations.    We are all different and so how we see the world and the stories (narratives) that it is comprised of will be similarly different.   The important thing is that you are able to justify and explain (in English via speaking and/or writing) why you believe something is so.

I think that many of you are still stuck in translating mode -- back and forth between your first language and English.    This will hamper your progress.      You need to develop your vocabulary so that this is not necessary and shift your thinking so that you consciously avoid or minimize it.

Here is a very good website where you can assess your vocabulary knowledge.

Try the following vocabulary tests to assess your vocabulary knowledge.  Read the instructions carefully.
Do not think too much or use a dictionary.  When you are done, click 'score' in the left hand column. Do not click 'reset'.  Note down your score.   You should score very highly.

Level 1000 Vocabulary Test

When you are done, click 'score

Then go  to


Other Levels Vocabulary Tests

and take all the tests (level 2000, level 3000, level 5000, university word list, level 10,000).  When you are done, click 'score' in the left hand column. Do not click 'reset'.  Note down your score.       

 At AP5,  you should have mastery (85%+) of the first 3000 words,  and a fair bit (50-70%) of 4000-5000 words, plus the academic words.    This is vital for entering into academic studies.

For more vocabulary pages,  visit this page on my  ESL website.



Finally,  your homework for  next Tuesday.

1.   Don't forget that the outline plus summary of the money lecture from COC is due from each group.

2.   Start studying the next 10 academic words (erode --> mature)

3.   In Style & Substance --  Do exercises "Style and Literary Devices" pp.48-49; "Imagery and Symbolism"
      p.50;  "Vocabulary Development" p.51-52 ; Do Exercise 5 pp.289-290   and   Read & annotate (no
      exercises) pp.178-181.