Untitled Notes

noun: the vocabulary of a language, a group of speakers (or even an individual speaker), or of a field or subject.

Example: The word karaoke has entered Americans’ lexicon, becoming as common as words borrowed from other languages, like burrito or polka.

noun: the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax.

Example: Expanding your vocabulary will help you reach your academic apotheosis.

verb: deliberately avoid using; abstain from.

Example: Students often report eschewing assigned reading, which is unfortunate, especially in English classes where reading is typically a central focus of the course.

noun: something or someone that one vehemently dislikes.

Example: Many students consider reading for class to be anathema, but successful students realize that it is key to learning and their academic performance.

verb: to make less severe, serious, or painful.

Example: If you find reading for class to be anathema, there are tips for mitigating your displeasure, like breaking up reading assignments into more manageable chunks.

noun: an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure.

Example: Brainstorming can help you have epiphanies about topics for your essays.

adjective: soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing.

Example: I realized after forgetting my umpteenth idea for topics for my essay that I need to write them down when they occur to me, as they have proven to be evanescent.

adjective: lasting for a very short time.

adjective: just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential.

Example: Your ideas for your first idea might be nascent right now, but you will use the results of your brainstorming activity to develop them to fruition.

noun: the occurrence and development of events by chance in some beneficial way.

Example: Brainstorming can often result in the serendipitous discovery of ideas and even topics that we wouldn’t have originally thought of as likely candidates for a given essay.

adjective: just begun, undeveloped.

Example: The students’ research was inchoate; nevertheless it provided them ideas and sources germane to what they will do in their respective disciplines.