TOOLS FOR SUCCESS: Strengthening Analytical Vocabulary
Updated: Sep 15, 2020
Power words to help young people write with more sophistication
Help students strengthen their analytical vocabulary. Pin up this simple card in their field of vision as a reminder. There are better word choices, more sophisticated ways to avoid always using “AND”, “BECAUSE” or “ALSO”.
consequently = as a consequence; because of this furthermore = adding on to what I’ve just said in addition = adding to what I’ve said nevertheless = on the other hand; however therefore = because of this by contrast = on the other hand; different to what I’ve just said
a juxtaposition is a contrast; a deliberate comparison; things placed side by side
the writer juxtaposes x & y in order to …
we see the juxtaposition of x & y. This causes us to feel / think …
irony = hiding a different or opposite meaning; exposing an amusing fault or impossibility
Eg. In Generals Die in Bed, the army calls their breaks from the trenches “rest”. The word rest is ironic because we see the soldiers do not get much rest at all.
Eg. In Romeo & Juliet, Friar Lawrence tells Romeo, “wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast.” This is ironic because the Friar helps the pair rush into marriage and later, the Friar stumbles as he rushes to Juliet’s tomb before she wakes.
A paradox is a contradiction or an absurd truth; it seems ridiculous but can be shown to be truthful.
Eg. In Generals Die in Bed, Harrison (the author) shows us the paradoxical nature of killing in war time – it can be both cowardly and called heroic; it is never considered murder. So killing is good; killing is not murder. These are paradoxes.
Eg. In Romeo & Juliet, Shakespeare shows us that love is paradoxical. It causes great pain, it causes people to kill and it causes people to lie and it causes people to suicide.
