What makes a vocabulary book worthwhile? Worth your time, worth your money? Obviously, the words it features should be useful. There is no sense in teaching the meanings of syzygy, parfleche, gambado, or elaeoptene unless you are preparing the reader to be a vocabulary freak or a specialist in esoterica. Although Words With a Flair deals with difficult words such as apocryphal, etiology, hegira, and myrmidon, each has a high frequency of use in the mass media.
Another way to gauge the value of a vocabulary book is to assess the teaching devices it employs. Are the new words explained clearly, are they used in meaningful examples? Words With a Flair is carefully constructed to teach 600 specially selected words and to show how mature writers use them, Many definitions are followed by interesting comments on derivation and usage. The 40 different groupings help because the words revolve around common themes. Finally, the follow-up exercises should be varied, challenging, and comprehensive. In Words With a Flair, there is an attempt to introduce familiarity with each word through exercises such as Which Word Comes to Mind?, True or False?, Find the Word (Puzzle Box), Extra Letters, Matching, etc. Each exercise reinforces the teaching in a different way, helping the diligent reader to achieve mastery in an efficient manner. Review lessons which follow each unit give additional opportunities for the reader to claim ownership of the new words.
The high school or college student who wishes to add a new dimension to an already well-stocked vocabulary will find that Words With a Flair can meet his or her needs. The adult who is involved in independent study and is seeking self-improvement will discover 40 weeks of stimulating word study in Words With a Flair. The college graduate who has a degree but is dissatisfied with the scope of his or her vocabulary can make great strides in that area through the regular use of Words With a Flair.
What makes a vocabulary book worthwhile? See for yourself!
