The dog rolled over

Smart students know the best way to make sure new vocabulary words get added to their active vocabulary. You can use this method, too! For each new vocabulary word, write a sentence that makes the meaning of the word clear to a person who does not already know what the word means.

Beginners sometimes make the mistake of writing a sentence in which the new vocabulary word could mean anything. Athena Mentor Wyly Brown dubbed these sentences, "The dog rolled over." Here are some examples:

The dog rolled over surreptitiously.

The dog rolled over petulantly.

The dog rolled over meticulously.

The hirsute dog rolled over.

The indomitable dog rolled over.

It's not the dog's fault

Each of these assertions may be true, and the vocabulary words are not used incorrectly. Nevertheless, the sentences are ineffective as practice in using advanced vocabulary in a way that will take root in your mind.

Moreover, the vocabulary word sticks out like a sore thumb--or like the expression on the face of a guilty dog.

Athena Advises

Write as if you were composing sentences for the SAT. Each sentence should contain a clue about the meaning of the word. The clue should be clear enough to allow you to plug the clue into the blank. (In this case, you already know the word that goes into the blank: it's your new vocabulary word.)

The clue must be either positive (it tells you the meaning of the vocabulary word) or negative (it tells you the opposite of the word).

Writing your sentences this way will make the meaning of the word clear to you, both as you write, and when you come back to review your sentences.It will also train you to see sentence completion questions the way the SAT sees them.This is a great technique to improve your vocabulary, whatever your goal may be. If you are studying specifically for the SAT and the concept of a clue--positive or negative--is new to you, Athena Advises you to open your review book right now to the chapter on "Sentence Completion."If you are an Athena Mentor student, send us a few sentences, so that we can fine-tune your technique. If you're interested in becoming an Athena Mentor student, click here to send a message to Athena Mentor.This issue of the newsletter is dedicated to the memory of my beloved German shepherd, who never, ever rolled over.Best wishes,Dr. Marlena CorcoranFounder and CEOAuthor of Year by Year to College, on amazon.com, amazon.de and many national amazon sites