VOCABULARY FROM PERSEPOLIS

INSTRUCTIONAL ROUTINE
ROUTINE GUIDE
(A vocabulary strategy guide for Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood, Pantheon 2003 Edition)
Context: This instructional routine is meant to be used as a vocabulary strategy and it should be utilized
throughout the reading of the book.
Statement of Purpose: This activity should be used to help students identify difficult words in the text and then
define them. First, they should try to derive the meaning of each word using context clues from the text. Then
they can look up the dictionary definition of the word on their own or you can do it as a class using
dictionary.com. Doing so will allow students to practice using their own literacy skills to find the meaning of
unfamiliar words. You may want students to also keep a record of any other words that they come across which
are unfamiliar or difficult. Whenever you read in class, Make sure you give students time to define any
vocabulary words from the worksheet.
Materials Needed:
-

Handouts of the vocabulary list for each student

Dictionaries or a computer to use dictionary.com (you might want to project the site up on the board so
the entire class can see it)
Copies of Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (Pantheon 2003 Edition) for each student

Directions:
Step 1: Before you start reading the book, pass out the vocabulary handout.
Step 2: Read the directions on the vocabulary handout with students
Step 3: Allow students to fill out the handouts any time you come across one of the words on the worksheet.
Have them first fill out what they think the definition might be using context clues from the book. You may
want to have students do this individually, in pairs, in groups or even with the entire class.
Step 4: Once students have recorded their definition for the word, have them look up the dictionary definition
for each word. I suggest doing this as you go along so that students have multiple opportunities to use the
dictionary or dictionary.com. Also, students are more likely to remember the definitions of the words while they
still have a context to place them in. Try to avoid having them look up the dictionary definitions for all of the
words at once.
Step 5: At the end of the unit, have students turn in their finished vocabulary sheets for a grade.
Assessment: This activity should be graded as its own assignment and students should be graded on completion
of the handout as well as the quality of the definitions that they write. You may also want to use some of these
words on a final test for the book.
Elison, BYU, Fall 2012

Name ________________________________ Class _____________________ Date _________________

Directions: Below are some vocabulary words that you will come across in our reading of Persepolis: The
Story of a Childhood. As you come across a word in the text, write down what you think the definition of a
word is in the first column. Use context clues from the text to help you figure out what the word might
mean. Later, look up the dictionary definition and write that in the second column.
Vocabulary Word
Decadence (Pages 4, 133)
Decadent (Pages 73)
Avantgarde (Page 6)
Dialectic(al) Materialism
(Pages 12, 53, 59)
Frivolities (Page 28)
Clandestine (Page 33)
Diabolical (Page 53)
Proletariat (Pages 62, 69)
Chador (Page 75)
Pretext (Pages 79, 302)
Coup detat (Page 82)
Flagellate (Page 96)
Secular (Page 96)
Belligerent (Page 115)
Espadrilles (Page 138)

Elison, BYU, Fall 2012

Your Definition

Dictionary Definition