ENGLISH 110: VOCABULARY WORKSHEET

YOUR NAME:

When you brainstorm vocabulary words and phrases that have to do with your research idea what youre really doing is exploring the many concepts that relate to your idea. The words and phrases can represent identical concepts (advertisements and commercials), opposite concepts (favorable and unfavorable), related but not identical concepts (pundits and reporters), broader concepts (basketball and sports), narrower concepts (sports and basketball), and even simply similar words that describe similar concepts (fame and famous). Having thought about all these possibilities can help you revise your original research idea into one thats timely, compelling and relevant. This will help when youve begun with a broad or vague idea, but also when youve begun with a specific idea thats way too narrow. When you begin to look for information with which to substantiate your idea, having a range of vocabulary in hand will help. If your idea is too broad youll probably be overwhelmed with information. If your idea is too narrow youll have a hard time finding suitable information. If you keep your vocabulary flexible, however, youll have many more options for finding the information you really need for your paper.

Completing this worksheet will give you some practice with brainstorming vocabulary. Start by writing your current research idea below: Research Idea: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ List the most important concept words (minimum of 2; maximum of 4) in your topic:

#1) #2) #3) #4)

Concept word #1: ____________________________________ (If the table is stumping you, consult a dictionary or thesaurus. See http://www.bartleby.com ). SYNONYMS ANTONYMS RELATED (but not synonyms) BROADER TERMS NARROWER TERMS VARIANT FORMS (e.g., teach, teaching, teacher, teachers)

ENGLISH 110: VOCABULARY WORKSHEET

YOUR NAME:

Research Topic: _______________________________________________________________ List the 4 most important concept words in your topic: 1) Concept word #2: ___________________________ SYNONYMS ANTONYMS RELATED (but not synonyms) BROADER TERMS NARROWER TERMS VARIANT FORMS (e.g., teach, teaching, teacher, teachers) 2) 3) 4)

ENGLISH 110: VOCABULARY WORKSHEET Concept word #3: ___________________________ SYNONYMS ANTONYMS RELATED (but not synonyms) BROADER TERMS NARROWER TERMS

YOUR NAME:

VARIANT FORMS (e.g., teach, teaching, teacher, teachers)

ENGLISH 110: VOCABULARY WORKSHEET Concept word #4: ___________________________ SYNONYMS ANTONYMS RELATED (but not synonyms) BROADER TERMS NARROWER TERMS

YOUR NAME:

VARIANT FORMS (e.g., teach, teaching, teacher, teachers)

ENGLISH 110: VOCABULARY WORKSHEET

YOUR NAME:

ENGLISH 110: VOCABULARY WORKSHEET

YOUR NAME:

Now that youve brainstormed synonyms, antonyms, broader and narrower terms, and variant word forms based on your research topics key concepts, take some time to think about these possible QUESTION WORDS AND PHRASES that you might apply to your topic: HOW IN WHAT WAY(S)

Use some of your brainstorming words and aspects/question words to draft 3 focused research questions that you might want to pursue. EXAMPLE: Original research topic: Research question #1: Research question #2: Research question #3: YOUR TURN: Original research topic: Research question #1: Research question #2: Research question #3: Reflection Write a well-developed paragraph or two about how the process of expanding the vocabulary associated with your research topics main concepts has helped you construct these potential research questions. Which question do like best (so far), and why? Barack Obama and Sarah Palin as celebrities How do the portrayals of Barack Obama and Sarah Palin on popular press magazine covers define celebrity? In what ways does political celebrity differ from Hollywood celebrity? In what ways do creators of TV ads for John McCain use the negative connotations of celebrity against Barack Obama?