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English lesson plan · 12th grade (Year 13 in England) · 30 minutes

Advanced words in context (set C): belie, capricious, tacit, trenchant…

Vocabulary

CCSS L.11-12.4.ACCSS L.11-12.6England: SAT Reading and Writing (Words in Context)England: AP LanguageEngland: A-level English

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Advanced words in context (set C): belie, capricious, tacit, trenchant….

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: High-utility SAT words (set B): anomaly, empirical, salient…

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Word cards, A thesaurus or dictionary, A short text with the target words, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (High-utility SAT words (set B): anomaly, empirical, salient…). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which word matches this description? existing as a natural, permanent part of something (salient / inherent / conjecture / resilient) → inherentPrompt: Use roots: em-pirical (experience), pro-liferate (multiply), im-partial (not taking part).
  2. Type the word (in English) that matches this description. an opinion formed without complete evidence → conjecturePrompt: Use roots: em-pirical (experience), pro-liferate (multiply), im-partial (not taking part).
  3. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word? Without data, the theory remains ___; nobody has yet tested it. (conjecture / lucrative / empirical / salient) → conjecturePrompt: Underline the words that explain or contrast with the gap.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
  • Share the objective: Advanced words in context (set C): belie, capricious, tacit, trenchant…. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which word matches this description? optimistic, especially in a difficult situation
  • Step 1: Sophisticated vocabulary lets you describe ideas, people and arguments precisely.
  • Step 2: sanguine: optimistic, especially in a difficult situation
  • Step 3: So the answer is: sanguine
  • Answer: sanguine
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Which word matches this description? refusing to change one's views or compromise (trenchant / sanguine / intransigent / iconoclast) → intransigentPrompt: Use any root you recognise: circum- (around), dis- (apart, down), ob- (against, in the way).
  2. Type the word (in English) that matches this description. overused and therefore unoriginal → hackneyedPrompt: Use any root you recognise: circum- (around), dis- (apart, down), ob- (against, in the way).

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Type the word (in English) that matches this description. not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily → reticentPrompt: Use any root you recognise: circum- (around), dis- (apart, down), ob- (against, in the way).
  2. Which word matches this description? a person who attacks established beliefs or traditions (sanguine / trenchant / iconoclast / reticent) → iconoclastPrompt: Use any root you recognise: circum- (around), dis- (apart, down), ob- (against, in the way).

Watch out for

  • Picking a "bigger" synonym that doesn't fit the meaning.
  • Ignoring the clues in the rest of the sentence.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: High-utility SAT words (set B): anomaly, empirical, salient….
  • Use concrete materials: word cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-12.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Advanced words in context (set C): belie, capricious, tacit, trenchant…

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word? The detective's ___ smile gave no clue as to what she had discovered.

    • A. hackneyed
    • B. prosaic
    • C. didactic
    • D. enigmatic
  2. Question 2

    Which word matches this description? to warn or reprimand firmly

    • A. esoteric
    • B. circumvent
    • C. tacit
    • D. admonish
  3. Question 3

    Type the word (in English) that matches this description. not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word? The speech relied on ___ phrases such as 'at the end of the day' and 'think outside the box'.

    • A. esoteric
    • B. hackneyed
    • C. trenchant
    • D. enigmatic
  5. Question 5

    Which word matches this description? sharp, vigorous and clear in expression

    • A. capricious
    • B. disparage
    • C. prosaic
    • D. trenchant
  6. Question 6

    Type the word (in English) that matches this description. to speak of as having little worth

    Answer

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Answer key: Advanced words in context (set C): belie, capricious, tacit, trenchant…

  1. 1. D. enigmatic

  2. 2. D. admonish

  3. 3. reticent

  4. 4. B. hackneyed

  5. 5. D. trenchant

  6. 6. disparage