• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Multiple-meaning words: 'most nearly means' in context; Academic vocabulary in context (SAT/ACT)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Is the proposed answer correct? The castle has a COMMANDING view of the valley. → strict (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: The most common meaning of the word is often a trap. Read the whole sentence.
2. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word? Because the instructions were ___, each team interpreted them differently. (open to more than one meaning) (concise / redundant / ambiguous / explicit) → ambiguousPrompt: Read the whole sentence. What does the gap need to mean? (A clue is given in brackets.)
3. As used in the sentence, the word in capitals most nearly means: The team's victory was SECURED in the final minute. (guarded / made certain / fastened / locked) → made certainPrompt: The most common meaning of the word is often a trap. Read the whole sentence.

• Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
• Share the objective: High-utility SAT words (set A): corroborate, mitigate, pragmatic…. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Which word matches this description? having mixed or contradictory feelings about something
• Step 1: High-utility academic words appear across SAT texts in science, history and literature.
• Step 2: ambivalent: having mixed or contradictory feelings about something
• Step 3: So the answer is: ambivalent
• Answer: ambivalent
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• 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? having mixed or contradictory feelings about something (plausible / exacerbate / mitigate / ambivalent) → ambivalentPrompt: Do you know a related word or root? (corroborate ~ robust; mitigate ~ make milder)
2. Type the word (in English) that matches this description. to make pain or a problem easier to bear → alleviatePrompt: Do you know a related word or root? (corroborate ~ robust; mitigate ~ make milder)

• 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Which word matches this description? capable of working successfully (viable / discern / undermine / alleviate) → viablePrompt: Do you know a related word or root? (corroborate ~ robust; mitigate ~ make milder)
2. Type the word (in English) that matches this description. capable of working successfully → viablePrompt: Do you know a related word or root? (corroborate ~ robust; mitigate ~ make milder)

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-11.