Vocabulary-Building Strategies
(Unit 6, page 66: Vocabulary; Use after Exercise B)
 
Elaborating
When you elaborate,   you use new vocabulary  words  to  further  describe something  you
know.  Taking  a  few minutes  to elaborate with  new  vocabulary   items will  help you  better 
remember   them. 
 
Practice.  Complete the word web a poodle with new vocabulary from the lists below that you associate
with this animal. Add other adjectives you know. Then create word webs for the other animals. Use the back of this page if needed.
 
Positive traits

adorable
affectionate
gentle / good-natured
low maintenance
loyal / devoted

Negative traits

aggressive
costly
destructive
filthy
high maintenance
 

----------------------------

a poodle
adorable 
loyal /
devoted
stylish 

a pony
 
 
 
 a pig

a  rat

a chimpanzee

a piranha

 
Idea.  Elaborate by associating new vocabulary you learn in later units with something you also know.   
 
 Summit  1    Unit  6
Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

vocabulary-Building Strategies
(Unit 6, page 65: Vocabulary; Use after Exercise E)
 
Classifying
Classify words you  already  know with  new vocabulary  you  are  learning.  Taking  a  few
minutes  to  classify words will  help  you  better  understand  and  remember  new vocabulary . 
 
Practice.  Work with a partner or in a small group. For each category below, write the names of several
animals that are used for that purpose. Use a dictionary if needed.
 
 killed  for  their hides and  fur
 
 
used for  medical  research
 
 
kept  in zoos
 
 
trained to perform  in ci rcuses
 
 
slaughtered  for  food
 
 
trained  for  f ight ing
 
 
used for  racing
 
 
trained to help people with disabilities
 

Idea.  Try classifying words you already know with ideas you learn in other units.
 
 Summit  1    Unit  6
Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

Vocabulary-Building Strategies
(Unit 5, page 53: Word Skills; Use after Exercise E)
 
Grouping by prefix  
Grouping  is  a helpful   vocabulary -building  technique.   You  can group words  by  meaning
or   by  par t   of  speech.   You  can  also group words by   common pref ix.  Gro uping  the words , 
along wi th writing  them  in  charts ,  will  help you  better   remember   them. 
 
Practice.  Group the words below by negative prefix. Write each under the correct heading in the chart.  
 
Adjectives  that  can take negative prefixes

acceptable 
      considerate 
respectful 
responsible 
appropriate 
proper 
honest 
imaginable 
mature 
polite 
  pleasant 
excusable 
courteous 
rational  
 
dis-   im-   in-   ir -   un- 
    
 

Idea.  Try grouping words in later units by meaning, part of speech, prefixes, or suffixes.

Summit  1    Unit  5
Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

Vocabulary-Building Strategies
(Unit 4, page 46: Word Skills; Use after Exercise A)
 
Diagramming
When you  learn  a new prefix or  suffix,  make a word web diagram  to   create a mental  set  of 
words .  Spending  a  few minutes  to  create a diagram with definitions  will  help  you expand
your   vocabulary . 
 
Practice.  Write words that begin with the prefix self- in the empty ovals. Include the part of speech. Then
write definitions of the words in the ovals.
 
 
 
self -  prefix   
by oneself or by itself;
done by or to oneself
or itself

self-esteem n.    
the attitude of
acceptance and
approval of oneself

self-

 ..............
 
 
Idea.  You can diagram any new vocabulary that has some similarity. For example: adjectives, adverbs, car
words, technology words, etc. 
 
 
   Summi t  1    Unit  4
Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

Vocabulary-Building Strategies
(Unit 4 page 42: Vocabulary; Use after Exercise B)
 
Visualizing
When you  visualize,   you  create a mental   image.  Take a  few minutes  to  create visual 
images you  can  associate with  these vocabulary   items.  This will  give you  a visual 
reference  that  will  help you  better   learn  and  remember   the vocabulary   items. 
 
Practice.  Decide on one or more images suggested by the vocabulary items below. Write these
descriptive nouns and adjectives in the boxes. Then picture these images in your mind.
 
             Attractive

fashionable / stylish
 black silk
an Armani jacket
 
in style /  trendy  / hot 
 
elegant   / chic
 
striking

 ----------------------------------------
 
Unattractive

old- fashioned / out  of  style

tacky
 
flashy
 
shocking
 

Idea.  Create visual images for vocabulary you learn in later units.

 Summit  1    Unit  4
Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.
 

Vocabulary-Building Strategies

(Unit 2, page 20: Vocabulary; Use after Exercise D)

Associating

When you  associate,   you  think  about   how new vocabulary   relates  to other  words  and

concepts you  already  know.  Taking  a  few minutes  to make associate ions  will  help  you

better  understand  and  remember  new vocabulary . 

Practice.  Work with a partner or small group. Complete the gifted word web by thinking of other related

words and examples. Then create word webs for the other vocabulary items. Use the back of this page if

needed.

Idea.  Try associating vocabulary you learn in later units with words and ideas you know. Draw a word web

for each new vocabulary word and associate each with words and ideas you already know.

gifted

difficult 

moody

passionate  egotistical 

eccentric

energetic

imaginative

Picasso

 genius

talented

Summit 1    Unit 2

Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

Vocabulary-Building Strategies

(Unit 2, page 16: Vocabulary; Use after Exercise B)

Associating

After  you have  learned new vocabulary ,   it ’s good  to associate  it with concepts you already

know.  This can help you better  use and  remember   the vocabulary. 

Practice.  Make associations by describing musicians or songs you like using the Elements of Music vocabulary,

as well as appropriate adjectives.  Fill in the boxes below. Then work with a partner. Take turns talking about

musicians or songs and elements of music.

Idea.  Try making associations with vocabulary in later units.

Adjectives

catchy  beautiful

great  interesting

terrific  unforgettable

unique  exciting

nice  (other)

Person or  Group

name of song, singer, musician,

songwriter, group, band, or

orchestra

Elements of  music

sound  voice

lyrics  beat

melody  (other)

Beyoncé +   terrific + voice 

Summit 1    Unit  2

Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

Vocabulary-Building Strategies  

(Unit 1, page 13; Use after Checkpoint)

Creating a personal  glossary

As you enter  higher  levels of  English study ,  developing a broad,   rich vocabulary becomes an

Important goal .  Creating your own glossary in a notebook devoted  to new vocabulary will

help.  After  you have studied new material ,  select new words you  feel  will  be  the most useful  

for  you.  Add  these words  to your  personal  glossary .   

Practice.   Look back over the unit. Choose eight new words that you haven’t mastered yet, but would like to

add to your personal glossary. Write them below. For each word, write the meaning, part of speech, and an

example sentence. Note the pronunciation if helpful. Use a dictionary as needed. 

cynical adj. unwilling to believe that people have good, honest, or sincere reasons for doing  

something: A pessimist is more cynical and believes life will always be difficult and painful.  

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Idea.  Buy a small pocket notebook for your personal glossary. Carry it with you so you can review vocabulary

at any time. Remember to select and add new words from each new unit to your notebook.

Summit  1    Unit  1

Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use

Vocabulary-Building Strategies
(Unit 1, page 6: Vocabulary; Use after Exercise B)
 
Personalizing
When you personalize new vocabulary,  you  think about how  it  relates  to you:  your 
experiences,  people you know,  or  your  environment .  Taking a  few minutes  to make
connect ions between new vocabulary words and your  own experience will  help you better 
remember   the vocabulary. 
 
Practice.  For each vocabulary item, think of a person you know who matches that personality type.  Think of
people you have known in the past and people you know now. You may also want to think of celebrities or
television, movie, or literary characters. Write a name below each vocabulary word. Then write the reason you
feel the vocabulary applies to that person. Tell a partner about your choices.
 
Positive                                                           Negative

   a  sweetheart                                          a  tyrant

  Name:                                                          Name:

  Reason:                                                        Reason:

    a  team  player                                       a  workaholic

  Name:                                                          Name:

  Reason:                                                        Reason:

    a brain                                       a  pain  in  the  neck

  Name:                                                          Name:

  Reason:                                                        Reason:

  a  people  person                                     a  wise  guy

  Name:                                                          Name:

  Reason:                                                        Reason:

 Idea.   Review these vocabulary words and what you wrote tomorrow, then a few days later, then a week
  later.