Academic Vocabulary: Argument
Academic terms appear in all subjects and can help you read, write, and
discuss with more precision. Here are five academic words that will be
useful to you in this unit as you analyze and write arguments.
Complete the chart.
1. Review each word, its root, and the mentor sentences.
2. Use the information and your own knowledge to predict the meaning
of each word.
3. For each word, list at least two related words.
4. Refer to the dictionary or other resources if needed.
WORD
retort
ROOT:
-tort-
"twist"
candid
ROOT:
-cand-
"shine";
"white"
rectify
ROOT:
-rect-
"straight"
speculate
ROOT:
-spec-
"look"
verify
ROOT:
-ver-
"truth"
MENTOR SENTENCES
1. His grumpy retort made me sorry I
had asked the question.
2. I fired off a retort so clever she
couldn't think of anything to add.
1. Take a candid photo of us so that
we look like we do in real life..
2. I wish she were more candid with
me; I never know what she means.
1. I will try to rectify the situation, but
I think things are beyond fixing.
2. Don't worry, I will rectify the
problem as soon as I get to the
office.
1. The police did not want to
speculate as to what motivated the
crime.
2. When I'm reading a really good
book, it is hard not to speculate on
how it is going to end.
1. Can you please verify that your
name is correct on this form?
ESSENTIAL QUESTION: When is it right to take a stand?
2. The claim isn't valid because no
one can verify the source of the
information on which it is based.
PREDICT MEANING
TIP
FOLLOW THROUGH
Study the words in this chart,
and mark them or their
forms wherever they appear
in the unit.
RELATED WORDS
contort, torture