OU or OW? LE or EL?
what is the rule for spelling with ou vs ow?
We use 'ou' at the beginning or middle of a word or syllable. We use 'ow' at the end of a word or syllable.
What does the prefix 'mis' mean? Give an example!
'mis' negates the word (meaning 'to not').
ex. misunderstand.
What does the suffix -able mean? Give an example.
The suffix -able is used to turn a verb into an adjective. It primarily means "capable of," "worthy of," or "tending to."
Ex.
Admirable: Worthy of being admired.
Respectable: Worthy of respect.
Exoneration
The word exoneration refers to the official act of clearing someone from blame, guilt, or a criminal charge. It is most commonly used in legal contexts when new evidence or a re-evaluation of facts proves that a person did not commit the crime for which they were accused or convicted.
How do we know when to use el or le?
Le is most common (75%) and el usually follows specific letters (M N R V W).
What does the prefix 're-' mean? Give an example.
It primarily carries two meanings: "again" and "back.
Review = to view again
What does the suffix -en mean? Give an example.
It serves to turn a noun or an adjective into a verb or a descriptive adjective.
Ex. Brighten: To make something bright.
Sharpen: To make something sharp
Recidivism
Recidivism is the tendency of a previously convicted individual to relapse into criminal behavior. In the criminal justice system, it is the primary metric used to measure the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs, prison systems, and parole supervision.
spell a word with 'ow' and a word with 'ou' in it.
cow? now? slow? plow?
shout, loud, cloud, proud?
Spot the Error!
We tried to stay positive, but the leaking tent made it difficult to keep our gear dry. My brother was especially unhappy because his favorite guitar got damp during the move. We eventually decided to unabandon our plans and head home early to warm up. Even though the night didn't go as expected, we ended up having a great time ordering pizza and watching movies instead.
*unabandon should be *abandon
What does the suffix -ed mean? Give an example.
It is primarily used to turn a verb into its past tense or to transform a verb into an adjective.
Ex. walked, played
self-disclosure
The process of revealing personal information about oneself to others. This is the key driver of reciprocity in new friendships; when I share something, you feel the "itch" to share something back.
Spell a word with 'el' and a word with 'le'.
shovel? model? camel? hotel?
handle? bottle? middle? cradle?
Spot the Error!
Finding the right balance between work and relaxation is essential for staying healthy. I tried to finish all my tasks early so that my weekend would be completely manageable. Most of the projects were straightforward, but one technical issue was barely solvable without extra help. After a few hours of focus, I reached a comfortible state where I could finally close my laptop. It is important to remember that being productive is good, but taking breaks is just as valuable.
*comfortible should be *comfortable.
What does the suffix -er mean? Give an example.
primarily used to turn verbs into nouns or to compare two things.
Ex. teacher, player, taller, wider.
reciprocity
Reciprocity is a social principle where people feel a strong internal obligation to return a favor, gift, or service that someone else has provided first. It is often summarized by the "Golden Rule": treat others as you would like to be treated.
What is the exception to using 'ow' instead of 'ou' at the beginning or middle of a word or syllable?
When 'ow' is followed by an N or L such as owl, scowl, prowl, crown, clown?
Compare and contrast the prefix 'dis' and 'un'. There is a subtle difference between them! What are their individual meanings? Give examples of each.
Both prefixes mean "not," but they often carry different "flavors" of meaning:
Un- (Simple Negation): Usually describes a state of being. If something is unorganized, it simply lacks order (like a messy drawer). It’s a neutral observation.
Dis- (Active Reversal/Lack): Often describes a breakdown or a lack of a necessary quality. If a person is disorganized, it often implies they should be organized but are failing at it. It feels more "active".
True or false, -le and -el are suffixes.
True AND false? They can act as suffixes OR as part of a root word. To be a suffix, it needs to change the meaning of a root word such as...
Le- attaches to a root word to describe a repeated action or a smaller version of something.
Spark = Sparkle (many tiny sparks)
Crumb = Crumble (breaking into many little crumbs)
el-turns a verb into a noun or creates a "diminutive" (making something sound smaller)
Satchel (from the word for "sack")
Kern - Kernel (a small grain or "corn")
OR sometimes its just part of the spelling of a root word such as...apple, handle, camel, hotel.
How can you tell??? Take the le/el away, does the remaining word make sense?
What's the difference between a monologue and a dialogue?
Monologue is for information delivery which travels one-way (no reciprocity)
A dialogue is used to achieve shared understanding and goes two-ways (balanced reciprocity)