Wordstruck: A Workbook on Building a Better English Vocabulary

Wordstruck is a vocabulary development workbook for high school students (grades 8-12), college students, and intermediate or advanced English-as-a-second-language learners. Our approach to vocabulary development is novel because of its emphasis on analyzable word structure, i.e., English morphology, and on word building through productive affixation and bound and unbound word forms. In doing so, we teach not only the meaning of affixes but also their grammatical function where relevant.

Working through Wordstruck students will achieve these goals:

•develop a more sophisticated vocabulary
•gain a deeper understanding of morphology and grammar
•develop a technique to analyze new words they encounter in their reading and listening
•employ trustworthy dictionaries (e.g., Miriam Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary) more effectively
•improve their spelling
•raise their literacy level.

The first part of the workbook introduces analyzable words containing productive prefixes and suffixes; the second part continues working with affixes attached to bound and unbound word forms.

Each of the eleven units contains:

•a pretest and post-test
•a clear set of goals
•explanatory texts with examples and tables
•numerous exercises

The workbook also contains:

•a complete answer key
•a substantial glossary at the end of the book.

Because there is an emphasis on exercises with a complete answer key provided, the workbook is ideal for both self-study and classroom instruction.

Unlike other vocabulary development texts that concentrate on contexts and the vocabulary used in those contexts (e.g., restaurant, dental office, etc.), the outstanding feature of Wordstruck is the focus on morphology and word building based on sound linguistic principles. Although the contextual approach of other texts is valid, such an approach tends to ignore the complex morphology of English vocabulary. Though designed for students in high school and ESL learners, these linguistic principles will also help college students, whether in the arts or sciences, pre-med or pre-law.

In Wordstruck we have designed an easy-to-use textbook that will help students learn the essential linguistic principles needed to foster a more advanced vocabulary.


—Moira Taylor and Allan McNeill