KEY FEATURES:

1 . An Intensive Words-in-Context Approach

Studies show that students learn words best by seeing them repeatedly in different contexts, not through rote memorization. The books present each word in a number of contexts. Every encounter increases the chance that a word will become part of a student's permanent word bank.

2. Abundant Practice

In addition to the extensive practice in each chapter, there are unit tests and a crossword puzzle review. Moreover, most chapters repeat words from earlier chapters, allowing for even more reinforcement. And there are added tests in the Test Bank and the computer disks that come with each book. All this practice means that students learn in the best possible way: by working closely and repeatedly with each word.

3. Appealing Content

Dull practice materials work against learning. The lively content and clear and friendly style of the books make learning easier for students.

4. Emphasis on Key Words

In creating the six-book series, a computer was used to help consolidate a wide number of word frequency lists. The result is a core of essential words, sequenced in order of difficulty, that are most helpful for students to know.

5. Realistic Pricing

The books offer the highest possible quality at the lowest possible prices: all of the books sell for no more than $9.40 net. The modest prices mean that the books can serve as inexpensive supplements for any reading or writing course.

6. Outstanding Supplements

Free supplements to adopters include a vocabulary placement test, an Instructor's Edition, a combined Instructor's Manual and Test Bank, and software (also available as online exercises) that teaches as well as tests.

CHANGES IN THE THIRD EDITION:

• Thirteen words have been changed, and an entirely new Unit Six, teaching fifty additional words, has been added. Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary now contains 300 words, as do the higher-level TP vocabulary books.
  
  
• To make room for Unit Six, the "Related Words" activities in each chapter have been moved to a special section in the Instructor's Manual and Test Bank. Instructors who have adopted the book may photocopy these activities (or anything else in the IMTB) for classroom use.
  
  
• A new section, "Topics for Discussion and Writing," contains the "Questions for Discussion" and "Ideas for Writing" that formerly concluded the vocabulary chapters. Each of the seven high-interest items uses one or more of the vocabulary words in the chapter in a brief scenario suitable for class or small-group discussion, writing, or both.
  
  
• Finally, many practice items throughout the book have been revised or updated to ensure that each item works as clearly and effectively as possible with students.

Here is a list of the 250 words in Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary, 3/e:

SAMPLE CHAPTERS

To see the Preface of Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary, click here.

To see the Introduction of Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary, click here.

To see Chapter 1 of Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary, click here.

To see the vocabulary words with page numbers, click here.