A1 Vocabulary Workshop

(Specially for Secondary 1-5 students)

Your key to maximising your marks in essay-writing and getting a good/
great pass for comprehension Open-ended.

March Experience and Enrich! Workshop for S1-5 Students

The Right Word
What do you wish to take
away from this workshop?
A 100% Legit Question You Ought To Ask Yourself.
 “If you conscientiously work on improving your vocabulary,
you’ll likely see a 3-5 mark improvement in your
language (essay writing).That’s a 33% improvement with
just one method of revision!”

-Quote by: A Wise Person-

Let’s Set Some Ground Rules!
 Who’s The Right Word?
We’re English Specialists who have taught more than a thousand students from P1-JC2,
using a proven and tested teaching methodology- The SAIL Approach.

That’s me!
I wasn't very good at elaborating my points and being thorough in explaining the links in my ideas. Also, I struggled in
seeing the larger scope of the question and had a tendency to focus on smaller details that didn't really matter as
much. With the EATS essay analysis strategy, I’ve improved in my essay writing. I’m also thankful to
Ms Adeline for helping me with my research essay. It was very helpful in seeing how i could broaden my
scope, analyse my examples and more. What I like about TRW is that the staff are super friendly and Ms
Adeline makes lessons really fun and engaging yet educational. Ms Adeline knows how to relate to her students
to engage them in the lessons and you really feel that she cares about you!

Sumi Tang, Year 3, SOTA

I have always found English challenging since Primary school. Since joining TRW, I have improved in areas such as
writing, comprehension, vocabulary and critical thinking skills through application of strategies to the English paper. I
also have a clearer idea of how to revise for English through strategies taught for essay analysis
(EATS), question identification for Comprehension and answering skills for Comprehension
(ACE). TRW is different from other centres as apart from standard group lessons, they cater
really well to the individual needs of each student and do their best to aid each student to
work on his/her weaker areas. What I enjoy about TRW is the appropriate mix of learning and fun, that enables
us to pick up new concepts and creates an ideal learning environment.

Clara Yang, Secondary 4, CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School

 Three key reasons why
vocabulary is vital to
improving your English marks:
1) An essay with A1 vocabulary conveys
the message you want with depth
and detail
2) They want VERY specific answers for
comprehension
3) You can sound fancy during your
oral examination
 Workshop Lesson Plan
11am-12.30pm

• 11AM-11.10AM: Setting expectations and ground rules

• 11.10AM-11.20AM: Why you NEED the A1 words in essay-writing, oral examination

and comprehension open-ended

• 11.20AM-12.10PM: Acquiring 50 A1 words and Applying what we’ve learnt!

• 12.10-12.25PM: Kahoot! Quiz

• 12.25-12.30PM: Recap and Review

Are there any A1 words in this passage?

The first trait a good teacher must have is patience. It is

important for teachers to be patient because they are
likely to meet students who need their patience. Students
will do better under teachers who are patient. This is for
the reason that they are more likely to approach teachers
who are willing to teach them patiently.
What’s wrong with the paragraph above?

Lacks variety of sentence structure.

Too much repetition.
No depth in explanation/elaboration.
Lacks nuances in meaning and as such…
has a flat and MONOTONOUS (or boring) effect on
the reader
Let’s jazz it up with some A1 words!

The first trait a good teacher must have is patience. It is

vital for educators to be forbearing. This is owing to
the fact that teachers are likely to meet students who
will thrive only if they are able to accommodate to
the students’ needs. Why is it highly probable that
students will flourish under teachers who are
understanding? It is for the reason that students are
more likely to approach teachers who are willing to
tolerant of students who learn at different paces.
VALUES AND IDENTITY
What are traits a good teacher should RESOLVE
TENACITY
have?
PERSISTENCE
Write about a time you encountered a INQUISITIVE
challenge you thought you could not
overcome. What did you learn from the
experience?
VALUES ADAPTABLE
INQUIRING
Hard work is the key to success. Do
you agree? INDUSTRIOUS
DILIGENT
CONSCIENTIOUS
VALUES AND IDENTITY
What are traits a good teacher should RESOLVE
TENACITY
have?
PERSISTENCE
Write about a time you encountered a
challenge you thought you could not
overcome. What did you learn from the
Determination
experience?

Hard work is the key to success. Do

you agree?
VALUES AND IDENTITY
What are traits a good teacher should
have?

Write about a time you encountered a

challenge you thought you could not
overcome. What did you learn from the
Resilient ADAPTABLE
experience?

Hard work is the key to success. Do

you agree?
 Diligent = having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's
work or duties
Conscientious = wishing to do one's work or duty well and
VALUES AND IDENTITY thoroughly
Industrious = diligent and hard-working

What are traits a good teacher should **All three words refer to a person being very hardworking and
careful in his/her work. If one is hardworking, one might just blindly
have? plough through, without applying care to the work done.

Write about a time you encountered a

challenge you thought you could not
overcome. What did you learn from the
Hardworking
experience?

Hard work is the key to success. Do

you agree? INDUSTRIOUS
DILIGENT
CONSCIENTIOUS
Student Sentence Examples

1. He is very diligent with his tasks; they are always completed with the utmost care.
2. Tim is a hard-working boy. However, he does not really care for the quality of the work he submits.
3. John is diligent in the work he does. For that reason, he does not need to complete an excessive number of
practices since he revises his work strategically.
4. Momo Yaoyorozu is a hardworking girl as she studies day and night and tops the class every exam.
Izuku Midoriya is diligent as he always completes his work with utmost care, ensuring he does not rush
through it.
5. Tom is a very hardworking boy as he always submits his work. As a result, he scored A1 for his
examinations.
VALUES AND IDENTITY
What are traits a good teacher should
have?

Write about a time you encountered a INQUISITIVE

challenge you thought you could not
overcome. What did you learn from the Curious
experience?
INQUIRING
Hard work is the key to success. Do
you agree?
Student Sentence Examples

1. An inquiring mind is key to discovering new things about the world around us.
2. John is a child with an inquiring mind. As such, he always wants to learn more in class.
3. John, being an inquiring person, always asks questions when in doubt.
4. Sammy has an inquiring mind when it comes to picking up drawing techniques and skills.
5. He looked at me with an inquiring glance, wanting me to reveal more.
6. If you have an inquiring mind, you have a great interest in learning new things.
7. "Where are the notes?" I asked with an inquiring tone.
ISSUES
Technology is more harmful than it is DETERIORATE
EXACERBATE
helpful. Do you agree?
AGGRAVATE
Advertisements are undesirable and INSURMOUNTABLE
should be restricted. What are your
views?
ISSUES RAMIFICATIONS
UPHILL
Parents today overly indulge their
children. Is this true?
REPERCUSSIONS
GRAVE
ACUTE
ISSUES
Technology is more harmful than it is DETERIORATE
EXACERBATE
helpful. Do you agree?
AGGRAVATE
Advertisements are undesirable and
should be restricted. What are your
views?
Worsen
Parents today overly indulge their
children. Is this true?
Deteriorate= become progressively worse
Exacerbate= make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling)
worse
Aggravate = make (a problem, injury, or offence) worse or more
serious

**The difference between aggravate/exacerbate and deteriorate is

that a condition might deteriorate even without any factor that
makes it worsen.
Student Sentence Examples

1. Ali exacerbated the argument between Raju and Chan by accusing both of them to be responsible for the
trouble caused.
2. The combination of a EVE-focused playerbase and the issues with the new insurance system created the
perfect storm that only exacerbated the problems industry players were facing; that no one was buying
ships. (This sentence is crafted in the context of the game— EVE Echoes.)
3. The cat's curiosity exacerbated the situation when it tipped over the bottle of oil on the open flame,
ultimately killing it.
4. His depression aggravated his sickness as he did not have the mental strength to focus on getting well.
5. Air pollution can aggravate symptoms brought on by asthma
6. John aggravated the situation by pushing Johnny to the ground simply because he lost,
ISSUES
Technology is more harmful than it is
helpful. Do you agree?

Advertisements are undesirable and

should be restricted. What are your
views?
consequences RAMIFICATIONS

Parents today overly indulge their

children. Is this true?
REPERCUSSIONS
 Is treacherous the same as insurmountable?

Treacherous = guilty of betrayal/deception OR to present hidden

ISSUES danger

As such, we might find treacherous journeys insurmountable since

Technology is more harmful than it is they would present difficulty. This means that treacherous is a
helpful. Do you agree? connotation of insurmountable, not a denotation.

Advertisements are undesirable and INSURMOUNTABLE

should be restricted. What are your
views?
Difficult
UPHILL
Parents today overly indulge their
children. Is this true?
 Chronic (Connotation of “serious”-related meaning)
vs
Grave/Acute (Denotation of “serious”- definition)

ISSUES
Technology is more harmful than it is
helpful. Do you agree?
Eczema is a chronic condition, some people live with it
for life.
Being in the fourth stage of lung cancer, his condition is
grave and he could pass on any time.

Advertisements are undesirable and

should be restricted. What are your
views?
Serious
Parents today overly indulge their
children. Is this true?

GRAVE
ACUTE
TRENDS
Teenagers spend too much time on
social media and become victims of it. PREVALENT
WIDESPREAD
What are some consequences of
youths using social media platforms in UBIQUITOUS
excess?
burgeoning

Youths have the tendency to do what

their friends are doing without much TRENDS succumb
thought. Is this true? proliferating

“Don’t follow a trend. Follow your impressionable

heart.” How far is this possible for GRAVITATE
teenagers in their growing years? PENCHANT
TRENDS
Teenagers spend too much time on
social media and become victims of it. PREVALENT
WIDESPREAD
What are some consequences of
youths using social media platforms in UBIQUITOUS
excess?

Youths have the tendency to do what

their friends are doing without much Common
thought. Is this true?

“Don’t follow a trend. Follow your

heart.” How far is this possible for
teenagers in their growing years?
TRENDS
Teenagers spend too much time on
social media and become victims of it.
What are some consequences of
youths using social media platforms in
excess?
burgeoning

Youths have the tendency to do what Increasing

their friends are doing without much
thought. Is this true? proliferating
rapidly
“Don’t follow a trend. Follow your
heart.” How far is this possible for
teenagers in their growing years?
TRENDS
Teenagers spend too much time on
social media and become victims of it.
What are some consequences of
youths using social media platforms in
excess?

Youths have the tendency to do what

their friends are doing without much Like to
thought. Is this true?

“Don’t follow a trend. Follow your

heart.” How far is this possible for GRAVITATE
teenagers in their growing years? PENCHANT

Inclination is another word that can be used as a synonym.

Student Sentence Examples

1. Teenagers have a penchant for drinking bubble tea and eating McDonald’s. However, these foods are very
unhealthy.
2. People who live in the countryside gravitate to cities like Singapore in search of work as there are better
opportunities abound.
3. Singaporeans tend to gravitate towards using slag and Singlish in their speech.
4. Teenagers tend to gravitate towards using dictionaries online rather than traditional dictionaries.
5. Teenagers have a penchant for discovering new weird and wacky slang words.
TRENDS
Teenagers spend too much time on
social media and become victims of it.
What are some consequences of
youths using social media platforms in
excess?

Youths have the tendency to do what

Easily
their friends are doing without much influenced
thought. Is this true?

“Don’t follow a trend. Follow your impressionable

heart.” How far is this possible for
teenagers in their growing years?
TRENDS
Teenagers spend too much time on
social media and become victims of it.
What are some consequences of
youths using social media platforms in
excess?

Youths have the tendency to do what

their friends are doing without much Give in succumb
thought. Is this true?

“Don’t follow a trend. Follow your

heart.” How far is this possible for
teenagers in their growing years?
TONE
Have you ever described someone’s critical
hypocritical
tone to be “ironic”?
antagonistic
What about the time you read about a
zealous
character who said something in a
really “enthu” manner?
tone ambivalent
Or when you feel that the character’s insolent
reaction was to go, “HUH!?”
sarcastic
In sum, you NEED to know the words incredulous
to describe tone, to answer tone skeptical
questions accurately.
TONE
Have you ever described someone’s
hypocritical
tone to be “ironic”?

What about the time you read about a

character who said something in a
really “enthu” manner?
“Fake”
Or when you feel that the character’s
reaction was to go, “HUH!?”

In sum, you NEED to know the words

to describe tone, to answer tone
questions accurately.
TONE
Have you ever described someone’s
tone to be “ironic”?

What about the time you read about a

zealous
character who said something in a
really “enthu” manner?
Enthusiastic
Or when you feel that the character’s
reaction was to go, “HUH!?”

In sum, you NEED to know the words

to describe tone, to answer tone
questions accurately.
TONE
Have you ever described someone’s critical
tone to be “ironic”?

What about the time you read about a

character who said something in a
really “enthu” manner? disapproving/
criticise
Or when you feel that the character’s
reaction was to go, “HUH!?”

In sum, you NEED to know the words

to describe tone, to answer tone
questions accurately.
TONE
Have you ever described someone’s
tone to be “ironic”?
antagonistic
What about the time you read about a
character who said something in a
really “enthu” manner?
Mean
Or when you feel that the character’s
reaction was to go, “HUH!?”

In sum, you NEED to know the words

to describe tone, to answer tone
questions accurately.
TONE
Have you ever described someone’s
tone to be “ironic”?

What about the time you read about a

character who said something in a
really “enthu” manner?
Mixed feelings ambivalent
Or when you feel that the character’s
reaction was to go, “HUH!?”

In sum, you NEED to know the words

to describe tone, to answer tone
questions accurately.
TONE
Have you ever described someone’s
tone to be “ironic”?

What about the time you read about a

character who said something in a
really “enthu” manner?
“Ironic”
Or when you feel that the character’s
reaction was to go, “HUH!?”
sarcastic
In sum, you NEED to know the words
to describe tone, to answer tone
questions accurately.
TONE
Have you ever described someone’s
tone to be “ironic”?

What about the time you read about a

character who said something in a
really “enthu” manner? Unsure/
doubtful
Or when you feel that the character’s
reaction was to go, “HUH!?”

In sum, you NEED to know the words

to describe tone, to answer tone skeptical
questions accurately.
TONE
Have you ever described someone’s
tone to be “ironic”?

What about the time you read about a

character who said something in a
really “enthu” manner?
Cannot believe
Or when you feel that the character’s
reaction was to go, “HUH!?”

In sum, you NEED to know the words incredulous

to describe tone, to answer tone
questions accurately.
TONE
Have you ever described someone’s
tone to be “ironic”?

What about the time you read about a

character who said something in a
really “enthu” manner?
Rude
Or when you feel that the character’s insolent
reaction was to go, “HUH!?”

In sum, you NEED to know the words

to describe tone, to answer tone
questions accurately.
What tone is this?

The leaders of our country line their pockets with public

coffers but shamelessly fail to provide their people with
basic services.

Hint: C…
Answer: Critical
What tone is this?

“Oh yeah, he’s the ‘best’ student,” said the mean teacher,
rolling her eyes.

Hint: S…
Answer: Sarcastic
What attitude is this?

As our vessel sailed up into the cove, we saw members of

the tribe, who wore nothing but waistbands, lining the
shore shaking their spears, yelling, and making uncouth
signs and gestures. We did not feel very welcomed.

Hint: A…
Answer: Antagonistic/Hostile
What attitude is this?

Mrs, Williams, the Chemistry teacher, glared at the boy

who had his arm draped around his ‘girlfriend’. But the
boy was unmoved, and challenged her stare.

Hint: I…
Answer: Insolent
What tone is this?

Good heavens! Why are you accusing me? Can you

believe that I, a mother with four children to care for, had
the time to read all 156 posts on your blog and invent
snide remarks for each of them? Or that I should even
wish to do so, given that I harbour towards you neither
vengeance nor ill-will?

Hint: I…
Answer: Incredulous
MONEY
Money can’t buy happiness. Do you affluent
impoverished
agree?
frugal
The world today is built on greed. lucrative
What are your views?

Being healthy is more important than

money ostracise
Exorbitant
being wealthy. Explain the ways in
which this is true.
ample
avaricious
upper strata
MONEY
Money can’t buy happiness. Do you affluent
agree?

The world today is built on greed.

What are your views?

Being healthy is more important than

Rich
being wealthy. Explain the ways in
which this is true.
MONEY
Money can’t buy happiness. Do you impoverished
agree?

The world today is built on greed.

What are your views?

Being healthy is more important than

Poor
being wealthy. Explain the ways in
which this is true.
MONEY
Money can’t buy happiness. Do you
agree?
frugal
The world today is built on greed.
What are your views?

Being healthy is more important than

Thrifty
being wealthy. Explain the ways in
which this is true.
MONEY
Money can’t buy happiness. Do you
agree?

The world today is built on greed.

What are your views?
Shunned/ ostracise
Being healthy is more important than
being wealthy. Explain the ways in
excluded
which this is true.
MONEY
Money can’t buy happiness. Do you
agree?

The world today is built on greed. lucrative

What are your views?

Being healthy is more important than

Profitable
being wealthy. Explain the ways in
which this is true.
MONEY
Money can’t buy happiness. Do you
agree?

The world today is built on greed.

What are your views?

Being healthy is more important than

Overpriced
Exorbitant
being wealthy. Explain the ways in
which this is true.
MONEY
Money can’t buy happiness. Do you
agree?

The world today is built on greed.

What are your views?

Being healthy is more important than

sufficient
being wealthy. Explain the ways in
which this is true.
ample
MONEY
Money can’t buy happiness. Do you
agree?

The world today is built on greed.

What are your views? “Atas”/
Being healthy is more important than
Upper
being wealthy. Explain the ways in class
which this is true.

upper strata
MONEY
Money can’t buy happiness. Do you
agree?

The world today is built on greed.

What are your views? Greedy
Being healthy is more important than
(for money)
being wealthy. Explain the ways in
which this is true.

avaricious
NOTE: You can complete this exercise on your own and send
in your writing to adeline.yeo@therightword.com.sg for
review.

Let’s Practice:
People today want more than they need. Do you agree?

Use A1 words in crafting the answer to the question above

in PEEL (Point, Explanation, Evidence/Example, Link)
method.

You can use the words from the theme “Money”.

Time for Kahoot!
*does a little dance*

*runs to get
WOOHOO!
device*

yays
 Thank you for
joining us!
Didn’t get enough of today? Join us for our regular sessions!
We work hard and play hard!