What do you think?
Rate this book
100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know
What should the vocabulary of a well-rounded high school graduate be like? These 100 words provide the starting point in answering that question. The list is representative of the words that serious students will encounter in their coursework and will come to use as adults, whether in conversation or while reading the daily newspaper. Each word is fully defined and shown in context with example sentences from well-known authors. 100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know is a must-have for every grad, perfect for building vocabulary, quizzing friends and family — and just having fun.
84 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2003
47 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 5, 2018
I think the greatest benefit of this book is that it is not overwhelming; you can hand if off to a teen and it seems far less onerous than just handing them a dictionary. Do I agree with all the choices? Not really, but I think the value is in toe-in-the-pool experience and not be-all-end-all of learning vocabulary.
That said, there were strangely similar words chosen like nomenclature and lexicon or bowdlerize (really?) and expurgate. And words that are very specific to a field like parabola and hypotenuse. One of the most valuable parts of the book was the usage notes. They are very handy and point out chronic misuse of a word or change in meaning over time or by group. Frankly, a book that focused on just problematic words would be a good book to have for reference.
That said, there were strangely similar words chosen like nomenclature and lexicon or bowdlerize (really?) and expurgate. And words that are very specific to a field like parabola and hypotenuse. One of the most valuable parts of the book was the usage notes. They are very handy and point out chronic misuse of a word or change in meaning over time or by group. Frankly, a book that focused on just problematic words would be a good book to have for reference.
Read
October 6, 2023Two things would improve this book:
1. Instead of giving only the root language for etymology, give the meanings of the root words. It would help to study/memorize words according to their source.
2. Instead of using 100 year-old quotations written in a style no longer written/spoken, get contemporary quotes (and the endorsement of those who are quoted) to demonstrate usage.
1. Instead of giving only the root language for etymology, give the meanings of the root words. It would help to study/memorize words according to their source.
2. Instead of using 100 year-old quotations written in a style no longer written/spoken, get contemporary quotes (and the endorsement of those who are quoted) to demonstrate usage.
September 27, 2008
I was so excited when I found this book. I thought it would be the perfect way to introduce vocabulary that had nothing to do with an existing curriculum. What I learned was that there are a lot of words I should know, but I don't.
August 30, 2010
Definitely worth reading if you want to increase your vocabulary.
February 12, 2025
Some of the words are odd choices but this has helped me in the classroom a lot
Read
March 4, 2025I am very serious about trying to undo my brain damage from living in these times
Read
November 20, 2015Schonthal, H. (2003). 100 words every high school graduate should know. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.
Reviewed by: Kelly Cundiff
Reference Type: Dictionary
Call Number: 428.1
ISBN 13: 978-0-618-37412-0
Content/Scope: This book contains 100 fully defined entries of some of the more complicated vocabulary words students and adults might encounter. From “auspicious” to “gauche” to “sanguine”, the words selected are not in your average teen’s vocabulary, but practice with these words could help with further academic careers and with improving standardized test scores.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: The American Heritage dictionaries have been published since 1832. This dictionary comes from a reputable and knowledgeable company in the world of reference resources.
Arrangement/Presentation: Presented in alphabetical order with definition pronunciation, and example sentences for each entry.
Relation to similar works: By limiting the number of entries, this dictionary could be a go to resource for increasing vocabulary when compared to the thousands of words one would have to wade through with other dictionaries.
Accessibility/Diversity: This will mostly appeal to upper level students that are trying to improve test scores or plan on attending a postsecondary program.
Cost: $6.95
Professional Review: Books in Print. (2005, July). Annotations Schonthal, H. (2003). 100 words every high school graduate should know. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. Retrieved November 19, 2015 from http://www.booksinprint.com.libsrv.wk...
Reviewed by: Kelly Cundiff
Reference Type: Dictionary
Call Number: 428.1
ISBN 13: 978-0-618-37412-0
Content/Scope: This book contains 100 fully defined entries of some of the more complicated vocabulary words students and adults might encounter. From “auspicious” to “gauche” to “sanguine”, the words selected are not in your average teen’s vocabulary, but practice with these words could help with further academic careers and with improving standardized test scores.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: The American Heritage dictionaries have been published since 1832. This dictionary comes from a reputable and knowledgeable company in the world of reference resources.
Arrangement/Presentation: Presented in alphabetical order with definition pronunciation, and example sentences for each entry.
Relation to similar works: By limiting the number of entries, this dictionary could be a go to resource for increasing vocabulary when compared to the thousands of words one would have to wade through with other dictionaries.
Accessibility/Diversity: This will mostly appeal to upper level students that are trying to improve test scores or plan on attending a postsecondary program.
Cost: $6.95
Professional Review: Books in Print. (2005, July). Annotations Schonthal, H. (2003). 100 words every high school graduate should know. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. Retrieved November 19, 2015 from http://www.booksinprint.com.libsrv.wk...
September 9, 2007
Small handy paperback.
Read
November 21, 2011It didn't expand my vocabulary much... The words that I knew, I knew. And the words I didn't know we're just forgotten as I flipped the page...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews