Nov. 16: Dictionary Play

In today's reading the author, Fred White, suggests that we turn to the dictionary to "play". He had several suggestions such as reading the adjacent words to a word you looked up. Which he believes will possibly help stimulate additional or different thoughts on something we are writing. He also believes that this can get us to rethink what we are working on and "send us back to the drawing boards to rethink our projects from scratch." He believes if you use the dictionary for fun you will retain the information you learn much longer than if you just try to study the dictionary.
For Further Reflection:
In this segment Mr. White recommends using the Oxford English Dictionary as a reference tool. He also suggests that we spend several hours now and then with this dictionary to enrich our knowledge of the English Language. By his discription this is a rather large collection as it contains 20 volumns. This means a trip to the library which unfortunately I really don't have time for right now but maybe at some point in time when I have more time I will be able to do that as it sounds like fun.
Today's Try This assignments:
1. Open your desk dictionary at random and jot down every word and meaning that is unfamiliar to you (in the unlikely event that you know every word on those two pages, turn to the next page). Next, write a paragraph or two in which you put each of your newly learned words into use.
2. Open your dictionary at random and choose a single word that strikes your fancy. Use that word to spark an idea for a poem, an essay, a short story, or a play.
Well here we go again. This is becoming my sad refrain; this is another assignment I am going to have to put in the good old composition book. However, I may have to revise it later this week if I have any spare time, as it really does sound like a fun assignment.