Semantic Maps - Student Guide
How do we learn new words? One way is to create a semantic map. A semantic map shows information about what a word means, how we use it, what words are similar, and what words are different.
This year, your semantic maps will consist of four parts: a definition, a sentence, related words, and antonyms and synonyms.
Definition: Don’t just copy from the dictionary. Read the definition and put it in your own words. If there is more than one definition, use the one that sounds like you would use it most often.
Sentence: This should be a good sentence that shows the word’s meaning. For example, if the word is gallop, the sentence “The horse gallops around the track” shows the word’s meaning. “I like the word gallop” does not show the meaning.
Antonyms and synonyms: Use a thesaurus to find these. An antonym is a word that is like an opposite, while a synonym is a word with a similar meaning.
Related words: These are words with the same root or base word. If the word is gallop, related words are galloping, galloped, galloper. You can come up with these on your own, or check a good dictionary for more.
To make a semantic map, copy the chart below onto a sheet of notebook paper. You will usually be able to put maps for two different words on one sheet of paper.
How do we learn new words? One way is to create a semantic map. A semantic map shows information about what a word means, how we use it, what words are similar, and what words are different.
This year, your semantic maps will consist of four parts: a definition, a sentence, related words, and antonyms and synonyms.
Definition: Don’t just copy from the dictionary. Read the definition and put it in your own words. If there is more than one definition, use the one that sounds like you would use it most often.
Sentence: This should be a good sentence that shows the word’s meaning. For example, if the word is gallop, the sentence “The horse gallops around the track” shows the word’s meaning. “I like the word gallop” does not show the meaning.
Antonyms and synonyms: Use a thesaurus to find these. An antonym is a word that is like an opposite, while a synonym is a word with a similar meaning.
Related words: These are words with the same root or base word. If the word is gallop, related words are galloping, galloped, galloper. You can come up with these on your own, or check a good dictionary for more.
To make a semantic map, copy the chart below onto a sheet of notebook paper. You will usually be able to put maps for two different words on one sheet of paper.