SESQUIPTM

Abstract

The present invention is a vocabulary building method that utilizes a vocabulary building exercise that converts common phrases, names, tides, or words into complex and generally not commonly known words (sesquipedalian). By use of definitional clues, the student attempts to determine the meaning of the common phrase, name, title or word thus increasing the student's vocabulary.

Description

[0001] This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/092,959, filing date Feb. 04, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is a vocabulary building method that uses a vocabulary building exercise that utilizes definitional clues to decipher a common phrase, name, thing, or title in such a way as to provide educational value by building a student's vocabulary in a recreational fashion. The game can be tailored to the educational level of the student by varying the complexity of the puzzle to be solved. It can also be adapted to a variety of media including but not limited to print media forms such as in a newspaper or puzzle book, as a board game, as an Internet game, or as a computer game.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] SESQUIP™ (from sesquipedalian . . . given to the use of complex words) is a vocabulary building method utilizing a vocabulary building exercise that can be attempted by one or more students. The student(s) are presented with a common title, name, thing, or phrase such as “All Dogs Go To Heaven” using words that may not be common to the student (e.g., Curs are supernally fated in every case). The student uses his vocabulary to decipher the common phrase, name, thing or title. If the student cannot accomplish this by use of his current vocabulary, the student is presented with a number of clues, each of which provides the definition of one or more of the unknown words. After each clue, the student again attempts to decipher the correct phrase, name, thing or title. If the student accomplishes this, he or she now knows the definitions of the other unknown words without the use of the clues. In either case, if by use of the clue(s) or discovering the meanings by association after deciphering the common title, name, thing, or phrase; the student has increased his or her vocabulary. A scoring scheme can be used to track the progress of each of the student(s).

[0004] Examples of vocabulary building games are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,678,602. Games using clues are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,117,789 and 4,607,848. Games that require the player to determine the meaning of foreign phrases are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,146,808 and British Patent 1,159,120. Other games require the matching of cards where a word and its synonym are on different cards or use morphemes or cyphertext (U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,538,156; 3,678,602; and 5,479,506). None of these games disclose the method of this application where the vocabulary is built by the use of a sesquipedalian using common titles, names, things, or phrases as its root. Similarly the present invention's use of definitional clues for assisting the student in determining the meaning of the sesquipedalian is also unique in this context.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a view of SESQUIP™ vocabulary building method in an embodiment suitable for print, computer, or Internet play including three phrases, names, titles or things to determine along with a series of definitional clues for assistance in determining the answer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The object of the method of the present invention is to decipher the meaning of a common title, name, thing, or phrase from the sesquipedalian (word or string of not commonly known complex words) presented. If it can not be determined directly from the sesquipedalian by use of the student's own vocabulary, one or more of the definitional clues can be used to assist in determining its meaning thus increasing the student's vocabulary.

[0007] FIG. 1 shows one possible layout for the method. It includes the method's title 1, a section of instructions 3 including a scoring system 4, and a series of vocabulary building exercises (sesquipedalian) 5, 9, & 13. Also described is the category of the sesquipedalian 6, 10, & 14. With each vocabulary building exercise is a series of clues 7, 11, & 15 which can be used to assist the student in deciphering the sesquipedalian. It also contains an area that contains the answer 23 and an area that can be used to keep score 17 which includes a difficulty level 19 and an area for your score 21.

[0008] To begin, a student studies the vocabulary building exercise (sesquipedalian) in light of the category, and using his or her current vocabulary level attempts to decipher its meaning. If the student is successful, he or she receives the full number of points for that exercise along with a bonus 4 for not needing to use any of the clues and records his or her score in the space provided 21. If the student is unable to decipher the exercise, he or she can use a definitional clue 7, 11, or 15 to aid the student in determining the sesquipedalian. Each clue provides a definition of one of the unknown words in the sesquipedalian. After studying the clue, the student again attempts to decipher the sesquipedalian. If he or she is successful, the student has increased his or her vocabulary, does not receive the bonus points 4 associated with using the clue and his or her score is recorded in the scoring area 21. The use of the definitional clues continues until the sesquipedalian is correctly determined or the student has used all the clues thus revealing the deciphered exercise and increasing his or her vocabulary recording the appropriate score.

[0009] If more than one student is participating, students can work independently and compare scores or they can work together on an exercise. Student(s) can also check their vocabulary level against a predetermined expert score 19 and use that as an indication of his or her skill level.

[0010] The novelty of the present invention is the use of a sesquipedalian as the means for developing vocabulary building exercises at various educational levels using common titles, names, things, or phrases. A further novelty of the present invention is in its use of definitional clues for presenting the student with help in determining the sesquipedalian.

[0011] The present invention has been described in detail above by way of a specific example and in a specific embodiment for purposes of illustration only. The invention is not intended to be limited by this description

Claims

1. An educational method for increasing a student's vocabulary comprising the steps of:

identification of a vocabulary building exercise utilizing commonly known person, place, thing, event, tide, phrase, or quote consisting of one or more words;

obscuring said words by substituting one or more of said words with lesser known words;

presenting said lesser known words to a student;

said student using his vocabulary knowledge of said lesser known words to decipher

said commonly known person, place, thing, event, title, phrase, or quote.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing said student with one or more definitional clues which are the meaning of one or more of said lesser known words.

3. The method of claim further comprising the steps of:

providing said student with one or more definitional clues which are the meaning of one or more of said lesser known words and

providing a means for scoring the amount of help that use of one or more of said definitional clues which are the meanings of one or more of said words provided said student.

4. A means for displaying an educational method for increasing a student's vocabulary comprising:

an area 1 for displaying the lesser know words;

an area 2 for displaying the commonly known person, place, thing, event, title, phrase, or quote;

said area 1 not within the same sight as area 2.

5. The claim in 4 further comprising:

an area 3 for displaying one or more definitional clues which are the meanings of said lesser known words

said area 3 not within the same sight of said area 1 and said area 2.

6. The claim in 4 further comprising:

an area 3 for displaying one or more definitional clues which are the meanings of said lesser known words;

an area 4 for displaying scoring indicia for the help provided by definitional clues which are the meanings of said lesser known words;

said area 3 near said area 4; and

said area 3 not within the same sight as said area 1 and said area 2.