English 4 Vocab #1: “Creativity Crisis”
Vocabulary from:
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“Creativity Crisis” by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
“Learning to Think Outside the Box” by Laura Pappano
“Creativity Boost: How to Tap into Right-Brain Thinking” by Martha Beck
“Coming to Schools: Creativity Indexes” by Erik W. Robelen
“Changing Education Paradigms” by Sir Ken Robinson
1. aesthetic
adjective
of or relating to beauty of form in works of art, including literature, dance, music, and the like.
Her aesthetic sensibility was offended by the gaudy decor of the banquet hall.
Each culture has its own aesthetic tradition.
derived forms:
aesthetically (adv.), esthetically (adv.)
2. ambiguous
adjective
1. having two or more possible meanings or interpretations.
Because the statement was ambiguous, it was understood differently by everyone.
2. unclear; uncertain; obscure.
His face wore an ambiguous expression.
This sentence is ambiguous and leaves the reader confused.
synonyms:
cryptic, equivocal, obscure, uncertain, unclear, vague
antonyms:
clear, explicit, lucid, unambiguous, unequivocal
derived forms:
ambiguously (adv.), ambiguousness (n.)
3.
verb
1.
anesthetize (Am.) or anaesthetize (British)
administer an anesthetic to (a person or animal), especially so as to induce a loss of consciousness.
o deprive of feeling or awareness.
He was afraid to get up, afraid he might not be able to gain his feet at all, with an anaesthetized leg.
(Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451)
We’re getting our children through education by anaesthetizing them…We shouldn’t be putting them
asleep; we should be waking them up…
(Sir Ken Robinson, “Changing Education Paradigms”)
synonyms:
desensitize, incapacitate, numb
antonyms:
enliven, invigorate, stimulate
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English 4 Vocab #1: “Creativity Crisis”
4. convergent
adjective
tending to move toward a common point or intersection.
Three convergent roads meet at a traffic circle.
Convergent thinking involves the combining of many different ideas into the best result.
5. discrete
adjective
separate and distinct.
Sand is made up of discrete particles.
The teacher pronounced the word in discrete syllables.
synonyms:
different, distinct
antonyms:
bound, combined, connected, fused
derived forms:
discretely (adv.), discreteness (n.)
6. divergent
adjective
deviating, differing, or diverging.
Our book club is composed of a diverse group of people and we expect divergent opinions.
antonyms:
convergent, parallel, similar
derived forms:
divergently (adv.)
7.
noun
evangelist
1. a person who works to gain converts to his or her religion.
2. a person who zealously seeks converts to a cause.
8. explicit
adjective
1. stated fully, clearly, and without equivocation.
I gave him explicit instructions, so there should be no mistake.
You leave too much for the reader to guess at; this paragraph needs to be more explicit.
Her refusal was quite explicit and left no hope of her changing her mind.
synonyms:
blunt, direct, express, forthright, plain, point-blank, straightforward, unequivocal
antonyms:
ambiguous, equivocal, implicit, tacit, unspoken, vague
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English 4 Vocab #1: “Creativity Crisis”
2. marked by the clear depiction of nudity or sexual acts.
He was arrested at the airport for attempting to bring explicit books and films into the country.
derived forms:
explicitly (adv.), explicitness (n.)
9.
noun
ideation
the capacity for or the act of forming or entertaining ideas <suicidal ideation>
Examples of IDEATION
1.
<caregivers are trained to watch for signs of depression and suicidal ideation—some patients are likely to put
their fantasies to action>
10. longitudinal
adjective
1. positioned or running lengthwise.
antonyms:
transverse
2. of or designating studies that trace development, as of an individual, over a number of years.
derived forms:
longitudinally (adv.)
11. Muse
noun
1. in Greek mythology, any of the nine goddesses who preside over the arts and sciences.
2. (lower case) the source of creative inspiration, especially for a poet.
intransitive verb
to ponder or meditate on something silently or at length.
My father looked through the photographs and mused about the old days.
synonyms:
cogitate, contemplate, meditate, mull, ponder, ruminate
12. non sequitur
noun
something such as a remark or a conclusion that does not logically follow from the premise, evidence, or preceding statement
This is what folks in the biz call a non sequitur – the first claim has nothing to do with the second.
13. paracosm
a prolonged fantasy world invented by children; can have a definite geography and language and history
related words:
fairyland, fantasy world
Author J.M. Barrie’s “Neverland,” found within the stories of Peter Pan, and C.S. Lewis’s Narnia are two of the
most famous paracosms found in literature.
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English 4 Vocab #1: “Creativity Crisis”
14. paradigm
noun
a typical example or pattern of something; a model.
The discovery of new particles, which could trigger a paradigm shift in physics, may still be years away.
Many modern educational theorists are calling for a new paradigm in the way we educate our kids; the old
model simply won’t work in our brave new world.
synonyms:
model, pattern, example, exemplar, template, standard, prototype, archetype
15. pedagogy
noun
the art or technique of teaching.
Her authoritarian style of pedagogy alienates students.
The screen revolution has seen pedagogy undergo a seismic shift as technology now dominates the educational landscape.
16. proponent
noun
one who proposes or favors an idea, doctrine, course of action, or the like.
Proponents of the proposed law believe it will reduce crime.
Proponents of standardized tests view them as a fair measure of student achievement and teacher accountability.
antonyms:
opponent
17. provost
noun
1. an official of high rank charged with managing and overseeing.
2. in some colleges and universities, the chief administrative officer.
derived forms:
provostship (n.)
18. punitive
adjective
pertaining to, imposed as, or imposing punishment.
a punitive attack
a punitive parent
derived forms:
punitively (adv.), punitiveness (n.)
19. rote
noun
1. unthinking or mechanical routine or habit.
The surgeon has done so many of these procedures that he can do them nearly by rote.
2. a fixed procedure that relies on routine and repetition rather than deep comprehension of principles.
The children learned their French lessons by rote.
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English 4 Vocab #1: “Creativity Crisis”
20. synthesis
noun
1. the combining of discrete elements into a unified compound or entity, or the unified whole formed by such a combining.
Her newest work of art is a synthesis of all her techniques.
antonyms:
analysis
2. a process of reasoning by deduction from given propositions and principles.
derived forms:
synthesist (n.)
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