Root of the Week: Graph

We have learned that the Greek root graph means to write. Knowing this information will allow us to understand the meaning of many words that contain this root. Let's look at a little more information and a few examples below together, and then you will be placed in breakout rooms to do the practice exercise that follows! 

First, let's learn something new about our Root of the Week. When we look at the etymology of graph, we see that it comes from the Greek word graphios, which means something drawn or written. 

It is also important to know that a root can be used as an affix.

An affix is an attachment to a root word. It can be placed before a word and be called a prefix. It can be placed after a word and be called a suffix. 

An example of a prefix could be last week's root, auto. We place auto in front of words to add or change their meaning. We understand, for instance, if you were writing an autobiography, you would be writing about your own life story. You would  be writing it yourself.
Exercise: Can you think of another prefix you have used while speaking or writing?

An example of a suffix could be the -ed you place after a word to show it happened in the past. When you add -ed to learn, for instance, it becomes the word learned. The suffix changes the meaning of learn from a word in the present tense to the past tense. 
Example: I learn a lot in school.  (present tense)
Example: I learned a lot in school yesterday. (past tense) 
Exercise: Can you think of other suffixes we use every day?

Graph can be used as a word on its own, naming a picture or chart showing information that is organized in a particular way.
Example: The graph Joshua drew showed whether people in the class preferred eating hamburgers or hotdogs at barbecues.   

Most often, however, you will see graph used as a suffix. One example we demonstrated yesterday was the word calligraphy, which means beautiful writing. In this case, graph combines with -y  to make a suffix that includes writing and the field study related to writing. Calligraphy is the study of beautiful writing. Using this logic, what do you think photography means? 

Now, let's try a few exercises in breakout rooms. 

Directions: Please answer the questions below with your partner(s). Talk about how or why your answers make sense. Decide which person will be the spokesperson who will report to the class when you are finished. Enjoy--and be creative!!

1) Would you rather be in a photograph or take a class in photography? Write about your choice and explain your answer. [Remember to use our two-sentence approach: Your first sentence should make a statement about  your selection. Your second sentence should explain why you made this choice, but it should not begin with the word because. 

An example of a different choice about favorite seasons could be:

Fall is the most beautiful season of the year. The leaves turn spectacular colors, pumpkins and decorations adorn many houses, and people can take part in a variety of sports during such moderate temperatures. 

2) A bibliography is a written list of books you use to write a research paper. Knowing this information, imagine you are writing a paper about the difficulties of living during a pandemic. Create a list of four book titles that you could use to find important facts about a pandemic. The book titles do not have to from actual books--you can have the fun of making up your own titles for this activity. Be sure we can tell from your titles why they make sense to use for writing a paper of this type!

3) A telegraph is a means of communication in which people had to write from a distance. Use a new tab in your computer browser to research how this system worked. Write a minimum of three sentences in your own words (paraphrase!) and describe this method!