Lily and John both have an essay returned by the teacher with a request for edits. Lily’s essay is returned because she used the same boring words over and over again. John’s essay is returned because he used words with definitions that did not match his intended meaning.

In 2-3 sentences, explain which reference source would help these students to correct their word choice. Identify the reference source for each student to use and explain why or how it would help them.

Lily can benefit from using a thesaurus as a reference source. A thesaurus would provide her with alternative words and synonyms to replace the repetitive ones, allowing her to diversify her vocabulary and make her essay more interesting.

On the other hand, John should refer to a dictionary to improve his word choice. By checking the definitions of the words he used in his essay, he can ensure that they align with his intended meaning. The dictionary will provide him with accurate definitions of words, enabling him to choose the right ones that convey his intended message effectively.

There was something incongruous about hearing a lecture from my friend on not giving up, when she does not follow through with any sports she plays.

In 2-3 sentences, define incongruous and explain how both the context clues and word parts can help you discover the word’s meaning.

The word "incongruous" means not in harmony or not compatible with something else in a particular situation. In this context, it implies that there is a contradiction or inconsistency between the speaker's actions and the message they are delivering. The context clues in the sentence, such as "hearing a lecture on not giving up" and "does not follow through with any sports she plays," indicate that the speaker's words and actions are mismatched. Additionally, breaking down the word "incongruous" into its word parts can also aid in understanding its meaning - "in-" means not, "con-" means together or with, and "-gruous" relates to harmony or agreement, all indicating a lack of compatibility or mismatch.

To correct their word choice, Lily can use a thesaurus, which is a reference source that provides synonyms and antonyms for words. It would help her find alternative words to replace the repetitive ones in her essay. On the other hand, John can use a dictionary, which is a reference source that provides definitions of words. It would help him ensure that the words he uses align with their intended meanings.