Exceptional Expressions

Exceptional Expressions Posted 04/10/2010 Permanent Link

#30 Focus

EVERYDAY EVENTS:

This week’s Exceptional Expression for Everyday Events studies the word focus. The word focus can be used in the classroom in order for the teacher to direct a student’s attention on a particular task at hand, such as a reading assignment. The teacher may also tell the class that the focus of the class during a certain time period is on a vocabulary worksheet.

EXCEPTIONAL EXPRESSION:

The word focus can be used as a noun to signify the central importance of a particular object, as in the focal point of today’s lesson is vocabulary. In writing, the focus of a paper is also the main point or thesis of the paper.

The word focus can also be used as a verb to express the act of concentrating on an object. A teacher may ask a particular student to apply their focus on the specific task at hand.

It should be noted that focus has a specific definition in certain content areas. For example, in physics, focus can be defined as the point at which rays of light or other radiation converge. In math, focus can be defined as the point from which a circle, or a curve is generated.

FOLLOW-UPS:

• What is the focus of the lesson plan?
• How do teachers get students to focus on the task at hand?

THE SPANISH CONNECTIONS:

Focus comes from the Latin word focus. The definition of the Latin word focus is hearth or fireplace. This shows that the meaning of focus has changed quite a bit over time. The Spanish word for focus is the cognate foco.

WORD CHANGES:

1) IDIOMS:

• Buckle down

2) COMMON PHRASES:

• Maintain focus
• Out of focus
• Bring into focus

Click here to download the printable version of E4: Focus.