Into the Wild

Eight words for the day you leave the map behind.

Meet each word one at a time, then take the quiz to lock them in.

1. 1 expedition noun
2. 2 region noun
3. 3 trek verb
4. 4 observe verb
5. 5 distant adjective
6. 6 rugged adjective
7. 7 rapidly adverb
8. 8 carefully adverb

Nelson's word

noun

Expedition. A noun, and I file it under a long trip taken for a clear purpose. It is not a stroll around the block; an expedition has a goal, a map, and supplies packed for the days ahead. Explorers plan an expedition to climb a mountain or study a jungle. Notice the end of the word, that -tion, which turns an action into a thing you can name and file. State it precisely: an expedition is a purposeful journey, and it earns its long name.

The team planned an expedition to map the distant valley by summer.

Nelson's word

noun

Region. A noun, and a useful one to file. A region is a large area of land that has features of its own, its own weather, its own plants, its own look. A desert region is dry and open; a mountain region is high and steep. When a map divides a country into regions, it is sorting the land into parts you can name. I file region near area and zone. State it precisely: a region is a stretch of land that stands apart from the land around it.

The northern region grows colder and rockier the farther you travel.

Vinny's word

verb

Trek! To make a long, hard journey on foot, one heavy step after another, until you arrive! When the hikers trek across the region, they do not ride and they do not fly; they walk the whole way, and that takes grit. That is the verb, and it is mine. But watch closely, because this word has a secret identity. Say a long trek, and suddenly trek is a thing, a noun, the journey itself instead of the walking. Same word, two jobs. We sort those hats in Practice.

The hikers trek across the rugged region for three long days.

Vinny's word

verb

Observe! To watch something closely and carefully, missing nothing! When the scientists observe the birds, they do not just glance; they study every flick, every color, every sound. That is the verb, and it is mine, because it takes a hero's focus. To observe is more than to see; it is to look on purpose, and to remember what you saw. Learn the difference, and you will notice things other explorers walk right past.

The scientists observe the birds until they learn every call.

Jake's word

adjective

Distant. An adjective, and mine, describing a thing that is far away, either far off in space or far back in time. Distant mountains sit at the edge of the horizon; a distant memory sits at the edge of what you can recall. Its Frown is nearby, the thing close at hand. Could we be more specific than saying the hills were far off? We could say they were distant, which lets the reader feel the miles between. Same picture, sharper edges. Magnifique.

The distant peaks looked blue and small against the morning sky.

Jake's word

adjective

Rugged. An adjective, mine, describing land that is rough and rocky and hard to travel across. A rugged trail is full of loose stones, steep climbs, and sharp turns; it does not make the journey easy. Its Frown is smooth, the path that gives you no trouble at all. Could we be more specific than saying the ground was hard to walk on? We could call it rugged, and let the reader feel every rock underfoot. That is the power of the right adjective.

The rugged trail broke two of our walking sticks before noon.

Benny's word

adverb

Rapidly. That is my kind of word, an adverb, and it tells you how the action happens: fast, and getting faster. When the river runs rapidly, it is not drifting along; it is racing over the rocks. Here is my coaching for you: do not settle for saying something moved fast. You can do better. Say it moved rapidly, and now the reader can feel the speed. An adverb sharpens the verb the way a good pace sharpens a run. Reach for it, and your writing picks up speed too.

The river ran rapidly over the rocks after the heavy rain.

Benny's word

adverb

Carefully. An adverb, and I own it the way Nelson owns his nouns. It tells you how the action is done: with close attention, watching for mistakes. When she carefully packs the maps, she takes her time and checks every corner. Here is my coaching: a strong verb deserves a strong adverb beside it. Do not just say someone did a job; tell us they did it carefully, and the reader trusts the work. Make it sharper, make it precise, and your sentence does more with the same action.

She carefully packed each map so the rain would not ruin it.