The results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election have caused a lot of tension in the country and around the world. This situation has led to different opinions about what it means for the future. Because of this division, the Merriam-Webster dictionary has picked "polarization" as its word of the year. Peter Sokolowski, the editor at Merriam-Webster, explained that polarization means a strong division that pushes people to extreme opinions instead of finding common ground.

The election showed just how divided people are, with many voters seeing the other candidate as a real danger to the country. A survey by AP VoteCast, which asked over 120,000 voters, found that about 80% of those who voted for Kamala Harris were worried that Donald Trump's ideas were too extreme. On the other hand, around 70% of Trump supporters thought Harris's views were too radical. This big difference shows how deep the divisions are among American voters.

Merriam-Webster's choice of "polarization" is not just about politics; it also points to bigger problems in society. The word is used to describe major disagreements in many areas, like pop culture and technology. For example, arguments about celebrities, such as Taylor Swift's use of her private jet, or fights between musicians, are also seen as polarizing. This shows that polarization is a widespread issue that affects many parts of our lives today.

Interestingly, the word "polarization" has been around since the early 1800s, making it a relatively new term in English. Sokolowski mentioned that while people often think of polarization in political discussions, it also applies to other areas of life. He stressed that dictionaries aim to give clear definitions, especially now when there is so much misinformation. By choosing "polarization" as the word of the year, Merriam-Webster highlights the need to recognize the divisions in society. Other words like "demure," "fortnight," and "totality" have also gained attention in 2024, showing how language changes with current events and people's interests.

Original news source: ‘Polarization’ is Merriam-Webster’s 2024 word of the year (AP News)

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will act out the word "polarization" without speaking, while their classmates guess the word. Encourage them to think creatively about how to convey the meaning of the word through gestures and facial expressions.
– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and have them discuss their opinions on the concept of polarization in society. Each group will create a short poll with questions related to polarization (e.g., "Do you think polarization is increasing in your country?"). Afterward, groups will share their findings with the class.
– MIND MAP
Instructions: In pairs, students will create a mind map related to the word "polarization." They will brainstorm and connect various ideas associated with the term, such as politics, social media, culture, and technology. Each pair will present their mind map to the class.
– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Students will work individually or in pairs to come up with a catchy headline related to the article’s theme of polarization. After they create their headlines, they will share them with the class, and the class will vote on the most engaging one.
– SPEED SUMMARIZING
Instructions: Students will be given one minute to summarize the article's main points to a partner. After the first round, they will switch partners and summarize again, focusing on different aspects of the article. This will help them practice concise communication and reinforce their understanding of the content.

The results of the 2024 U.S. ? ? have caused a lot of tension in the country and around the world. This situation has led to different opinions about what it ? for the future. Because of this division, the Merriam-Webster dictionary has picked "polarization" as its word of the year. Peter Sokolowski, the editor at Merriam-Webster, explained that polarization means a strong division that pushes ? to extreme opinions instead of finding common ground. The election showed just how divided people are, with many voters seeing the other candidate as a real danger to the country. A survey by AP VoteCast, which ? over 120,000 voters, found that about 80% of those who voted for Kamala ? were worried that Donald Trump's ideas were too ?. On the other hand, around 70% of Trump supporters thought Harris's ? were too radical. This big difference shows how deep the divisions are among American voters. Merriam-Webster's choice of "polarization" is not just about politics; it also points to bigger problems in society. The word is used to describe major disagreements in many areas, like pop culture and technology. For example, arguments about celebrities, such as Taylor Swift's use of her private jet, or fights between musicians, are also seen as polarizing. This ? that polarization is a widespread ? that affects many parts of our lives ?. Interestingly, the word "polarization" has been around since the early 1800s, making it a relatively new term in English. Sokolowski ? that while people often think of polarization in ? discussions, it also applies to other areas of life. He stressed that dictionaries aim to give clear definitions, especially now when there is so much misinformation. By choosing "polarization" as the word of the year, Merriam-Webster ? the need to recognize the divisions in society. Other words like "demure," "fortnight," and "totality" have also gained ? in 2024, showing how ? changes with current events and people's interests.

1. What is your opinion on the idea of polarization in society?
2. How would you feel if you had to discuss politics with someone who has very different opinions from yours?
3. Do you think it's possible for people with extreme views to find common ground? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever experienced a situation where people were very divided over an issue? What happened?
5. What is a topic that you think causes a lot of polarization among your friends or family?
6. Do you like discussing political issues with others? Why or why not?
7. How do you think social media affects polarization in today's society?
8. Do you think celebrities should be involved in political discussions? Why or why not?
9. How would you feel if your favorite celebrity took a strong political stance that you disagreed with?
10. What is a way that people can try to bridge the gap between polarized opinions?
11. Do you think language plays a big role in how we understand political issues? Why?
12. How would you feel if you had to choose between two candidates you didn't like in an election?
13. Do you think young people today are more or less polarized than previous generations? Why?
14. What is a recent event that you think has caused a lot of division in society?
15. Do you think it's important to recognize and talk about polarization? Why or why not?

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