convince (verb) to persuade

• Sample Sentence: Something must be done to convince teens to stay in school.
• Turn and Talk: Why do you think it is necessary to convince restaurant workers to wash their hands before handling food?

enormous (adjective) huge

• Sample Sentence: Many people think that the amount of students dropping out of high school is an enormous problem.
• Turn and Talk: Do you consider litter to be an enormous issue in your community?

integrity (noun) honesty; morality

• Sample Sentence: Some think today’s teens lack integrity and would rather take the easy way out than put in an honest day’s work.
• Turn and Talk: How do you know when a friend has integrity?

persistent (adjective) continuing despite difficulty; relentless; continuing longer than expected

• Sample Sentence: There has been a persistent problem with students dropping out of high school in this country.
• Turn and Talk: Why do you think people are told to be persistent when working towards a goal?

reluctant (adjective) unwilling; hesitant

• Sample Sentence: Once students leave school, many are reluctant to return because they think it’s too late.
• Turn and Talk: What is something that you are reluctant to do even though it might be good for you?