Building College-Level Vocabulary

How do we continue to build vocabulary so that when we get to college we are not overwhelmed with the level of work?  One key strategy is to read on your own.  Read material that takes you one step beyond the level that you're reading on now.  We are reading an article by Chuck D called "What's the Link between Hip Hop and Politics?"  It appeared in The Source, a hip hop lifestyle magazine.  Read the article.  Circle and define words or terms you do not know.  Then write a synopsis of the article, describing its meaning in your own words.