Having trouble determining a word’s meaning? STOP! - don’t touch that dictionary! The definition...

Having trouble Having trouble determining a word’s determining a word’s

meaning? STOP!meaning? STOP! - - don’t touch that don’t touch that dictionary! The dictionary! The definition of the word definition of the word you don’t know is in you don’t know is in the text!the text!

Context CluesContext Clues

Words or phrases around an unfamiliar Words or phrases around an unfamiliar word which can help you understand the word which can help you understand the meaning of this new word are called meaning of this new word are called context cluescontext clues. If you learn how to use . If you learn how to use these clues, you can save yourself a trip these clues, you can save yourself a trip to the dictionary, increase your to the dictionary, increase your vocabulary, and improve your reading vocabulary, and improve your reading comprehension. comprehension.


Vocabulary knowledge is mandatory to Vocabulary knowledge is mandatory to achieve success. achieve success.

Often when confronted with an unfamiliar Often when confronted with an unfamiliar word within its context, students will skip word within its context, students will skip over it and continue to read, or they will over it and continue to read, or they will stop reading altogether. stop reading altogether.


The sentence might offer an example of The sentence might offer an example of the word or tell what the word does.the word or tell what the word does.If you encounter an unfamiliar word, If you encounter an unfamiliar word, context clues or other words around it in context clues or other words around it in the sentence or paragraph can help you the sentence or paragraph can help you figure out its meaning.figure out its meaning.

1. Context Clues 1. Context Clues GuidelinesGuidelines

After After the word or that the word or that directly followdirectly follow the the unfamiliar word.unfamiliar word.

Example: The Example: The trektrek,, or journey, became or journey, became more challenging as we approached the more challenging as we approached the top of the mountain.top of the mountain.

2. Context Clue Guideline2. Context Clue Guideline

Authors often use Authors often use punctuation cluespunctuation clues to to help the reader. help the reader. Punctuation cluesPunctuation clues might include commas, dashes,might include commas, dashes, or or parentheses.parentheses.

Example: In order to keep the dogs Example: In order to keep the dogs inside the yard, we built a inside the yard, we built a parapetparapet, a low , a low wall or railing. wall or railing.

2. More Examples2. More Examples

Mary Mary retainedretained, , kept, the deed to her mother's kept, the deed to her mother's house. house.

I wonder if that fruit isI wonder if that fruit is edibleedible, , able to be eaten. able to be eaten. The company is going through manyThe company is going through many

transitions, transitions, changes. changes. Children are often Children are often loquacious, loquacious, very talkative very talkative

and active. and active. Bigamy, Bigamy, marriage to two spouses at the marriage to two spouses at the

same time, same time, is not legal in the United States. is not legal in the United States.


Before the word Before the word calledcalled..

Example: The worm ate the middle layer Example: The worm ate the middle layer of the peach, which is called the of the peach, which is called the mesocarpmesocarp..


In the In the previousprevious sentence. sentence.

Example: Everyone at the dinner table Example: Everyone at the dinner table cleaned their plates and asked for cleaned their plates and asked for seconds. As the guests left, they said the seconds. As the guests left, they said the dinner was dinner was delectabledelectable..


In the In the nextnext sentence sentence

Example: Jake left the waitress a Example: Jake left the waitress a paltrypaltry tip. She forgot to give them glasses of tip. She forgot to give them glasses of water, brought out cold food, and never water, brought out cold food, and never checked on them, so she deserved a checked on them, so she deserved a small tip. small tip.


By replacing the unfamiliar word with a By replacing the unfamiliar word with a ““predictionprediction” word to see if it fits or ” word to see if it fits or makes sense.makes sense.

Example: He acted like a Example: He acted like a buffoonbuffoon at the at the party by telling jokes and laughing too party by telling jokes and laughing too loudly and too often.loudly and too often.

(prediction word: fool)(prediction word: fool)


By studying the unfamiliar word’s By studying the unfamiliar word’s prefix, prefix, suffix, or rootsuffix, or root word and writing the meanings word and writing the meanings to figure out the meaning of the word.to figure out the meaning of the word.

Example: The only part of the city Example: The only part of the city recognizablerecognizable to Ian was the Sears Tower. to Ian was the Sears Tower.

(-able=capable of being/recognizable)(-able=capable of being/recognizable)

8. Context Clue Guideline 8. Context Clue Guideline

By asking yourself if the word sounds By asking yourself if the word sounds positive or negativepositive or negative..

Example: The evil queen cast a Example: The evil queen cast a sinistersinister glare at the elf when he asked her a glare at the elf when he asked her a question. (evil=negative)question. (evil=negative)


By figuring out the word’s By figuring out the word’s part of part of speechspeech, such as a noun, verb, adjective, , such as a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb.or adverb.

Example: He Example: He guzzledguzzled water rapidly after water rapidly after the race.the race.

(Guzzled is a verb. He did something to (Guzzled is a verb. He did something to the water.)the water.)

10. Context Clue 10. Context Clue GuidelineGuideline

The context clue may be a The context clue may be a synonymsynonym (words (words with almost the same meaningwith almost the same meaning)) or an or an antonymantonym (words opposite in meaning (words opposite in meaning)) for the for the unfamiliar word.unfamiliar word.

Examples: Reducing cholesterol has a number of Examples: Reducing cholesterol has a number of beneficialbeneficial results. One results. One positive positive outcome is reducing outcome is reducing the risk of heart disease. (the risk of heart disease. (synonym cluesynonym clue) )

I I despisedespise liver, but I liver, but I adoreadore steak. ( steak. (antonym antonym clueclue) )

Practice 1Practice 1

I have always lived in I have always lived in cubbyholescubbyholes. After . After moving away from home, my first apartment moving away from home, my first apartment was just a was just a cubbyholecubbyhole in a large building. It was in a large building. It was no more that 8' by 12' and had a bed in one no more that 8' by 12' and had a bed in one corner. My second was no more than a large corner. My second was no more than a large walk-in closet. My current one is about 10 feet walk-in closet. My current one is about 10 feet long by 12 feet wide, but it at least has two long by 12 feet wide, but it at least has two rooms.rooms.

Possible Answer:Possible Answer: A. Small space B. Large Space C. HomeA. Small space B. Large Space C. Home


The floors of the restaurant were The floors of the restaurant were extremely extremely scuzzyscuzzy. They were covered . They were covered with spilled grease, crumbs of food, and with spilled grease, crumbs of food, and cigarette butts.cigarette butts.

Possible Answer:Possible Answer: A. Clean B Dirty C. Straight A. Clean B Dirty C. Straight


The contractor was always well The contractor was always well remunerated remunerated for his work. For example, for his work. For example, he received $10,000 for a small addition he received $10,000 for a small addition to a house, and last year he was to a house, and last year he was received $5,000 for reconstructing a received $5,000 for reconstructing a stairway.stairway.

Possible Answer:Possible Answer: A. Valued B. Given C. PaidA. Valued B. Given C. Paid


The department store carries a variety of The department store carries a variety of breechesbreeches, for example they carried , for example they carried Levis, Wranglers, and even some plain Levis, Wranglers, and even some plain unlabeled brands made of cotton.unlabeled brands made of cotton.

Possible Answer:Possible Answer: A. Ties B. Pants C. SocksA. Ties B. Pants C. Socks


Josie received a Josie received a baublebauble for a present for a present from her great aunt. This she put with her from her great aunt. This she put with her others: a pair of imitation earrings, a fake others: a pair of imitation earrings, a fake emerald pendant, and a ring that looked emerald pendant, and a ring that looked like a ruby.like a ruby.

Possible Answer: Possible Answer: A. Clothing B. Fancy food C. JewelryA. Clothing B. Fancy food C. Jewelry

Having trouble determining a word’s meaning? STOP! - don’t touch that dictionary! The definition...

Documents

Transcript of Having trouble determining a word’s meaning? STOP! - don’t touch that dictionary! The definition...