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Context Clues Adapt Revised 2013

This document discusses context clues, which are pieces of information in a text that help the reader determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. There are six types of context clues: definition/description, items in a series, cause and effect, synonyms, antonyms, and tone/setting. The document provides examples of how to use context clues to define words based on these types. It also describes a process for using context clues that involves checking the surrounding sentences for clues like synonyms, antonyms, or definitions before looking up an unknown word in a dictionary.

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135 views20 pages

Context Clues Adapt Revised 2013

This document discusses context clues, which are pieces of information in a text that help the reader determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. There are six types of context clues: definition/description, items in a series, cause and effect, synonyms, antonyms, and tone/setting. The document provides examples of how to use context clues to define words based on these types. It also describes a process for using context clues that involves checking the surrounding sentences for clues like synonyms, antonyms, or definitions before looking up an unknown word in a dictionary.

Uploaded by

Jamie AcademicSpecialist
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Context Clues

What Are Context Clues?


• Context clues are pieces of information from a text that
allow you to decide the meaning of new words in a text.

• As a reader, you must act like a detective and put


together clues from the words and sentences around a
new word to make an educated guess about the meaning
of the new word.
How Do Context Clues Help You?
• Using context clues will help you learn how to define words
without having to spend time looking in a dictionary. They will
also help you practice using context to define terms, thus resulting
in better comprehension of what you read.

• Textbook writers and authors include context clues to help their


readers understand the meaning of a new or difficult word.

• Always use the context clues to determine or make logical


guesses about the meanings of many new or difficult words.
Types of Context Clues

1. Definition/Description
2. Series/Example
3. Cause and Effect
4. Synonym
5. Antonym
6. Tone/Setting
Context Clues Foldable
• To learn each of the six types of context clues, each
student is going to make a “foldable”.
• Watch and follow along
• Color your outside flaps for homework
Using Context Clues
Step-by-Step
When you find a word or phrase you do not know in your reading, go
through the following steps to determine the meaning of the word.

• Step 1: Check for synonyms or definitions in the same sentence. If you find a synonym or
definition, reread the sentence with the new term, keeping the synonym or definition in mind
or sub

• Step 2: Check for an antonym clue. If you find an antonym clue, think about its opposite
meaning. Then reread the sentence and rephrase it using the opposite meaning in place of the
original word.

• Step 3: Check for a synonym clue. Reread the sentence and substitute the synonym in the
sentence.
Using Context Clues
Step-by-Step
• Step 4: If there are other words in the series, check to see if the other words in the series
help make the unknown word more clear.

• Step 5: Read on and check for clues in the tone or setting or cause and effect. Try
substituting words and check if it make sense in the context of the rest of the paragraph,
try again.

• Step 6: If the word in the sentence still does not make sense to you and you do not
understand the main point the author is making in the paragraph after investigating for
context clues, check a dictionary.
Types of Context What are the six types of context
Clues Quiz clues?

1. _____________
2. _____________
3. _____________
4. _____________
5. _____________
Types of Context What are the six types of context
Clues Quiz clues?

1. Definition/Description
2. Synonym
3. Antonym
4. Items in a Series
5. Tone and Setting
6. Cause and Effect
QUIZ

Read the sentence and tell 1. It was so gliff outside, I


the meaning of the had to wear two sweaters
underlined word: and a jacket!

“Gliff” most likely means:


A.Warm
B.cold
C.bright
D.dark
QUIZ

Read the sentence and tell 1. It was so gliff outside, I


the meaning of the had to wear two sweaters
underlined word: and a jacket!

“Gliff” most likely means:


A.Warm
B.cold
C.bright
D.Dark

*gliff is an invented word. Please don’t use it.


QUIZ

Q: What does ambiguous 2. The professor said that the


mean?
ideas in my paper were too
ambiguous, that is, vague or
Q: What type of context clue
did you use to figure it out?
too general.
QUIZ

Q: What does ambiguous 2. The professor said that the


mean?
ideas in my paper were too
A: vague or too general ambiguous, that is, vague or
Q: What type of context clue
too general.
did you use to figure it out?

A: definition context clue


QUIZ

Q: What does the extinct 3. Many species went extinct


mean?
for unknown reasons. For
example, dinosaurs are no
Q: What type of context clue
did you use to figure it out?
longer found on earth.
QUIZ

Q: What does the extinct 3. Many species went extinct


mean?
for unknown reasons. For
A: no longer alive example, dinosaurs are no
Q: What type of context clue
longer found on earth.
did you use to figure it out?

A: cause and effect context


clue
QUIZ

Q: What does the italicized 4. In the earthquake, many


word mean?
victims were killed or
injured and many children
Q: What type of context clue
became orphaned.
did you use?
QUIZ

Q: What does the italicized 4. In the earthquake, many


word mean?
victims were killed or
A: a young person whose injured and many children
parents are dead
became orphaned.
Q: What type of context clue
did you use?

A: tone and setting context


clue
QUIZ

Q: What does the italicized 5. In contrast to Mary’s


word mean?
joyfulness, John’s
despondency really worries his
Q: What type of context clue
did you use?
parents.
QUIZ

Q: What does the italicized 5. In contrast to Mary’s


word mean?
joyfulness, John’s
A: state of feeling sad and despondency really worries his
hopeless
parents.
Q: What type of context clue
did you use?

A: antonym context clue


Resources
http://www.quia.com/pop/117579.html?AP_rand=1583176398

http://wps.ablongman.com/long_licklider_vocabulary_2/6/1626/416421.cw/index.html

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