Five Clues to help figure out unknown words in a sentence Using Context Clues Five Clues to help figure out unknown words in a sentence

Getting Started Look at the picture at the left. The picture illustrates the meaning of the word “scrutinize”. Look for clues in the picture to help you guess the meaning of scrutinize.

EQ: How Do I Use Context Clues ? 1. Learn to look for meaning clues before or after unknown words within sentences & paragraphs. Pay attention to how the unknown word is being used. 3. Can you relate the word to other words & ideas to figure out a Connotative definition for the unknown word. You Follow The Clues

What are the two types of definitions? Connotative Definition: An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing. Often the emotional meaning of a word that a person understands. Denotative Definition: The Primary Meaning of a term. The “Official” definition of a word. (My trick to remembering this one is to think of the word “dictionary”. Both dictionary & denotative start with the letter “d”.)

There are 5 main types of Context Clues The 5 Types Definition Series Clues Synonym Antonym Experience

Context Clue # 1: Definition Sometimes you will find the meaning of a new word given right before or after the word. The definition will be in the same sentence.

Let’s practice: What is the definition clue in this reading that will help us understand the word “demise”? The British pirate Edward Teach, known as “Blackbeard,” is supposed to have buried treasure in hundreds of places. One likely place is Ocracoke Island, off the coast of North Carolina. In 1718, Blackbeard met his demise, or death, near Ocracoke. Some people think the largest part of his treasure is hidden on the island.

Context Clue # 2: Series Clue Sometimes a new word will be a part of a group of words that go together. You can get a hint about the unknown word by studying the other words in the series.

Let’s practice: Locate the series clue in this reading that will help us understand the meaning of the word “cruelty”? Captain William Kidd was hanged in 1701 for piracy, murder and cruelty toward members of his crew. Before his death, he gave his wife a piece of parchment on which was written 44-10-66-18. The numbers seemed to be the map location of Deer Isle, Maine. People searched the island, but did not find any treasure there.

Context Clue #3: Synonyms 1st REMEMBER what a synonym is: One of two or MORE words that have highly similar meanings, such as: sadness, grief & sorrow. SO Sometimes you can spot a SYNONYM of an unfamiliar word in a sentence near the one in which the unknown word appears.

Let’s practice: Look for the synonym of concealed in the following story to help us define the word. Some people think Jean Faffite also concealed treasure on Padre Island off the Texas coast in the early 19th Century. John Singer searched the island for the treasure Faffite hid there. He found a chest containing $80,000 worth of gold and jewels. He reburied it during the Civil War for safekeeping. He was unable to find it again after the war.

Context Clue #4: Antonyms 1st WHAT is an ANTONYM: A word opposite in meaning of another word. SO Sometimes we can spot an ANTONYM of an unfamiliar word in the SAME sentence. By contrasting these 2 words, we can figure out the unknown word’s meaning.

Let’s practice: Look for the antonym in the following story to help predict the meaning of “unearthed”. In April 1934, FBI agents surrounded John Dillinger and his criminal gang near Mercer, Wisconsin. Dillinger escaped. Supposedly, he dug a hole behind his hideout and buried a suitcase containing nearly $200,000 there. Dillinger was soon killed by the FBI. The suitcase was never unearthed, however.

Context Clue #5: Experience Sometimes the meaning of a word just makes sense to you based on your prior knowledge or SCHEMA.

Let’s practice: What schema do you have to help you understand the word “sacred”? In 1848, three Mexican brothers discovered a gold mine said to be worth $100 million in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona. The mine was located in a mountain that was important to the religion of the Apache people. The apaches were angry that their sacred mountain was being harmed. They attacked and killed most of the mining party and hid the veins of gold with dirt. Many other prospectors have searched for the mine unsuccessfully.

The 5 Context Clues AGAIN! Definition Clue Series Clue Synonym Clue Antonym Clue Experience or SCHEMA Clue

SO WHAT? 1. Get your Calamities packets 2. Go to the last 2 articles: Schoolyard Tragedy & Killer Tornado 3. Go to Section D 4. Find the Underlined Words in the text 5. Now find the Context Clues that give you “HINTS” to the definition 6. Put boxes around the HINTS & LABEL THEM Definition Series Synonym Antonym Schema