Context Clues, Inferences, & Predicting Outcomes

Context Clues Context Clues: words or phrases surrounding a difficult word that can help you define its meaning. Read the passage on the next slide and supply context clues for the underlined words.

Sample passage The home of her wealthy boyfriend didn’t interest her anymore. But at one time, she was impressed by the house’s architectural details--the iron finials that topped the iron gate around the house, for example. The decorative monkey faces and wings on the gargoyles; they were stone and perched high on the outside of the house. She loved the two turrets that graced the corners. When she was inside, they made lovely round small rooms for relaxing.

Supply the context clues for each of the unfamiliar words: finials: architectural details topped the iron gate gargoyles: decorative stone high on the outside of the house turrets: cororners of the house round small rooms

Actual Definitions Finial: an element marking the top or end of some object, often formed to be decorative. Gargoyle: a carved form grotesque, usually of stone, and place high on a building used to convey water from the building. Turret: a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle.

Context Clues Remember, look for familiar words close to the unfamiliar word or phrase. By using these context clues, you can discover the meaning of new words.

Inferences Inference: an idea or conclusion that is drawn from evidence and reasoning, much like an educated guess. (“Reading between the lines” and finding clues to infer beyond the literal meaning of a passage.) Read the sample passage on the next slide.

Sample passage William was walking downtown. As he turned down a side street, he noticed smoke rising from the roof of a brick building. There were flashing red lights reflected in the store windows. He heard sirens. People were hurrying out of the building.

There is a fire in the building. Making Inferences Inference There is a fire in the building. Clues smoke rising from the roof of a brick building flashing red lights sirens people hurrying out of the building

Inferences By making inferences, you can understand the meaning of what the author has suggested but not directly stated. So look for clues in the passage that will help you make an inference about what the author is suggesting.

Predicting Outcomes When you are reading a passage, you can often predict what might happen based on what you already know about a character or situation. First understand the character or situation, then apply what you know to figure out what may happen next. Try the sample on the next slide.

Predicting Outcomes Selma was fired from journalism jobs at two media companies. So, based on a gut feeling, she holed up in a shack on Cape Cod--one room, no basement, a space heater. She started a novel. From the beginning she knew this was right. In five months the novel was completed, the phone rang, and agent she’d contacted years earlier just happened to call. Luck was with her.

Predicting Outcomes What I know about the character and situation: Selma lost two jobs; she wrote a novel; an agent called What I think will happen as a result: I predict that Selma will get published because an agent called and “Luck was with her.”

Predicting Outcomes By answering these questions you will not only predict outcomes, but you will also better understand what you are reading. Take what you know about characters and situations, and use it to predict what will happen next.