Context Clues Unknown Words?

Standard Determine the meaning of multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexible from a range of strategies. A. Use context as a clue t the meaning of a word or phrase.

What is a context clue? It’s always a good idea to have a dictionary nearby when you sit down to read. You just never know when an author is going to throw a word at you that you don’t know!

But there are times when the dictionary is on the other side of the room, or you’re someplace where there is no dictionary, or you don’t want to slow the flow by looking up a word right then.

There’s still a good way to figure out the meaning of a word: use context clues

The context of a word includes all the other words, phrases, clauses, and sentences around it. These may contain clues that can help you guess what the word means. Context, context, “context context context context context,” context word context context, context context context; context context context context:context context context! Highlight meaning of context clues for students to copy…Explain to students what context is using visual picture to help students remember as well as auditory reinforcement for auditory learners b/c students are reading slides aloud. The unknown word

Root Words Con = around, with, surrounding, together… Text = words Context = words around the unknown word Draw students attention to the root words that make up context to reinforce meaning of word and also show another example of how word parts ( prefixes, roots, and suffixes) help determine the meanings of unknown words as well.

For instance… suppose somebody painted borborygmus on a wall For instance… suppose somebody painted borborygmus on a wall. What does it mean? You don’t have a clue. NO WORDS surround it to give you the faintest hint. BUT … if you saw borborygmus in some kind of context, you might have a fighting chance to figure it out. So let’s put it into a context.

My Most Embarrassing Moment in School! I was so nervous about the big test that I hadn’t eaten all day. There I was, in a perfectly silent room, with about 50 other kids, and suddenly my stomach embarrassed me. Everyone could hear my borborygmus as clearly as if a freight train had rumbled by and it wouldn’t stop. I coughed to cover the sound, but the kid next to me told me to be quiet. I was never so humiliated in my life. Even the A+ I got on the test couldn’t take away my mortification. Student reads slide aloud. …then ask students to say they think the word means….highlight context clues the students say helped them infer the meaning of the unknown word. Draw students attention to transitional words the help. And types of context clues…like a cause/effect situation… like for horripilation.

Clues: Nervous Hadn’t eaten all day My stomach embarrassed me It was as if a freight train has passed by I coughed to cover the sound

Did you spot the clues? The author was embarrassed by his empty stomach. People could hear a rumbling sound. Now what do you think borborygmus means? If you look it up in an advanced dictionary, you’ll see that its definition is:

“the rumbling, gurgling noise of gas moving through the intestines”

Let’s try figuring out strange words from their context! She’d never experienced horripilation before, but when the monster hid in her closet and started making scary sounds in the middle of the night, her hair just stood up on the back of her neck.

Clues: “scary …. hair stood up” Horripilation: The bristling or standing on end of a person’s hair when he or she is frightened

One morning in 1654, Lord George arose early, pulled on his baggy galligaskins, and went to investigate why the cats were howling so loudly. Clues “1654”…”Lord”…”pulled on”…”baggy”

What’s the difference between an A ,B, and C student? C student: pants B student: 17th century pants A student: British 17th century pants

Galligaskins: loose fitting trousers or hose worn in the 16th and 17th centuries, chiefly British

While he was sight-seeing in the jungles of Brazil, my cousin almost died when a Jarraracussu slithered out from under a rock without warning and bit him on the leg. That could have ruined his vacation. Luckily, they got him to a hospital in time, and the doctors got the poison out. Clues: “Brazil”… “almost died”…”slithered out”…”poison” Jarraracussu: a poisonous Brazilian snake

What’s the difference between an A ,B, and C student? C student: snake B student: poisonous snake A student: Brazilian poisonous snake

Yes….he looks like Mr. Pendry!! Luckily she was ambidextrous, so even when she broke her right hand playing basketball, she could still do her homework with her left hand. Yes….he looks like Mr. Pendry!!

Clues: Even though broke right, still use left Ambidextrous The ability to use the right and left hands equally well

List-Group-Label green bean apple steak egg raddish orange

Fruits Vegetables Meat/Protein Steak egg Apple orange Raddish Green bean Steak egg Apple orange

List-Group-Label red purple blue green orange yellow

Red Blue yellow Green Orange purple Cold colors Orange Yellow red Secondary Colors Primary Colors Red Blue yellow Green Orange purple Cold colors Warm colors Green Blue purple Orange Yellow red

List-Group-Label with Transitional Words/ Signal Words but therefore after furthermore for example unlike which and in addition due to second similarly yet including such as however also in the same way although consequently as a result as well as worst more importantly because in fact next to above meanwhile lastly on the other hand in other words like despite since

Transitional Words Inference Synonym/ comparison Cause/effect Definition/restatement Antonym/contrast examples Inference

Let’s do #’s 1, 4, & 7 together!

Definition EXAMPLE 1 The King called his vassals. Vassals are loyal followers of a king or queen. EXAMPLE 2 The settlers reached the piedmont, a gently rolling foothill area between a plain and mountains. Sometimes a writer will directly define a word, especially if the word is a technical term that may be unfamiliar to readers. Second example is to draw attention to the comma as a signal

Definition / Restatement Definition and restatement are often signaled by punctuation (note the comma in the first example) and by certain key words and phrases. The settlers reached the piedmont, a gently rolling foothill area between a plain and mountains. Words that Signal Definition and Restatement which is / are or this means that is also known as in other words is / are called

Words & Punctuation that Signal Synonyms EXAMPLE There are many theories, or ideas, about what made the Ice Age happen. Sometimes the author reveals the meaning of a word by using a synonym. Words & Punctuation that Signal Synonyms , (commas) and or

Contrast Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was concise, in sharp contrast to the long-winded, two-hour speech that preceded it. Sometimes the meaning of a word is revealed through contrast. When two words are in contrast they have opposite meanings. By noting the similarities and differences between the things described, you can get an idea of the meaning of the unfamiliar word. Note that contrast is much like antonym, just more than one word

Words that Signal Contrast Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was concise, in sharp contrast to the long-winded, two-hour speech that preceded it. Words that Signal Contrast unlike on the other hand in contrast to but instead of on the contrary although however different from

Finish the rest with a partner

Now Let’s Check Your Work

Definition / Restatement EXAMPLE The king’s laws were often arbitrary; in other words, he made rules based on how he felt at the moment. More often, a writer will restate the meaning of a word in a less precise form than a dictionary definition. The meaning of arbitrary- “based on one’s sudden desires or notions”- becomes clear from the restatement in the second part of the sentence.

Words that Signal Antonyms EXAMPLE He wasn’t deceased; he was very much alive. Sometimes the author reveals the meaning of a word by using an antonym. Words that Signal Antonyms but however although not despite some…but others on the other hand unlike whereas yet Wasn’t ; was

Words that Signal Comparison The amethyst, like other precious stones known for hardness, cannot be cut with a knife or scratched by glass. Sometimes the meanings of words are revealed through comparisons with other, familiar words or ideas in the sentence. By noting the similarities between the things described, you can get an idea of the meaning of the unfamiliar word. Note that comparison is much like synonym, just more than one word Words that Signal Comparison like also resembling likewise identical similar to as in the same way similarly especially and as well as in that

Examples Most condiments, such as pepper, mustard, and ketchup, are used to improve the flavor of foods. The context in which the word appears may contain one or more examples that give clues to the word’s meaning. Read the examples and note what they have in common. From the examples above (pepper, mustard, and ketchup) you can conclude that condiments must mean a substance added in small amounts to food, usually at the table.

Cause and Effect Because the weeds in my garden are so profuse, I can no longer see the flowers. Another type of clue is cause and effect. The cause of an action or event may be stated using an unfamiliar word. If the effect is stated in familiar terms, though, it can help you understand the unfamiliar word.

Cause and Effect /inference Since Reginald was nervous, he brought his rabbit foot talisman with him to the exam. Sometimes readers must use reasoning, text clues, and prior knowledge to determine meaning. Readers must infer, or make a logical guess about, the word’s meaning.

Inference By the middle of the school year, Bob started to see the fallacy in his thinking. He had thought that because he was bright, he could get good grades without much work. Now he realized he had been mistaken. If he were going to get A’s at this school, he would have to work very hard. Clues may be in nearby sentences, several sentences away, or even several paragraphs away. In this case, you will need to keep reading until you find the clue or clues.

Due November 1st and 2nd Context Clue Packet