Context Clues CSI: Context Scene Investigators use clues to solve mysteries of meaning

Objectives for Unit Be able to define context in terms of vocabulary Learn six types of context clues: definition, restatement, comparison-contrast, example, description, and clue words Apply various types of context clues to determine proper vocabulary and the meaning of words Create sentences and paragraphs that use context clues to aid other readers in understanding the meaning of difficult words Evaluate the effectiveness of others’ use of types of context clues

Essential Question How can we comprehend the unknown by studying the environment around it?

Unit Questions Why would writers give clues to the meaning of difficult and essential words? How do you predict which pieces in a puzzle go where? How are words in a sentence and pieces of a puzzle metaphorically similar?

Content Questions In the end, you’ll be able to answer the following questions: What does context mean? What are context clues and what is their purpose? What are common types of context clues?

Definition CONTEXT: the other words and sentences that are around an unfamiliar word.

For Instance Jeremy wouldn’t stop talking in class.

For Instance Jeremy wouldn’t stop talking in class. Again, as I tried to teach, he incessantly chattered.

For Instance Jeremy wouldn’t stop talking in class. Again, as I tried to teach, he incessantly chattered. When I asked him to stop, he would not.

For Instance Jeremy wouldn’t stop talking in class. Again, as I tried to teach, he incessantly chattered. When I asked him to stop, he would not. I was annoyed at first, but because he wouldn’t desist, I became infuriated and yelled at him.

Read the Following Inhibitions keep people from partaking in new activities. These people embark, or take on, nothing unless they already know they can culminate the activity. Completing the task is paramount, or important, to them. However, if someone can encourage them and give them the tenacity to forego the task, people with inhibitions can obliterate their fears, making them non-existent

The Research “The subject matter of a passage is interrelated and the text is often redundantly structured. To help readers, writers often give definitions or extensive clues within the text when a new word appears” (Yu Shu Ying, Aquiring Vocabulary through a Context-based Approach)

Definition The author provides the definition of the word to help understanding. Ex: I hate to see people in a destitute state. They are so poor. Those who are destitute are defined as poor.

Restatement The author restates the meaning of the words in other terms Ex: Frantic people, or people in an excited state, are often hyper and worry a lot. The “or” statement restates that frantic people are excited people

Comparison/Contrast These clues come in two forms: Either synonyms or comparisons are given for the word or… Antonyms or contrasts are given for the word

Synonym The author provides a synonym, a word that means the same or almost the same as another, to help readers understand a word. Ex: The happy, ecstatic times we spent together were documented in my autobiography. This helps us understand that ecstatic is similar to happy.

Antonym The author provides a word or description of opposite meaning to help understanding. Ex: Bob tolerated Ann, but Kyle found her unbearable. Based upon opposite meanings tolerated is the opposite of unbearable which is bearable or being able to put up with someone.

Description The author includes descriptions to help the reader understand. The play culminated and the actors took a bow, the curtain closed, and the people headed for the doors. Based on the descriptive actions of what happens when a play ends, we know that culmination means end or finish.

Examples The author gives examples that help the reader understand the unknown word. Ex: Everyone said Mark was benevolent. He gave money to the poor, he contributed to over forty charities, and he gave clothes to the homeless. The actions in the second sentences are examples of benevolent acts, and they help the reader to see that it means giving or generous.

Cue Words The author gives various words that serve as hints to the meaning of a word. Ex: She was a flirtatious strumpet who was shunned by virtuous members of the community for making money in such a immoral way Flirtatious, shunned by virtue, and immoral money making all cue or give hints to the meaning of strumpet as a prostitute.