Vocabulary Using Context Clues

Have you ever read something and come across a word you don’t know?

What do you do? Don’t just ignore it !!!! Don’t just read on!!!!

There are SOOOOOO many benefits to having a strong vocabulary… 1.) When speaking, you can use the most precise word and you speak eloquently (sound sophisticated!) 2.) When you are writing, you have a better variety of words to choose from and can have the best and most precise vocabulary word (note- word choice is a writing trait often graded!!!) 3.) While reading, you understand the words you encounter 4.) When people speak to you, you understand all the words they state 5.) Higher scores on tests (SAT, ISATs,ACTs, etc.)

Instead of ignoring it, there is a VERY helpful way to discover the word’s meaning…

Through Context Clues…

Context Clues are located AROUND the mystery vocabulary word What you may not realize is there are words AROUND the vocabulary word that can help you make an EDUCATED guess on what the vocabulary word really means. Let’s practice using a word we know…

Let’s try the word: Courage What is the meaning of Courage? Definition: The state of mind that enables you to face danger with confidence and bravery

Let’s read this sentence and pull out the CONTEXT CLUES that would have helped me IF I didn’t know what COURAGE meant…

“The soldier, that was full of courage, jumped off the amphibian tank and ran up the hill of sand. Bullets were flying past him, but he kept running with the focus of getting to his enemy and defending his country.”

What were some of the context clues? “The soldier, that was full of courage, jumped off the amphibian tank and ran up the hill of sand. Bullets were flying past him, but he kept running with the focus of getting to his enemy and defending his country.” Soldier; tank ran up the hill of sand Bullets were flying kept running getting to his enemy defending his country.”

Now, let’s try another sentence with a word we may NOT know… Remember to look for the helpful context clues….

“By March, she came to an epiphany and even yelled- “Ah Ha!” in the store when she suddenly realized the answer to the riddle.”

What do you think “Epiphany” means? What context clues helped you draw that conclusion?

Epiphany means: A sudden realization; a moment of clarity “By March, she came to an epiphany and even yelled- “Ah Ha!” in the store when she suddenly realized the answer to the riddle.” Context Clues: “Ah Ha!” suddenly realized

Let’s do one more… “The impudent student rolls his eyes at his peers and talked back to his teachers. Also, his parents did not know what to because he often swore at them and never obeyed house rules.” What could impudent mean? What context clues helped make such an educated guess?

Impudent mean: offensively bold and disrespectful. “The impudent student frequently rolled his eyes at his peers and talked back to his teachers. Also, his parents did not know what to because he often swore at them and never obeyed house rules.” Context Clues that helped… rolled his eyes talked back Swore never obeyed

Now- In your groups, we are going to give you a sentence with a vocabulary word. Read the sentence and pull out the context clues that help you predict the definition of the word. After you make a prediction, use the dictionary to confirm the definition. Then, create a Vocabulary Illustration (will show you now on the document camera)