1. Context Clues: You be the Detective

2. Context Clues – What Are They?  Context clues are bits of information from the text that, when combined with prior knowledge, allow you to decide the meaning of unknown words in the story or article you are reading.

3. Types of Context Clues Authors use many different types of context clues when writing texts. Three of these types are: DDDDefinition/Synonym context clues AAAAntonym/contrast context clues  E E E Examples RRRRemember- Context clues can come before the word, within the sentence, or after the word!

4. Definition or synonym context clues are words that say, “Stop - don’t touch that dictionary. The definition of the word you don’t know is right here in the text!" EXAMPLES:  The saturated, dripping dog ran in the house after swimming in the lake.  In this sentence, we know the word saturated means wet since they use the synonym, “Dripping.”  The monster’s face was hideous, or ugly.  In this sentence, we know the word hideous means ugly, since that definition is stated after the word.

5. Antonym/Contrast context clues are words around a difficult word that mean the opposite or nearly the opposite as the word. EXAMPLE:  Two new girls started school this week. Beth has a gregarious personality, but Jenna is rather quiet.  In this sentence the words, “but Jenna is rather quiet,” tell us that Beth’s personality is the opposite of Jenna’s. Since Jenna is quiet, gregarious must mean outgoing or social.

6. Example context clues are words before or after a challenging word that don’t tell us the exact definition, but tell us an example to describe it’s meaning. EXAMPLES:  There are many forms of transportation, such as a bus, a car, or a train, that can get you to the zoo.  In this sentence, we know the word transportation means a method for getting from one place to another because of the examples bus, car or train.  Precipitation, such as rain and snow, falls from the sky.  In this sentence, we know the word precipitation means water that falls from the sky because of the examples rain and snow.

7. Let’s review…. The three types of context clues are:  Definitions/synonyms  Antonyms/contrast  Examples

8. Now it is your turn to be a detective and follow the clues! Let’s start investigating! We’ll be reading a passage about a very important man who lead the Civil Rights Movement. Does anyone know who this man is?