Context Clues

1. Context Clues Ms. Moye 9/7/11

2. Learning Targets • I can explain the function of context clues. • I can define the seven types of context clues. • I can identify the seven types of context clues in text. • I can use the seven types of context clues to identify unfamiliar words.

3. Hey…What does that word mean?!? • When you read, do you occasionally come across a word you do not know? • How would you figure out the meaning of a word? • What if you did not have a dictionary?

4. What are Context Clues? • Context clues are words in the same sentence or passage that gives you clues to what an unfamiliar word means. • These clues will help you understand the meaning of the unknown word in a story or passage.

5. Context Clues The words and phrases around an unfamiliar word often time provide clues to the word’s meaning. • Context clues are often in the sentence where the unknown word appears. • Context clues can be in the sentence before or after the unknown word.

6. Seven Types of Context Clues There are Seven types of context clues: • Definition context clues • Synonym context clues • Antonym context clues • Comparison context clues • Contrast context clues • Description or Example context clues • Visual context clues

7. Type of context clue that explains the meaning of the unfamiliar word in the sentence. Ex: The sun made the lake water shine which is known asshimmers. Unfamiliar Word: shimmers Meaning: to shine: glisten Context Clue: The sun made the lake water shine Type of Context Clue: explanation/definition 1. Definition/Explanation

8. Synonyms are words that have the same meaning. Ex.:No matter what goes on in Jada’s life, she always remains nonchalantor calm. Unfamiliar word: nonchalant Meaning: calm Context clue: she always remains calm Type of Context Clue: synonym 2. Synonyms

9. Antonyms are words that have opposite meaning. Ex.:Although the princess is familiar to those in London, she is unknown to the rest of the world. Unfamiliar Word: familiar Meaning: to know; be aware Context Clue: she is always unknown…world Type of Context Clue: antonym 3. Antonyms

10. 4. Description or Example Context Clues • The author includes one or more examples or descriptions to help the reader understand the unknown word. • Look for words and phrases like “such as,” “including,” “forexample,” and “consistsof.” • Colons (:) and dashes (-) are also signal descriptions or examples.

11. Description or Example Context Clues Example: The Native American gave the wounded soldier a cardamom potion. The herb’s strong smell was enough to cure the hurt man. • You can gather from the second sentence that cardamom must be an herb used for medicine.

12. Type of context clue that shows similarities often time using similes. Ex.: The miniature horse was as small as a dog. Unfamiliar Word: miniature Meaning: small Context Clue: horse was as small as a dog Types of Context Clue: comparison 5. Comparison

13. 6. Contrast Contrast: context clue that shows differences Ex.: We watched as the duck floated on the surface of the lake, while his friends dove under water. unfamiliar word: meaning: context clue: Type of context clue:

14. 7. Visual Context Clues • The author includes a picture, drawing, chart, graph, or other type of visual to help the reader understand the meaning of a word. • Always read the sentence first, then look at the photo, drawing, chart, or graph for a clue to the unknown word.

15. Visual Context Clues Example: Peggy had an exultant look on her face. • You can tell by the picture that exultant means happy.

16. Summary Context Clues are clues used to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. Context clues are found in the sentence, the sentence before and the sentence after. There are six types of context clues: def./expl., synonyms, antonyms, comparison, descriptive and visual .