Context CluesEssential Question: How can using context

clues strengthen my reading skills?

What are Context Clues?Context - The parts of something written or

spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning.

It is common to encounter words that we don’t know as we read.

Looking up words we don’t know breaks the flow of the reading, so good readers try to guess the meaning by looking at the sentences and words around the unfamiliar word.

This is called guessing meaning from context.

Let’s figure it out…John got in his jalopy and drove down the

road. Jalopy - a dilapidated old car

Let’s figure it out…People who suffer from acrophobia, or fear of

heights, shouldn’t climb mountains.Acrophobia - a pathological fear of heights.

Let’s figure it out…Unlike Professor Dixon, who is extremely

nervous, Professor Benton is very placid.Placid - Not easily upset or excited.

Types of Context CluesDefinition – Often a sentence will contain

the actual definition of the word.For example: People who suffer from

acrophobia, or fear of heights, shouldn’t climb mountains.

The exact definition of “acrophobia” is given to you in the sentence.

Types of Context CluesExample – Illustration: Often, a sentence will

provide many examples and details which help you see and understand the word even if you don’t know the exact definition.

For example: Mr. Jones is a real recluse. He lives alone on the edge of town and he never comes out of his house except to go to work.

Recluse must mean a person who is alone and isolated.

Types of Context CluesContrast – Sometimes an unknown word is

used in contrast to a word that you do know or that is explained in the sentence.

For example: Unlike Professor Dixon, who is extremely nervous, Professor Benton is very placid.

Even if you don’t know the meaning of “placid,” it has to be the opposite of nervous, so “placid” must mean calm or relaxed.

Types of Context CluesLogic – Your knowledge about the world or a

particular situation can help you understand a word you don’t know.

For example: The baby-sitter put a pacifier in the baby’s mouth and suddenly little Jimmy stopped crying.

Common knowledge about infant care will help you understand the “pacifier” is the little piece of rubber on a ring that is used to calm down a crying baby.

Types of Context CluesLatin and Greek Word Parts: Even if you

don’t have all these stems, prefixes and suffixes memorized, if you know a few of them, you will have clues about many unfamiliar words.

For example: Many politicians still favor geothermal energy.

The prefix geo refers to the earth and the stem therm is related to heat. “Geothermal” refers to energy that is produced by the earth’s heat.

Types of Context CluesGrammar – When you know the part of speech

of an unfamiliar word, you know a lot about that word.

For example: On a computer, you can change a word by simply moving the cursor to the place where you want to make the change.

Here the article “the” gives you a clue that the unfamiliar word is a noun. Knowing this helps you limit your guess to nouns only. You don’t need to think about other parts of speech, so your guessing is much easier.

Things to Look forSynonyms

At first I felt trepidation when I saw the large snake, but when the handler told me it was harmless, I was less afraid.

AntonymsI attempted to avert a collision with the mattress in the road, but my right tire hit it with full force.

Definitions/descriptionsMagpies, black and white crow-like birds, are protected in parts of the United States.

Things to Look forComparisons or contrasts

While they are twins, Kara has dark hair and brown eyes, but Melissa is Nordic in coloring.

Clues from words in a seriesSpring brings sparrows, finches, robins, and magpies to our yard.

Cause and effectWhen too many students loitered in the cafeteria, lunch periods were shortened to twenty minutes in order to make room for the next lunch period.