Context Clues: You be the Detective

2010 PSSA Boot Camp

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.

• As a reader you must act similar to a detective and put together clues from sentences surrounding an unknown word in order to make an intelligent “guess” as to what the definition of a word is.

Context Clues – How Do They Help You Read New Words?

• Textbook writers and authors include words or phrases to help their readers understand the meaning of a new or difficult word.

• These words or phrases are built into the sentences around the new or difficult word. By becoming more aware of the words around a difficult word, readers can make logical guesses about the meanings of many words.

Types of Context CluesTypes of Context CluesAuthors use many different types Authors use many different types of context clues when writing of context clues when writing texts. Some of these types are:texts. Some of these types are:

Definition & RestatementDefinition & RestatementExampleExampleContrast/AntonymContrast/AntonymComparisonComparisonSynonym context cluesSynonym context cluesHybrid/General/InferenceHybrid/General/Inference

Definition context cluesDefinition context clues are words are words that say, “Stop - don’t touch that that say, “Stop - don’t touch that dictionary. The definition of the dictionary. The definition of the word you don’t know is right here word you don’t know is right here

in the text!" in the text!"

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES: There are many There are many theoriestheories, , oror ideasideas, , about what made the Ice Ages happen.about what made the Ice Ages happen.

In this sentence the word “ideas” tells us that In this sentence the word “ideas” tells us that theoriestheories are different thoughts people have about something.are different thoughts people have about something.

After a time, After a time, glaciersglaciers, , or slowly or slowly moving rivers of icemoving rivers of ice, , formed over formed over many parts of the Earth.many parts of the Earth.

In this sentence the words “slowly moving rivers of In this sentence the words “slowly moving rivers of ice” tell us what ice” tell us what glaciersglaciers are. are.

Example context cluesExample context clues are words that are words that clarify the meaning of a word through clarify the meaning of a word through

examplesexamples

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

AvariceAvarice has become an illness of modern has become an illness of modern times. People are obsessed with money, times. People are obsessed with money, with possessions. They fantasize about with possessions. They fantasize about winning the lottery. They read countless winning the lottery. They read countless get-rich-quick books. They dream of shiny get-rich-quick books. They dream of shiny new cars and elegant homes. They hunger new cars and elegant homes. They hunger for expensive clothes and priceless for expensive clothes and priceless jewelry.jewelry.

The writer’s supporting information in this The writer’s supporting information in this paragraph tells you that avarice means “greed.”paragraph tells you that avarice means “greed.”

Contrast/Antonym context cluesContrast/Antonym context clues are words are words around a difficult word that mean the around a difficult word that mean the opposite or nearly the opposite as the opposite or nearly the opposite as the

word. word.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

Joe was Joe was reluctantreluctant to take the job of to take the job of captain of the team. He was afraid that captain of the team. He was afraid that the time it would take would hurt his the time it would take would hurt his grades. On the other hand, Billy was eager grades. On the other hand, Billy was eager for the chance to be the team captain.for the chance to be the team captain.

In this sentence the words “on the other hand” and In this sentence the words “on the other hand” and “eager” tell us that Billy feels the opposite of “eager” tell us that Billy feels the opposite of Joe, therefore, Joe, therefore, reluctantreluctant means uncertain or means uncertain or cautious.cautious.

Signal WordsSignal Words: unlike, but, however, not, although: unlike, but, however, not, although

Comparison context cluesComparison context clues are when are when writers suggest a word’s meaning by writers suggest a word’s meaning by

making a comparison. making a comparison.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

Carl’s quitting the team was an Carl’s quitting the team was an impetuousimpetuous act, like a child throwing a toy.act, like a child throwing a toy.

Impetuous Impetuous in this context means “done suddenly in this context means “done suddenly

with little thought.” The word “like” signals the with little thought.” The word “like” signals the

comparsion with the child’s action.comparsion with the child’s action...

Signal wordsSignal words: like, as, resembling, similar.: like, as, resembling, similar.

Synonym context cluesSynonym context clues are words around are words around a difficult word that mean the same or a difficult word that mean the same or

nearly the same as the word. nearly the same as the word.

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES:

After seeing the picture of the starving After seeing the picture of the starving children, we felt children, we felt compassioncompassion or pity for or pity for their suffering.their suffering.

In this sentence the word “pity” tells us that In this sentence the word “pity” tells us that compassioncompassion means to have understanding for. means to have understanding for.

Mary Mary admonishedadmonished her students and they knew her students and they knew they were in hot water for their actions.they were in hot water for their actions.

In this sentence the words “in hot water” tell us In this sentence the words “in hot water” tell us that that admonishedadmonished means cautioned or scolded. means cautioned or scolded.

HybridHybrid context clues context clues are a combination of are a combination of one or more types of context cluesone or more types of context clues..

InferenceInference from General Context: from General Context: When the When the clues are not in the same sentence as the clues are not in the same sentence as the unknown word, you will need to look at unknown word, you will need to look at

sentences that surround the word and infer sentences that surround the word and infer the word’s meaningthe word’s meaning..

Strategies:Strategies:

Look for signal words.Look for signal words. Look for explanations.Look for explanations. Look for details.Look for details. Try out your answer.Try out your answer.

Now it is your turn to be a detective and follow the clues!

Use what you have learned about context clues to complete the activity on the next 5 slides.

Context Clues Practice Context Clues Practice ActivityActivity

Your friend Ryan has moved to a new country and Your friend Ryan has moved to a new country and is learning a new language. Read what he wrote is learning a new language. Read what he wrote in his diary and see if you can figure out the in his diary and see if you can figure out the

meaning to the underlined words.meaning to the underlined words.

Dear Diary,Dear Diary,

I overslept this morning. I had to eat my bowl of I overslept this morning. I had to eat my bowl of poof-poofspoof-poofs very quickly, and I almost missed the very quickly, and I almost missed the tramzamtramzam. . When I got to school, I realized I had forgotten my When I got to school, I realized I had forgotten my zilgpingzilgping . Luckily, Ms. Jutzi is very . Luckily, Ms. Jutzi is very zooshzoosh, , and told me I and told me I could bring it tomorrow.could bring it tomorrow.

After school, some friends and I played After school, some friends and I played plingmingplingming. . It’s a new game I am learning. We scored 7 points and they It’s a new game I am learning. We scored 7 points and they only scored 5 points, so we were the only scored 5 points, so we were the zoiterszoiters!!

Dad says that next weekend we’re going to the Dad says that next weekend we’re going to the fladderfladder . I can’t wait! I love to swim and play in the . I can’t wait! I love to swim and play in the sand. I hope I don’t get a sunburn though.sand. I hope I don’t get a sunburn though.

Well, I better go to bed soon. I don’t want to wake Well, I better go to bed soon. I don’t want to wake up late again and miss my up late again and miss my tramzamtramzam!!

Until tomorrow,Until tomorrow,RyanRyan

DirectionsDirections

It’s time for some detective It’s time for some detective work. Take each word from work. Take each word from Ryan’s diary that is written Ryan’s diary that is written in his new language and use in his new language and use the context clues in the text the context clues in the text to figure them out!to figure them out!

Let’s begin…Let’s begin… What could the word What could the word poof-poofspoof-poofs mean? mean?

► The sentences tell me it is something that can be eaten. I The sentences tell me it is something that can be eaten. I know that it is a breakfast food because Ryan said it was know that it is a breakfast food because Ryan said it was morning. I also know that it goes in a bowl. What do you morning. I also know that it goes in a bowl. What do you think it is?think it is?

► The most logical guess would be a type of cereal.The most logical guess would be a type of cereal.

What could the word What could the word tramzamtramzam mean? mean?► The sentences tell me that Ryan was going to school and he The sentences tell me that Ryan was going to school and he

almost missed his tramzam. What do you think it is?almost missed his tramzam. What do you think it is?► The most logical guess would be a school bus.The most logical guess would be a school bus.

What could the word What could the word zilgpingzilgping mean? mean?► The sentences tell me that it is something Ryan needed at The sentences tell me that it is something Ryan needed at

school. I also know that it is ok if he brings it tomorrow. school. I also know that it is ok if he brings it tomorrow. What do you think it is?What do you think it is?

► The most logical guess would be Ryan’s homework.The most logical guess would be Ryan’s homework.

What could the word What could the word zooshzoosh mean? mean?► The sentences tell me that a person can act this way and The sentences tell me that a person can act this way and

that Ms. Jutzi is being kind and allowing Ryan to bring his that Ms. Jutzi is being kind and allowing Ryan to bring his homework the next day. What do you think it is?homework the next day. What do you think it is?

► The most logical guess would be friendly or understanding.The most logical guess would be friendly or understanding.

You’re doing terrific…keep You’re doing terrific…keep going!going!

What could the word What could the word plingmingplingming mean? mean?►The sentences tell me it is a game Ryan and The sentences tell me it is a game Ryan and his friends play against each other and his friends play against each other and that points can be scored. What do you that points can be scored. What do you think it is?think it is?

►The most logical guess would be a sport The most logical guess would be a sport such as basketball or soccer.such as basketball or soccer.

What could the word What could the word zoiterszoiters mean? mean?►The sentences tell me that Ryan’s team The sentences tell me that Ryan’s team scored 7 points while the other team scored scored 7 points while the other team scored less points. What do you think it is?less points. What do you think it is?

►The most logical guess would be that it The most logical guess would be that it means winners.means winners.

Almost there…Almost there…

What could the word What could the word fladderfladder mean? mean?►The sentences tell me that Ryan’s dad The sentences tell me that Ryan’s dad said he could go there and when he gets said he could go there and when he gets there they will swim and play in the there they will swim and play in the sand. Ryan also mentions not wanting a sand. Ryan also mentions not wanting a sunburn. What do you think it is?sunburn. What do you think it is?

►The most logical guess would be a lake The most logical guess would be a lake or a beach.or a beach.

And, remember, we already figured out the And, remember, we already figured out the word word tramzamtramzam probably means school bus.probably means school bus.

You did it!•You did a super job! You’re a top notch detective.

•Go out into the world and see what you can do with your new knowledge of how to decode words!