Using Context CluesUsing Context CluesEnglish I – AcademicEnglish I – AcademicFall, 2005Fall, 2005

Take a momentTake a moment Define: panoramicDefine: panoramic

Define: elatedDefine: elated

Define: futile Define: futile

Now try defining them Now try defining them again…again… The backdrop of the sea provided for a beautiful The backdrop of the sea provided for a beautiful

panoramapanorama in the background of our family in the background of our family picture.picture.

I was quite I was quite elatedelated when I saw my sister for the when I saw my sister for the first time in several months. I wanted to jump up first time in several months. I wanted to jump up and down and scream with excitement!and down and scream with excitement!

Lou thought that her mother's recovery was Lou thought that her mother's recovery was futilefutile, but Dan remained sure that his love and , but Dan remained sure that his love and caring would lead to great things and that the caring would lead to great things and that the battle was not lost.battle was not lost.

What is a context clue?What is a context clue? A context clue is a A context clue is a

hint in the sentence hint in the sentence that lets you know that lets you know what the meaning what the meaning of the word is.of the word is.

Context clues help Context clues help you to expand your you to expand your vocabulary and vocabulary and impress others impress others while still being while still being clear in your writing.clear in your writing.

The four types of The four types of context cluescontext clues Definition/Explanation CluesDefinition/Explanation Clues

Restatement/Synonym CluesRestatement/Synonym Clues

Contrast/Antonym CluesContrast/Antonym Clues

Inference/General Context CluesInference/General Context Clues

Definition/Explanation Definition/Explanation CluesClues

Sometimes a word's or Sometimes a word's or phrase's meaning is phrase's meaning is explained immediately explained immediately following its use.following its use.

""EtymologyEtymology, , which is which is the study of the origin the study of the origin of wordsof words, finds many , finds many teachers taking the bull teachers taking the bull by its horns when by its horns when unraveling the unraveling the mysteries of mysteries of vocabulary studies."vocabulary studies."

Restatement/Synonym Restatement/Synonym CluesClues Sometimes a challenging Sometimes a challenging

word or phrase is clarified word or phrase is clarified in simpler language.in simpler language.

"Lou felt as though she "Lou felt as though she had been sent to the had been sent to the doghouse when Louisa doghouse when Louisa admonishedadmonished her for her for fighting at school.“fighting at school.“

Because the phrase Because the phrase "being sent to the "being sent to the doghouse" means doghouse" means being being punishedpunished, admonish , admonish could mean could mean to disapprove to disapprove or to scoldor to scold

Contrast/Antonym Contrast/Antonym CluesClues

Sometimes a word or phrase is Sometimes a word or phrase is clarified by the presentation of the clarified by the presentation of the opposite meaning somewhere close opposite meaning somewhere close to its use. Look for signal words to its use. Look for signal words when applying context clues.when applying context clues.

I think that Mr. Rubenstein is a very I think that Mr. Rubenstein is a very nice looking man, but not everyone nice looking man, but not everyone is so is so enamoredenamored with his good looks. with his good looks.

The signal word The signal word butbut tells the reader tells the reader that an opposite, contrasting that an opposite, contrasting thought is occurring.thought is occurring.

Inference/General Inference/General Context CluesContext Clues Sometimes a word or phrase is not immediately clarified Sometimes a word or phrase is not immediately clarified

within the same sentence. Relationships, which are not within the same sentence. Relationships, which are not directly apparent, are inferred or implied. directly apparent, are inferred or implied.

The reader must look for clues within, before, and after The reader must look for clues within, before, and after the sentence in which the word is used.the sentence in which the word is used.

""DementiaDementia almost overcame Lou when she stepped off almost overcame Lou when she stepped off the train at Rainwater Ridge and felt the train at Rainwater Ridge and felt as crazy as a betsy as crazy as a betsy bugbug as she realized how different her new life would be.“ as she realized how different her new life would be.“

Dementia can be defined as Dementia can be defined as being insanebeing insane because the because the phrase "as crazy as a betsy bug" indicates insanity.phrase "as crazy as a betsy bug" indicates insanity.

Using other cluesUsing other clues

DeductionDeduction - What does the sentence concern? Which - What does the sentence concern? Which words does the words does the unknownunknown word seem to relate to? word seem to relate to?

Part of SpeechPart of Speech - Which part of speech is the - Which part of speech is the unknown word? Is it a verb, noun, preposition, unknown word? Is it a verb, noun, preposition, adjective, time expression or something else? adjective, time expression or something else?

ChunkingChunking - What do the words - What do the words aroundaround the unknown the unknown word(s) mean? How could the unknown word(s) relate word(s) mean? How could the unknown word(s) relate to those words? - This is basically deduction on a more to those words? - This is basically deduction on a more local level.local level.

Let’s try them Let’s try them together…together… Vocabulary ActivationVocabulary Activation - When quickly - When quickly

skimming through the text, what does the skimming through the text, what does the text seem to concern? Does the layout text seem to concern? Does the layout (design) of the text give any clues? Does (design) of the text give any clues? Does the publication or type of book give any the publication or type of book give any clues to what the text might be about? clues to what the text might be about? Which words can you think of that belong Which words can you think of that belong to this vocabulary category? to this vocabulary category?

Learning about Context clues Learning about Context clues (click here)