Welcome to the Welcome to the Unit ThreeUnit Three

Seminar for KU Seminar for KU 120!120!

AgendaAgendaIt is all about vocabulary buildingIt is all about vocabulary building

Vocabulary in ContextVocabulary in Context

Determining the meaning of Determining the meaning of words in their context is a key words in their context is a key reading strategy. There are reading strategy. There are often clues in the surrounding often clues in the surrounding sentence or sentences that will sentence or sentences that will help you determine the help you determine the approximate meaning of words approximate meaning of words that you don’t know.that you don’t know.

Four Common Context Four Common Context CluesClues

There are four types of context There are four types of context clues:clues:

SynonymsSynonyms AntonymsAntonyms General contextGeneral context ExamplesExamples

©2004 Pearson Education Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

SynonymsSynonyms

A A synonymsynonym is a word that has the is a word that has the same or nearly the same meaning same or nearly the same meaning as another word.as another word.

Synonym Synonym signal wordssignal words are: are: or, that or, that isis

Example:Example: The dentist gave me The dentist gave me laughing gas to laughing gas to alleviatealleviate (or ease) (or ease) the pain of taking out my the pain of taking out my wisdom teeth.wisdom teeth.

©2004 Pearson Education Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

AntonymsAntonyms

An An antonymantonym is a word that has the is a word that has the opposite meaning of another word.opposite meaning of another word.

Antonym Antonym signal wordssignal words are: are: but, not, but, not, unlike, in contrast, yet, howeverunlike, in contrast, yet, however..

Example:Example: During dinner, Anne let During dinner, Anne let out a loud burp that out a loud burp that mortifiedmortified her her mother, but amused her friends.mother, but amused her friends.

©2004 Pearson Education Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

General ContextGeneral Context

Sometimes a Sometimes a definitiondefinition is provided. is provided. Sometimes a Sometimes a descriptiondescription is provided. is provided. Sometimes Sometimes logic logic andand reasoning skills reasoning skills

are needed.are needed. Example:Example: To insure safety, written and road tests To insure safety, written and road tests

should be should be mandatorymandatory for everyone who seeks a driver’s for everyone who seeks a driver’s license for the first time; no exceptions should be allowed.license for the first time; no exceptions should be allowed.

©2004 Pearson Education Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

ExamplesExamples

An An exampleexample is provided of the word. is provided of the word.

Example Example signal wordssignal words indicate that an indicate that an example is coming: example is coming: for instance, for instance, such as, consists of, includingsuch as, consists of, including

Example:Example: Some authors use Some authors use pseudonymspseudonyms; for example, ; for example, famous American author Mark Twain’s real name was famous American author Mark Twain’s real name was Samuel Clemens.Samuel Clemens.

The floors of the restaurant were The floors of the restaurant were extremely extremely scuzzyscuzzy. They were . They were covered with spilled grease, crumbs covered with spilled grease, crumbs of food, and cigarette butts.of food, and cigarette butts.

This third grade was full of This third grade was full of precociousprecocious children. One child had children. One child had learned to read at two and another learned to read at two and another could do algebra at age 6.could do algebra at age 6.

When going to an office party you When going to an office party you should show your best should show your best decorumdecorum, for , for example, dress your best, drink and example, dress your best, drink and eat moderately, and be sure to thank eat moderately, and be sure to thank the host before you leave.the host before you leave.

The contractor was always well The contractor was always well remuneratedremunerated for his work. For for his work. For example, he received $10,000 for a example, he received $10,000 for a small addition to a house and last small addition to a house and last year he was received $5,000 for year he was received $5,000 for reconstructing a stairway.reconstructing a stairway.

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

When we stayed at the military base, When we stayed at the military base, each Saturday we went to the each Saturday we went to the commissary commissary to buy the food and to buy the food and supplies we would need for the next supplies we would need for the next weekweek

"I was not exactly "I was not exactly enamoredenamored of the of the travel plans my agent made for me; travel plans my agent made for me; my lack of enthusiasm was triggered my lack of enthusiasm was triggered by the eight-hour layover required by the eight-hour layover required between flights."between flights."

4. A hypothesis is not a factual 4. A hypothesis is not a factual statement: it is a tentative idea statement: it is a tentative idea that might explain a set of facts or that might explain a set of facts or actions.actions.

The best definition for hypothesis isThe best definition for hypothesis is

a. an educated guess.a. an educated guess.

b. a well-thought-out lie.b. a well-thought-out lie.

c. a set of facts or actions.c. a set of facts or actions.

Marion used a Marion used a euphemism when euphemism when she described herself as “she described herself as “full-full-figured”when she was 50 pounds figured”when she was 50 pounds overweight.overweight.

Using Context CluesUsing Context Clues

They decided against buying the They decided against buying the house because of its house because of its proximityproximity to to the airport. the airport.

On the highway running through the On the highway running through the city, a vehicle accident can cause city, a vehicle accident can cause gridlockgridlock that stretches for miles that stretches for miles

--

When Martha asked her husband if When Martha asked her husband if she was getting fat, he said “yes” she was getting fat, he said “yes” without thinking and quickly without thinking and quickly regretted his regretted his candorcandor..

Context CluesContext Clues

The count had a The count had a supercilious supercilious expression on his face and seemed expression on his face and seemed to be looking down his nose at the to be looking down his nose at the other guests.other guests.

©2004 Pearson Education Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Word PartsWord Parts

Root:Root: the basic or main part of a the basic or main part of a word.word.

Prefix:Prefix: A group of letters added to the A group of letters added to the beginning of a root word to make a beginning of a root word to make a word.word.

Suffix:Suffix: A group of letters added to the A group of letters added to the end of a root word to make a word.end of a root word to make a word.

Example:Example: in-vis-ible in-vis-ible

ann, annu, means yearlyann, annu, means yearly

ann, annu, means yearlyann, annu, means yearly

annual, annual, annuity, anniversary, annual, annual, annuity, anniversary,

Circum—aroundCircum—around

Circum—aroundCircum—around

circumnavigate, circumflex, circumnavigate, circumflex, circumstance, circumcision, circumstance, circumcision, circumference,, circumlocution, circumference,, circumlocution, circumvent, circumscribe, circumvent, circumscribe, circulatorycirculatory

bio, bi – lifebio, bi – life

bio, bi – lifebio, bi – life

biography, biology, biometricsm biography, biology, biometricsm biome, biospherebiome, biosphere

dem, demo--people, populace, dem, demo--people, populace, populationpopulation

dem, demo--people, populace, dem, demo--people, populace, population democracy, demography, population democracy, demography, demagogue, epidemicdemagogue, epidemic

scrib, script – writescrib, script – write

scrib, script -- write scrib, script -- write

scribble, inscribe, describe, scribble, inscribe, describe, subscribe, prescribe, manuscriptsubscribe, prescribe, manuscript

Word Analysis Examples: Word Analysis Examples: PrefixesPrefixes

Prefixes: Prefixes: Pre – before or precedingPre – before or precedingSuper – over, beyond, aboveSuper – over, beyond, aboveSub – under, belowSub – under, belowBene – well, goodBene – well, goodMal – badMal – badMulti – manyMulti – manyMono – oneMono – oneDis – apart fromDis – apart fromAnti – againstAnti – against

Word Analysis Examples: Word Analysis Examples: RootsRoots

Chron – timeChron – timeCred – beliefCred – beliefDerma – skinDerma – skinDict – sayDict – sayGen – to give birth to, to produceGen – to give birth to, to produceLocut, loqu – speechLocut, loqu – speechMob – moveMob – movePopul – peoplePopul – peopleSect – cut, divideSect – cut, divideVoc – voice, callVoc – voice, callPlac – calm, pleasePlac – calm, please

Word Analysis Examples: Word Analysis Examples: SuffixesSuffixes

Ism – state, condition, or qualityIsm – state, condition, or quality

Ise – to cause to be, to treat or affectIse – to cause to be, to treat or affect

Onym – name, wordOnym – name, word

Ous – full ofOus – full of

Other Ways To Improve Other Ways To Improve VocabularyVocabulary

Although the text discusses the importance of understanding Although the text discusses the importance of understanding how to use context clues when reading, sometimes you cannot how to use context clues when reading, sometimes you cannot use context clues. Here are a few other ways to improve your use context clues. Here are a few other ways to improve your vocabulary and use new words in your everyday life. vocabulary and use new words in your everyday life.

When reading a book, passage, article, etc., use a slip of paper When reading a book, passage, article, etc., use a slip of paper as a bookmark and write unknown words on it. After you as a bookmark and write unknown words on it. After you complete the reading, look up those words in the dictionary. complete the reading, look up those words in the dictionary.

When you learn a new word, figure out how to use it in your When you learn a new word, figure out how to use it in your conversations and writings. This will reinforce the meaning of conversations and writings. This will reinforce the meaning of the word. the word.

As described in the chapter, learn prefixes, suffixes, and roots As described in the chapter, learn prefixes, suffixes, and roots of the words so that you can identify and recognize more of the words so that you can identify and recognize more words. words.

Keep a dictionary with you when reading to ensure that you Keep a dictionary with you when reading to ensure that you look up any unknown words. As discussed earlier, a dictionary look up any unknown words. As discussed earlier, a dictionary is not always needed. However, there will be times when this is not always needed. However, there will be times when this is the only way to understand the meaning of the word. Be is the only way to understand the meaning of the word. Be sure to look up the word so that you are able to understand the sure to look up the word so that you are able to understand the information in the passage. information in the passage.