2. Activator
If you were going to sit at a lunch table with unfamiliar
people, how do you know if you are welcome to sit there
before you ask?
What body language, seating positions, facial expressions,
or tone of voice might tell you if you are or not?
3. E.Q.- How can I use Context
Clues to determine a word’s
Denotation?
4. VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
Do you know the meaning of the word vital?
Look at the sentence and see if the context—the words surrounding the
unfamiliar word—helps you figure out the meaning of the word.
What does vital mean?
A. unimportant B. necessary C. surprising
All animals share the same vital needs, such as
food, water, and shelter.
5. VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
Food, water, and shelter are necessary needs.
The context helps you figure out that vital means “necessary.”
What does vital mean?
A. unimportant B. necessary C. surprising
Using context clues to understand the meaning of unfamiliar words
will save you time when reading.
All animals share the same vital needs, such as
food, water, and shelter.
6. Notes
Context Clues: Using clues around a word to make
inferences about a word’s meaning.
Denotation: A word’s meaning (the dictionary definition)
Connotation:
7. Why are context clues
important?
They help us define unfamiliar, difficult words in texts.
They help us to become better, perceptive readers.
They come in handy during tests when a dictionary or
the internet is not available to us.
8. Notes: How to recognize a
context clues question on a
test. (Write 1)
Frequent Question Stems:
-What is the meaning of the word ____?
-What does _____ mean in line 13?
-Select the word that shares the same meaning as the underlined
word in the passage.
-Which word would be a synonym for the underlined word as it is
used in the passage?
-Which evidence best helps the reader determine the meaning of the
word _______ as it is used in the sentence?
9. Notes: Where are context
clues found? (Write 1)
In the same sentence as the difficult, unfamiliar
word.
In the same paragraph or passage as the unknown
word. Context clues can be in the sentences
following the word, for example.
They are called context clues, because they are
found in the “context” of the sentence or
passage.
10. (Notes)Types of Context Clues
a. Definition
b. Antonym (Opposite of)
c. Synonym (Same as)
d. Inference*
11. Context Clue Number 1:
Definition
The unfamiliar word is directly defined in the
sentence in which it appears.
Definitions are usually set off by commas or
dashes, and may include the use of the words,
as, or, that is, and in other words.
Example: Apples, red fruits that grow on
trees, are my teacher’s favorite food.
12. Definitions Cont’d
In this case a word is defined for you in the sentence.
This usually happens right after the unfamiliar word
appears and it is set off with commas.
Example:
The arbitrator, the neutral person chosen to settle the
dispute, arrived at her decision.
We don’t know what arbitrator means, but luckily the
definition is given to us in the sentence.
13. Context Clue Number 2:
Antonym or Contrast
The unfamiliar word is defined by using the word’s
opposite or contrasting meaning.
This type of context clue usually includes the words:
whereas, unlike, as opposed to, however, in contrast
to, but, on the other hand.
Example: Unlike Jen, who was easygoing, Jackie was
fastidious.
14. Antonyms Cont’d
This is when an author gives the opposite of the unfamiliar word.
Example:
Unlike Jamaal’s room, which was immaculate, Jeffrey’s room was very
messy.
The word unlike lets you know an antonym is coming.
Even though you may not know what immaculate means, you know it’s
the opposite of “very messy”. Therefore it means something is very
clean.
17. Context Clue Number 3:
Synonym or Restatement
Words with similar meanings are used within
the same sentence, or around the unfamiliar
word
Example: Santa Clause was so portly that his
doctor declared him overweight.
18. Synonyms or Examples
An author might give examples of a word in order to give
the reader an idea of what a word means.
For example:
The river was full of noxious materials such as cleaning agents
from factories and pesticides from the nearby farms.
The words such as let us know an example is coming.
Even though you may not know what noxious means, the
examples of “cleaning agents” and “pesticides” let you
know that things that are noxious are dangerous and
poisonous.
19. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
Look at the cartoon below about a pollster speaking to a citizen. Can
you figure out the meaning of the word apathy?
Apathy means
A. hatred
B. lack of interest
or care
C. kindness
Synonyms
20. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
Look at the cartoon below about a pollster speaking to a citizen. Can
you figure out the meaning of the word apathy?
Apathy means
A. hatred
B. lack of interest
or care
C. kindness
Synonyms
The synonym for apathy—expressed in the words of the citizen who says “I don’t
care”—helps you understand that apathy means “a lack of interest or care.”
23. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
All animals share the same vital needs, such as food, water,
and shelter.
Examples are often introduced with signal words
and phrases like for example, for instance,
including, and such as.
Examples
Example
24. Context Clue Number 4:
Inference
Word meanings are not directly stated in the text, but
definitions of unfamiliar words can be assumed by
both prior knowledge and the context in which the
word sits.
Example: She was so famished that people felt sorry
for her, and gave her food to eat.
25. Inference Cont’d
This is probably the most difficult kind of context clue. You
need to use the ideas in the sentence to figure it out.
Example:
Walt’s pugnacious behavior in the boxing ring made his
opponent back down.
The whole sentence gives us clues to the meaning of the
unfamiliar word.
We know Walt is boxing, and something about his behavior has
made is opponent back down. What kind of behavior might a
boxer exibit that would make the person he’s fighting back off?
Aggressive, strong, scary behavior might make an opponent back
off. In fact, pugnacious means aggressive or ready to fight.
26. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
Often, the context of a new word contains no examples,
synonyms, or antonyms.
In such cases, you must become a detective and try to make a
guess based on any clues provided.
General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
27. Hey, Context Clue! I
remember you!
By using the acronym, SAID, you can remember the
four types of context clues.
Synonym
Antonym
Inference
Definition
28. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
Often, the context of a new word contains no
examples, synonyms, or antonyms.
In such cases, you must become a detective and try to
make a guess based on any clues provided.
General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
32. The Context Clues Riddle
Game
Read each sentence silently.
Think about what the highlighted word means, and
the type of context clue you used to arrive at your
answer. You do not have to write anything down.
You will have thirty seconds to answer each riddle.
33. Riddle Number 1
Since it was raining outside, I
used my bumbershoot to keep
from getting wet.
34. Riddle Number 1: Answer
A bumbershoot is an
umbrella.
Context clue: inference
36. Riddle Number 2: Answer
A maverick is a loner, someone
who is independent of the
group.
Context clue: antonym or
contrast
37. Riddle Number 3
The ranivorous hawk, an
animal that eats frogs, is found
in central and eastern Africa.
38. Riddle Number 3: Answer
Ranivorous means frog-
eating.
Context clue: definition
39. Riddle Number 4
In class, Julia was so
cantankerous that her grumpy
behavior negatively affected
everyone.
40. Riddle Number 4: Answer
Cantankerous means grouchy,
or ill-tempered.
Context clue: synonym or
restatement
41. Review: “Context Clues are
like…”
Choose one of the three to finish the sentence on your
notes:
a. Context Clues are like bread of a sandwich because…
b. Context Clues are like a lamp because…
c. Context Clues are like your keys because…
42. How to Answer
These Questions Correctly
1. It’s not really important to be able to label each type of context
clue. You are highly unlikely to be tested on whether you can
identify antonyms vs. inference.
2. It is important that you can find the context clues though. You
need to be able to figure out what unfamiliar words mean…and be
able to back up your conclusion.
3. Practice reading texts that contain some (but not too many)
unfamiliar words. Test yourself, can you figure out what a word
means? After you’ve made a guess, look it up in the dictionary.
Practice will help you improve this skill!!
4. When taking a test and faced with a question about an
unfamiliar word USE THE TEXT! Fall back on the words on
the page to help you figure out what a word means. Context
clues are a reader’s best friend.
43. “The Land Lady” by Roald
Dahl
Predictions: Look over the story for 30 seconds, be sure to
identify key text features. Then, make a prediction of what
will happen in the short fiction story.
Prediction: _____________________________________
44. Vocabulary
Look up the definition of your assigned word; write it on
your paper. Choose an appropriate picture that best
represents that word’s meaning, be able to defend your
choice.
a. lodgings-
b. compulsion-
c. tantalizing-
45. Reading Questions
1. What is the conflict (problem) in the story for Mr. Weaver?
2. What aspects of the Land Ladies’ apartment (setting) make
it so tempting or tantalizing for Mr. Weaver to stay there?
3. Why do you think the Land Lady has trouble remembering
her guests’ names?
46. ?’s #4-8
4. He walked briskly down the street. He was trying to do
everything briskly these days. Briskness, he had decided, was the
one common characteristic of all successful businessmen. The big
shots up at Head Office were absolutely fantastically brisk all the
time. They were amazing.
Briskly most likely means _______ as it is used in the
passage.
A. Quickly B. Angrily C. Casually D. Daintly
47. ?’s
5. On the other hand, a pub would be more congenial than a
boarding-house. There would be beer and darts in the evenings, and
lots of people to talk to, and it would probably be a good bit
cheaper, too. He had stayed a couple of nights at a pub once before
and he had liked it. He had never stayed in any boarding houses,
and, to be perfectly honest, he was a tiny bit frightened of them.
Which of the following would accurately replace the
underlined word as it is used in the passage.
A. Dangerous B. Relaxing C. Frightening D. Friendly
48. ?’s
6. Part A- What happened to the previous people who
rented from the Land Lady?
A. They had all left a long time ago, so the lady did not
remember their names.
B. They still lived in her house, only on the third floor.
C. They were killed and put under the floorboards by the
Land Lady.
D. They were killed and stuffed by the Land Lady.
49. ?’s
7. Part B- Which of the following best supports your answer to
#6?
A. “You have the most beautiful teeth, Mr. Weaver, did you
know that?”
B. “There wasn’t a blemish on his body.”
C. “Look here, this last entry is over two years old,” Billy said.
D. “Mr Mulholland was a great one for his tea,” she said at
length. “Never in my life have I seen anyone drink as much tea
as dear, sweet Mr. Mulholland.”
50. “The Land Lady” Summary
8. How does the story “The Land Lady” relate to the image
of “Odysseus and the Sirens” from the epic Greek story,
The Odyssey?
Even though the stories are similar, how might the theme
of each story be different?
51. “The Jacket” Context Clues
1. “I stood in front of the mirror, full face, then profile,
and then looked over my shoulder as if someone had
called me.”
The word profile means:
a. Away from
b. From the side
c. With great interest
52. “The Jacket” Context Clues
2. “In the backyard on my knees I teased my dog, Brownie,
by swooping my arms while making bird calls. He jumped
at me and missed.”
The word swooping means:
a. Moving rapidly downward
b. Threatening with force
c. Carrying towards
53. “The Jacket” Context Clues
3. “During the morning recess Frankie T., the playground
terrorist, pushed me to the ground and told me to stay
there until recess was over.”
The word terrorist means:
a. One who uses weapons for political reasons
b. One who is lazy
c. One who uses violence on others
54. “The Jacket” Context Clues
4. “I flung it over the fence into the alley. Later, however, I
swiped the jacket off the ground and went inside to drape
it across my lap and mope.”
The word mope means:
a. To be thankful
b. To demonstrate anger and fury
c. To act dejected or disappointed
Editor's Notes
#4:See pages 69 and 70 in textbook.
ANSWER: B. necessary
The next slide explains the answer.
