Transcript Slide 1

CONTEXT AND MEANING QUESTIONS.
THIS TYPE OF QUESTION IS ASKING YOU TO GIVE THE MEANING OF A
SPECIFIC WORD OR PHRASE-AS IT APPEARS IN THE PASSAGE.
TO DO THIS YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OTHER WORDS WHICH
SURROUND IT AND THINK ABOUT THE SITUATION BEING PRESENTED.
WE CALL THIS WORKING FROM CONTEXT.
WORDS DO NOT EXIST IN ISOLATION. THEY RELY ON EACH OTHER TO
CREATE MEANING AND SENSE AND MAKE THE READER AWARE OF THE
SITUATION BEING PRESENTED.
I AM RIGHT HERE=PRECISELY
I AM RIGHT IN SAYING THIS- CORRECT
LOUISE IS SITTING TO MY RIGHT- SPATIAL POSITION
3 DIFFERENT MEANINGS POSSIBLE. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO EXAMINE THE SITUATION
PRESENTED –THE CONTEXT.
HOW DO I RECOGNISE CONTEXT AND MEANING
QUESTIONS?
The question will begin with the words “SHOW HOW THE CONTEXT OF
LINES X-Y CREATES OR SUGGEST THE MEANING OF WORD/
PHRASE Z.”
Always look for the words CONTEXT AND MEANING. They will be
somewhere present in the question.
2 marks are usually available for this question.
Step a)1 mark for establishing the meaning of the word
Step b)1 mark for showing how you worked out the meaning of
the word
To do this you will have to quote surrounding words and phrases
and show how they suggested the meaning to you.
Nb You may find it easier to change the order of this. Step b) then a)
SUGGESTED APPROACH
Look for words CONTEXT and MEANING in your Question. Highlight
them.
Mark off section of text given as a Line Reference in the question.
Swirly Brackets
YAASSS!
Highlight the word/phrase you have to give the meaning of.
Identify and highlight supporting words and phrases here which can suggest
the meaning of your specific word /phrase in this section. How do they do so?
Think about the overall situation being presented. Can you now
deduce/decode the meaning of the word?
Structure your answer to:
a) Give the meaning of the word as you think it appears in this
this text.
situation in
b)Quote supporting language and show how it suggests the meaning
Nb You can reverse the order here and do Step b) first if you find
this easier...
WORKED EXAMPLE
Gibson pg 10
“The position of the Stewart monarchs in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries
was peculiarly perilous in dynastic terms, for a number of reasons. In the first
place chance had resulted in a total of seven royal minorities-there had been
no adult succession since the fourteenth century-which had an inevitable
effect of weakening the power of the crown and increasing that of the
nobility.”
Answer.
Minority means a child monarch/ruler.
The phrase “ no adult succession since the fourteenth century” suggests a
series of monarchs who were young children. This is also suggested by the
phrase “weakening the power of the crown” which implies that the ruler had
little power and authority.
Ready to try a few examples?
Remember to follow the advice given...