Transcript RfR_Chapter 2 - Part 1.new

Reading for Results
BUILDING
WORD POWER
Chapter 2-Part 1
Words … Words … Words … Words
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“The more words you
know, the more clearly
and powerfully you will
think … and the more
ideas you will invite
into your mind.”
William Funk
Using Context
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What is the definition of the word “context?”
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The words that surround a word or passage and
can help define its meaning.
An approximate meaning =
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Use the surrounding words to understand the
meaning of an unknown word in a sentence to
provide an approximate definition for the word.
Example:
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When Russia was under the
control of Josef Stalin,
dissidents were routinely
shot or imprisoned in
hospitals for the mentally ill.
Stalin did not allow anyone
to express disagreement or
discontent with his politics.
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What is the approximate meaning of the
word dissidents?
There are 4 categories of context
clues:
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Example clues
Contrast clues
Restatement clues
General knowledge clues
Example clues:
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Provide examples of the behavior or
thinking associated with the word
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EXAMPLE: The discussion was becoming
increasingly belligerent; no matter what was
said, someone in the group would challenge it in
an angry voice.
What is the clue?
Contrast clues:
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May suggest the opposite meaning of the word
May be indicated by transitional words such as
but, yet, nevertheless, however, although.
EXAMPLE: At first the smell was almost
flowerlike, but in a matter of minutes it became
harsh and acrid.
What is the clue?
What does the word acrid mean?
Restatement clues
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Uses synonyms or words that share a similar
meaning.
EXAMPLE: His behavior was eccentric; in New
York, it wasn’t all that unusual for people to be
odd.
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What is the clue?
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Restatement clues in textbooks
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The authors are more likely to
give you an exact definition
introduced by a comma or
enclosed in parentheses or
dashes.
EXAMPLE: Cognition –
thinking or knowing – has been
the subject of numerous
studies.
General knowledge clues
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Your knowledge of the situation or events
described will be your only real clue to word
meaning.
EXAMPLE: Football and basketball
coaches are frequently known for their
volatile tempers.
Define volatile based on your knowledge of
football or basketball coaches.
Volatile = ?
Context has a powerful influence on
meaning!
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As soon as the dogs
saw the car, they ran
after it.
Everywhere I go, that
detective dogs me like
a bloodhound.
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I have been pounding
the pavement for
hours; I’ve just about
walked my dogs off.
What are the different meanings of the word dogs?
Limitations of Context Clues
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Context clues seldom lead to a complete definition.
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Sometimes a sentence does not contain clues to a
word’s meaning.
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The supervisor commented on Bob’s belligerent behavior.
Context clues do not help us learn to pronounce a
new word.
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The reporters stood on the sidelines of the fight – no one
wanted to get involved.
The senator’s speech of full of hyperbole.
Context clues help us to understand, but not
necessarily remember a word’s meaning.
The End … or The Beginning!
Practice these concepts by doing the
exercises in Reading for Results!