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What do good readers do when they encounter an unknown word? Do you….. Skip it? Look it up? Ask a friend? Use context clues? Can you define? Turn to a partner and share what you think each word means: Abominate Prolix Aspersion You want us to define those words?! LOL! Good one, Mrs. S.! You’re funny! It’s difficult to do, right? That’s why we need context clues. Many times we can get a pretty good idea of what the word means if we know what clues to look for. Now, try again….. I enjoy learning how to play new sports, but I abominate learning Geometry. I study every night and I still fail the test. Mr. Ference’s prolix afternoon announcements are important, but I often fall asleep during them. The gangs were fighting over the aspersions that were said at school that day. The REAL meanings… Abominate- extreme hatred Prolix- very lengthy, wordy, extending Aspersion- derogatory remark How well did you do? You may not have found the exact definition, but you probably made a pretty good guess. Using context clues allows readers to use the “clues” that are provided by an author to reveal the meanings of difficult words. There are Six Ways an Author Uses Context Clues 1. DEFINING: The author defines the unknown word (usually, right after the unknown word). 2. MATCHING: The author matches unknown words with known words. 3. DESCRIBING: The meaning of difficult or unfamiliar word is described by adding more information after the word. 4. CONTRASTING: The meaning of unknown word is contrasted with familiar words of the opposite meaning. 5. USING CAUSE AND EFFECT: Cause and effect is given so that the reader can guess what the unfamiliar word means. 6. USING MOOD: The author sets the mood so the reader can hypothesize (guess) about the unfamiliar word. #1 - Defining The Definition is Given The author tells what the word means. Example: Word to define is “predicting.” Predicting is guessing what will happen next based on what you already know. Do you see the word “is”? The author is directly stating the meaning right after the word. #2 - Matching Unknown words are matched with familiar words Example: The word to define is “reactions.” Good readers use personal reactions to relate to the story. The thoughts, feelings, and opinions of the reader provide strong connections. The phrase “thoughts, feelings and opinions” is what “reactions” are. #3 - Describing The author describes the meaning of difficult or unfamiliar words by adding more information after the word. Example: The word to define is “visualize.” Good readers will visualize as they read, they will create a picture in their mind. After the word “visualize” is used, there is a comma because the author is going to tell you more about the word. #4 - Contrasting The author defines a word by contrasting it with familiar words that have the opposite meaning. Example: The word to define is “citizenship.” Students are expected to demonstrate good citizenship at all times to be sure that they do not embarrass MMS. The familiar word that has the opposite meaning is “embarrass.” #5. Cause / Effect The author creates a relationship using cause and effect so that the reader can guess what the unfamiliar word means. Example: The word, “personification” is the word to be defined this time. Authors sometimes give objects the ability to talk. This personification makes the reader connect and visualize the story. Do you see? The cause is personification and the effect is when he reader connects and then visualizes. #6. Mood The author sets the mood so the reader can infer about the unfamiliar word. Example: The word to define is “ironic.” It is ironic that students hang around school and do not want to leave on the last day. We all know what the last day of school is like, right? These students obviously did not want to go home. Well, you can then infer that ironic must mean surprising because students usually run out the door! Are you ready to practice? 1 2 Go readers! http://www.quia.com/rr/151544.html 3 Now your job is to… Create another “WOW” Words booklet (I will show you how to make this one). Find at least 5 unknown words in your personal read. Guess the meaning using the context clue. Identify the type of context clue. In this box, you will write the sentence where you found your word. Identify the type of context clue in this box. In this box, you will guess the meaning Define what it means here. Look it up; but you must use your own words. Unknown Word