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Context Clues - Activity #2

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Ian Acosta
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22 views1 page

Context Clues - Activity #2

Uploaded by

Ian Acosta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ACTIVITY #2 CONTEXT CLUES

DIRECTIONS: READ THE DISCUSSION CAREFULLY. Enumerate 5 unfamiliar words for you and
define it on your own by using context clues.

CONTEXT CLUES

Context clues are hints found within a sentence, paragraph, or passage that a reader can
use to understand the meanings of new or unfamiliar words. Learning the meaning of a word
through its use in a sentence or paragraph is the most practical way to build vocabulary, since a
dictionary is not always available when a reader encounters an unknown word. A reader must
be aware that many words have several possible meanings. Only by being sensitive to the
circumstances in which a word is used can the reader decide upon an appropriate definition to
fit the context. A reader should rely on context clues when an obvious clue to meaning is
provided, or when only a general sense of the meaning is needed for the reader’s purposes.
Context clues should not be relied upon when a precise meaning is required, when clues
suggest several possible definitions, when nearby words are unfamiliar, and when the unknown
word is a common one that will be needed again; in these cases, a dictionary should be
consulted.

The context surrounding an unknown word can help a student understand its structure,
how it's used, and ultimately its meaning. Struggling readers need us to explicitly teach these
concepts. With clear instruction, they can draw upon multiple approaches to determine word
meanings. Sometimes, when we read a given portion of text, we’re not entirely sure what’s
going on. This is where context clues come in. Context clues provide further information about
a word or phrase that helps readers understand its meaning. These clues offer insight - directly
or indirectly - into the portion of text that’s difficult to understand. Let’s explore various
examples of context clues to see how they work.

The most basic, and perhaps helpful, type of context clues is synonyms. If you can’t decipher a
meaning, adding a few synonyms, or words with similar meanings, is a surefire way to point to a
word’s meaning. Sometimes, the best way to understand something is to understand what not
to do or what something isn’t. In the same way, an antonym, or an opposite, can convey
meaning. If you point out the differences, you can come to understand each component better.

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