Southern Nevada Regional
Professional Development
Program
RPDP.net
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Created by Jill M. Leone
Reading Specialist
Copyright © 2007

Students will –
• differentiate among different types of context clues.
• use context clues in text to determine word meanings.
• identify specific context clues in selected questions.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

That’s probably difficult because words are so important in everything we do.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

RPDP Secondary Literacy

RPDP Secondary Literacy

RPDP Secondary Literacy

Ask a salesclerk for a special color?
RPDP Secondary Literacy

RPDP Secondary Literacy

RPDP Secondary Literacy

Or even read your favorite book?
RPDP Secondary Literacy

RPDP Secondary Literacy
Trademark of HannaBarbera ©2000

RPDP Secondary Literacy

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Understand the world around us.
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Connect ideas.
•
Create new ideas.
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Write.
•
Talk about our thoughts and feelings to others.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

RPDP Secondary Literacy

It’s the same with learning vocabulary.
The more we learn, the easier it is to read and understand more.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

When you see an unfamiliar word, do you feel like skipping it?
Learn what that word means!
You can usually find clues to help you.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Writers are often thoughtful of their readers.
When they use difficult words, they often provide clues to help us figure out what these new words mean.
These are called context clues.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

The area surrounding a word is called the context.
Context clues are the words, phrases, and sentences that surround a word you do not know.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Many sentences and paragraphs -
Contain enough information for you to use the clues that the writer has left to figure out the meaning of words you do not know.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

This means you try to figure out the meaning of a word that you don’t know by using the surrounding words that you do know.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Clue words and phrases help us -
•
RPDP Secondary Literacy

RPDP Secondary Literacy

To figure out the meaning of a new word always -

Read the sentence that the word is in.

Read the sentence right before.

Read the sentence right after.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

This skill is practiced without a dictionary for two reasons -
• You don’t always have dictionary nearby.
• You might not want to stop reading and get it.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

RPDP Secondary Literacy

Also, if we keep stopping to look up words, it takes away from understanding.
It’s like holding an empty paper towel roll up to our eyes and using it to read only a few words at a time.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

There’s little understanding when you can’t see the context, or the surrounding words.
It’s the context of the page that gives it meaning.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

RPDP Secondary Literacy

The meaning of the unfamiliar word is stated in the sentence.
Clue words to look for: also known as in other words or that is which is which means
RPDP Secondary Literacy

The course includes demography, which is the study of human populations.
Etymology, which means the study of the origin of words, is important in vocabulary studies.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

The meaning of the unfamiliar word is explained through familiar examples.
Clue words to look for: for example for instance including such as is called like
RPDP Secondary Literacy

She loved macabre stories, such as those written by Stephen King.
Miscreants of all kinds, including thieves, vandals, and pickpockets roamed the streets of Victorian England.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

The unfamiliar word is similar to a familiar word or phrase.
Clue words to look for: also identical similar like, likewise too same resembling as any
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Consuela suffered from acrophobia; her father also had a fear of heights.
Despite his physical suffering, his mind was as lucid as any rational person’s.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

The unfamiliar word is the opposite of a familiar word or phrase.
Clue words to look for: although unlike on the other hand though however but on the contrary yet
RPDP Secondary Literacy

but
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Although our athletes were not a bit worried, the opposing team members proved to be such formidable opponents that they defeated our team by a wide margin.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

The unfamiliar word is explained as part of a cause and effect relationship.
Clue words to look for: as a result because since therefore thus consequently
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Because they had not eaten in days, the rats were ravenous.
Maria felt the stranger was being intrusive, since he asked too many personal questions.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Sometimes a new word will be part of a group of words that go together.
Study the other words in the series to figure out the meaning.
Example:
Peas, beans, peanuts and other legumes provide vitamins and fiber.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

It’s important to realize that these same context clues can be found in both fiction and nonfiction writing.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

I thought that Alexis was the most affable person I had met in years. She really went out of her way to make me feel at home.
Affable means –
A. nasty and argumentative
B. frightened and afraid
C. pleasant and agreeable
D. distracted and not focused
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Affable means –
A. nasty and argumentative
B. frightened and afraid
C. pleasant and agreeable
D. distracted and not focused
How did you do?
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question
She sang softly. The song told of a life where all had gone wrong. She didn’t raise her voice or cry, but everyone was affected by her dolorous tone. Tears could be seen throughout the audience. Even the musicians were moved. All the pain of life could be heard in her voice.
Dolorous means –
A. loud
B. sad
C. fierce
D. joyful
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question
She sang softly. The song told of a life where all had gone wrong. She didn’t raise her voice or cry, but everyone was affected by her dolorous tone. Tears could be seen throughout the audience. Even the musicians were moved. All the pain of life could be heard in her voice.
Dolorous means –
A. loud
B. sad
C. fierce
D. joyful
How did you do?
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question
Camilla was now the boss, and she wanted everyone to know it. She expected all the workers to follow orders and praise her. Workers who weren’t obedient and obsequious found themselves out of a job. Soon, no one wanted to work for her company.
A person who is obsequious would –
A. study hard
B. do a good job without making mistakes
C. praise and compliment the boss
D. take long coffee breaks
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question
Camilla was now the boss, and she wanted everyone to know it. She expected all the workers to follow orders and praise her. Workers who weren’t obedient and obsequious found themselves out of a job. Soon, no one wanted to work for her company.
A person who is obsequious would –
A. study hard
B. do a good job without making mistakes
C. praise and compliment the boss
D. take long coffee breaks
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question
Mukti went to the doctor for her annual checkup last
Week. “You’re doing just fine, Mukti,” said Dr. Patel.
“Yet it never hurts to make sure you’re getting the vitamins you need. Vitamins help your body perform important tasks. If you get too little of them, you can become susceptible to infections.”
In this passage, the word susceptible means –
A. resistant
B. interested
C. immune
D. in a weakened state
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question
Mukti went to the doctor for her annual checkup last
Week. “You’re doing just fine, Mukti,” said Dr. Patel.
“Yet it never hurts to make sure you’re getting the vitamins you need. Vitamins help your body perform important tasks. If you get too little of them, you can become susceptible to infections.”
In this passage, the word susceptible means –
A. resistant
B. interested
C. immune
D. in a weakened state
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question
Rashad was usually happy and content all the time. But ever since his brother became a rich and famous rap star, he sometimes makes himself sick coveting his brother’s possessions.
Coveting means –
A. refusing
B. desiring
C. writing about
D. throwing out
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question
Rashad was usually happy and content all the time. But ever since his brother became a rich and famous rap star, he sometimes makes himself sick coveting his brother’s possessions.
Coveting means –
A. refusing
B. desiring
C. writing about
D. throwing out
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question
The climate in Siberia is often cold and bleak.
People who were forced to move there by the
Russian government had a very difficult time. Yet
Siberia’s long-term residents were inured to the cold and miserable climate. They had little trouble with the weather.
Someone who is inured to a climate –
A. is accustomed to it
B. hates it
C. avoids it
D. is often sick or uncomfortable
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question
The climate in Siberia is often cold and bleak.
People who were forced to move there by the
Russian government had a very difficult time. Yet
Siberia’s long-term residents were inured to the cold and miserable climate. They had little trouble with the weather.
Someone who is inured to a climate –
A. is accustomed to it
B. hates it
C. avoids it
D. is often sick or uncomfortable
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question
A hospital is supposed to be a safe place, but sometimes it can prove dangerous. Many patients have diseases, which they transmit to other patients.
A person being treated for a broken leg may become very sick with something else. Patients can acquire new diseases while in the hospital. They must be cured of these iatrogenic diseases, as well as the diseases that put them in the hospital in the first place.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question
An iatrogenic disease is one that is caused by –
A. bad nutrition
B. alcohol and drugs
C. doctors and hospitals
D. broken bones
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question
An iatrogenic disease is one that is caused by –
A. bad nutrition
B. alcohol and drugs
C. doctors and hospitals
D. broken bones
RPDP Secondary Literacy

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Use the overall context of the page.
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Make an inference.
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Always use your prior knowledge.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

• Think about what you’re reading.
• Connect to what you already know.
• Check how passages are organized.
• Look for word clues provided by the writer.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Remember to use the context of a page when you come across words you don’t know.
Always read the following:
The sentence right before
The sentence the word is in
The sentence right after
When there are no word clues, use your prior knowledge and make an inference.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

RPDP Secondary Literacy

• Context & Context Clues
• Definition Clues
• Example Clues
• Comparison Clues
• Contrast Clues
• Cause and Effect Clues
• Series Clues
RPDP Secondary Literacy

Copyright Notice
Permission is granted to copy (unmodified) all or part of this PowerPoint for educational, personal, noncommercial use off-line as long as the copyright message (Copyright © 2007 by Jill Leone) is maintained on the title page. This material may not be sold, duplicated on other websites, incorporated in commercial documents or products, or used for promotional purposes.
Copyright © 2007 by Jill M. Leone
RPDP Secondary Literacy