What does it MEAN?

What do you do?
 When you come to a word that you do not know while reading, what can you do to figure it out?
(brainstorm)
 What are these strategies called?
 CONTEXT CLUES!
 Why are context clues helpful to the reader?

 There are many different kinds of context clues
 Let’s look at some of the most common…

 The word is clearly defined or described in the sentence in which it appears
 It is defined by what it is

Examples of Definition/Description
 The arbitrator, the neutral person
chosen to settle a conflict, arrived at her decision.
 What is an arbitrator?
 John Fitzgerald Kennedy, our 35th president , improved human rights and equal rights for all people.
 Who is JFK?

 The word is defined by what it is
NOT
 Often signaled by the words
whereas, unlike, or as opposed to.

Examples of Antonym
 Unlike Jamaal’s room, which was immaculate, Jeffrey’s room was very messy.
 What does immaculate mean?
 Whereas Melissa is quite lithe, her sister is clumsy and awkward.
 What does lithe mean?

 Other words are used in the sentence with similar meanings.
 Fat, huge, rotund, enormous, large, plump, portly

 The slender woman was so thin her clothes were too big on her.
 What is slender?
 The irate man was so angry , his face was bright red.
 What is irate?

 Readers can also use clues of punctuation and type style to infer meaning
 Italics, quotation marks, dashes, parentheses or brackets.

 Tom's father was a haberdasher, or men’s shop keeper , in the story. (italics)
 Tom's father was a haberdasher (men’s shop keeper) in the story. (parentheses)
 In the story, Tom's father was a haberdasher -or men’s shop keeper. (dash)
 Tom's father was a “ haberdasher ” . He had a clothing store for men. (quotations)

 In groups, see if you can identify the meaning of the underlined word.
 You will get bonus points for telling
which type of context clue is being used. (not punctuation)
 You will lose points for talking out of turn.

100
 Policemen show vigilance, or watchfulness, as they stand guard over the city.
 Watchfulness
 Synonym

100
 The unceasing (happening or done repeatedly) chirping of the bird kept me awake at night.
 happening or done repeatedly
 Definition

200
 My hands felt sweaty and clammy from nerves.
 Damp
 Synonym

200
 My sister and I share a resemblance; we look very similar.
 Similarity
 Definition

300
 Unlike my brother who speaks perfectly, I have a speech impediment.
 Impairment/obstacle
 Antonym

400
 The United States Handicapper
General, who was in charge of assigning the handicaps, gave me the hearing aid.
 Who was in charge of assigning the handicaps
 Description