L A L I N D A S T R E E T

P R I N C E G E O R G E ’ S C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E

UNDERSTANDING STRUCTURE: ACTIVE READING

A V O C A B U L A R Y S T R A T E G Y

Context Clues

Context Clues Learning Objectives

To learn techniques for vocabulary development

To develop skill in using context clues

To use word parts to expand your vocabulary

To handle technical and specialized vocabulary

A W A Y T O F I G U R E O U T U N K N O W N W O R D S W H E N Y O U A R E R E A D I N G

What are context clues

W H E N Y O U L E A R N H O W T O U S E T H E M W E L L , Y O U R R E A D I N G S P E E D A N D C O M P R E H E N S I O N W I L L

I N C R E A S E

G O O D R E A D E R S U S E C O N T E X T C L U E S M O R E T H A N A N Y O T H E R S T R A T E G Y , I N C L U D I N G T H E D I C T I O N A R Y , T O

F I G U R E O U T U N K N O W N W O R D S

Why you should use them:

F R O M T H E L A T I N C O N T E X T E R E - T O W E A V E O R J O I N T O G E T H E R

C O N T E X T – ( N O U N ) T H E P A R T O F A T E X T O R S T A T E M E N T T H A T S U R R O U N D S A P A R T I C U L A R W O R D

O R P H R A S E A N D D E T E R M I N E S I T S M E A N I N G

What is context?

W H A T D O E S I T M E A N I F S O M E O N E S A Y S , “ T H A T ’ S B A D ” ?

I T D E P E N D S O N T H E S I T U A T I O N , O R C O N T E X T , R I G H T ?

We use context to figure out what people mean when they speak

everyday.

Okay, that’s really bad!

W E U S E W O R D S A N D S E N T E N C E S A S W E L L A S O U R K N O W L E D G E O F T H E W O R L D T O G I V E U S C L U E S A S T O

T H E S I T U A T I O N .

“ T H A T ’ S B A D , ” S H E S A I D A S S H E T H R E W A W A Y T H E O L D M I L K F R O M T H E R E F R I G E R A T O R .

When we read, we use a different kind of context to weave together meaning.

“ T H A T ’ S E G R E G I O U S , ” S H E S A I D A S S H E T H R E W A W A Y T H E O L D M I L K F R O M T H E R E F R I G E R A T O R .

Y E S , E G R E G I O U S M E A N S E X T R E M E L Y B A D O R O F F E N S I V E .

C O U L D Y O U H A V E G U E S S E D T H A T F R O M T H E C O N T E X T O F T H E S E N T E N C E ?

Now let’s switch to a word you may not know and look at the context

clues.

Context Clues

I N O R D E R T O B E T T E R U N D E R S T A N D C O N T E X T C L U E S A N D H O W T O U S E T H E M ,

W E A R E G O I N G T O E X A M I N E F O U R T Y P E S O F C O N T E X T C L U E S :

If you think you could have guessed what egregious means, you already

know how to use context clues.

Definition Clue

Synonym Clue

Antonym Clue

Inference Clue

A D E F I N I T I O N C L U E I S W H E N A N A U T H O R D I R E C T L Y D E F I N E S A W O R D F O R Y O U I N A

P H R A S E O R S E N T E N C E .

T H I S T Y P E O F C L U E I S C O M M O N L Y F O U N D I N T E X T B O O K S

F O R E X A M P L E :

Definition Clues

Mnemonic devices—memory aids that facilitate learning—are useful for studying.

A S Y N O N Y M C L U E I S W H E N A N A U T H O R U S E S A S Y N O N Y M F O R T H E W O R D I N T H E

S E N T E N C E O R I N S U R R O U N D I N G S E N T E N C E S .

A S Y N O N Y M I S A W O R D O R P H R A S E T H A T M E A N S T H E S A M E T H I N G A S O R S O M E T H I N G

S I M I L A R T O A N O T H E R W O R D .

F O R E X A M P L E :

Synonym Clues

Retrieval, or recall, is a vital part of the memory and learning process.

A N A N T O N Y M C L U E I S W H E N T H E A U T H O R U S E S A N A N T O N Y M I N T H E S E N T E N C E O R

S U R R O U N D I N G S E N T E N C E S .

A N A N T O N Y M I S A W O R D O R P H R A S E T H A T M E A N S T H E O P P O S I T E O F A N O T H E R W O R D .

F O R E X A M P L E :

Antonym Clues

An instructor may give you tacit praise for study skills instead of telling you how impressed he is.

A N I N F E R E N C E C L U E I S A C L U E W H E R E Y O U C A N I N F E R , O R F I G U R E O U T , T H E M E A N I N G

O F A W O R D B A S E D O N B A C K G R O U N D K N O W L E D G E , T H E S I T U A T I O N I N T H E T E X T ,

A N D L O G I C A L D E D U C T I O N .

F O R E X A M P L E :

Inference Clues

My long-term memory is abysmal. I forgot the date, the details, and the process of our move.

T H E R E W I L L B E W O R D S F O R W H I C H T H E C O N T E X T P R O V I D E S N O C L U E S .

C O N T E X T C L U E S G I V E A G E N E R A L S E N S E , N O T T H E E X A C T O R C O M P L E T E D E F I N I T I O N .

C O N T E X T C L U E S S U G G E S T T H E M E A N I N G O F T H E W O R D O N L Y A S I T I S U S E D I N A

P A R T I C U L A R C O N T E X T W H E R E A S W O R D S H A V E M U L T I P L E M E A N I N G S .

Context Clues Limitations

D I R E C T I O N S :

C H O O S E T H E B E S T D E F I N I T I O N O F T H E W O R D I N I T A L I C S B A S E D O N C O N T E X T

C L U E S .

B E R E A D Y T O T E L L W H A T K I N D O F C L U E Y O U U S E D .

Let’s PracticeUsing Context Clues