context clues ms. goertz & mrs. elliott’s 8th grade class

CONTEXT CONTEXT CLUESCLUESMs. GoertzMs. Goertz

& &

Mrs. Elliott’sMrs. Elliott’s

8th Grade Class8th Grade Class

CONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUESHints provided in Hints provided in

the text which the text which give information give information about a certain about a certain word’s meaningword’s meaning

CATEGORIES OF CATEGORIES OF CLUESCLUES

There are 3 main categories There are 3 main categories that context clues generally fit that context clues generally fit into:into:

DefinitionDefinition

SynonymSynonym

ExampleExample

DEFINITIONDEFINITIONA form of the verb A form of the verb "to be""to be" is a is a signal that the definition of the signal that the definition of the word may be in the sentence.word may be in the sentence.

““Or"Or" is a signal word is a signal word indicating that the definition is indicating that the definition is

in the sentence.in the sentence.

EXAMPLE of EXAMPLE of DEFINITIONDEFINITION

A A carnivorecarnivore is an animal that is an animal that feeds only on meat. feeds only on meat.

A A biographerbiographer, or one who , or one who writes about people's lives, is writes about people's lives, is an example of an author.an example of an author.

SYNONYMSYNONYMThe word The word "like""like" is a is a signal word signal word indicating a indicating a synonym, a synonym, a

word word of similar of similar

meaning, in the meaning, in the sentence.sentence.

EXAMPLE of EXAMPLE of SYNONYMSYNONYM

The The gentrygentry, like the popular , like the popular kids in school, influences kids in school, influences popular trends and decisions.popular trends and decisions.

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

"Such as," "for instance," and "Such as," "for instance," and "for example”"for example” are signal words are signal words that indicate there is an that indicate there is an example of the word to follow.example of the word to follow.

EXAMPLE of EXAMPLE of EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

The student was The student was suffering from suffering from anxietyanxiety. For . For example, when he example, when he first saw the test, first saw the test, he began to he began to tremble.tremble.

TIME TO TIME TO PRACTICE!PRACTICE!

Select what type of context clue Select what type of context clue you think is being used in the you think is being used in the following sentences.following sentences.

QUESTION 1QUESTION 1The The quagmirequagmire, like quick sand, , like quick sand, pulled the fallen tree branches pulled the fallen tree branches below the surface.below the surface.

A. Definition

B. Synonym

C. Example

SORRY, TRY SORRY, TRY AGAIN!!!AGAIN!!!

GREAT JOB!!!GREAT JOB!!!

QUESTION 2QUESTION 2The new student used a very The new student used a very strange strange dictiondiction. For instance, . For instance, she called the trunk a “boot” she called the trunk a “boot” and her apartment a “flat.”and her apartment a “flat.”

A. Definition

B. Synonym

C. Example

SORRY, TRY SORRY, TRY AGAIN!!!AGAIN!!!

GREAT JOB!!!GREAT JOB!!!

QUESTION 3QUESTION 3The top of the mountain trail The top of the mountain trail offered a offered a panoramicpanoramic, or wide-, or wide-ranging, view of the valley ranging, view of the valley below.below.

A. Definition

B. Synonym

C. Example

SORRY, TRY SORRY, TRY AGAIN!!!AGAIN!!!

GREAT JOB!!!GREAT JOB!!!

NOW IT’S YOUR NOW IT’S YOUR TURNTURN

Get into groups of 2 or 3 and Get into groups of 2 or 3 and write your own sentence for write your own sentence for

each category of context clues.each category of context clues.