Context CluesContext Clues

Some authors "leak" information on the Some authors "leak" information on the page and it sometimes requires detective page and it sometimes requires detective work to "solve" word meanings. work to "solve" word meanings.

Context cluesContext clues are helpful for learning new are helpful for learning new words and help you to better words and help you to better understanding what you read.understanding what you read.

Use clues to figure out what an unfamiliar Use clues to figure out what an unfamiliar word means. word means.

Steps for using context clues:Steps for using context clues: Remember LPR3 (Remember LPR3 (LLook-before, at, and after the new ook-before, at, and after the new

word)word)

PPredict-quickly predict the word's meaning, remembering redict-quickly predict the word's meaning, remembering that a wrong prediction is often a good startthat a wrong prediction is often a good start

RReason-think more carefully about the word's meaning, eason-think more carefully about the word's meaning, trying to be as precise as the context clues permittrying to be as precise as the context clues permit

RResolve-recognize that you may need to take other esolve-recognize that you may need to take other steps (e.g., look it up, ask someone)steps (e.g., look it up, ask someone)

RRedo -go through the steps again if necessaryedo -go through the steps again if necessary

"Billy's reply was "Billy's reply was incoherentincoherent." ." "First, I need to "First, I need to looklook before, at, and after the unfamiliar before, at, and after the unfamiliar

word word incoherentincoherent. .

Then I need to Then I need to predictpredict what the word might mean by what the word might mean by substituting other words that could make sense in the substituting other words that could make sense in the sentence, like sentence, like funnyfunny, , sillysilly, , cleverclever, or , or wrongwrong. .

When I try to When I try to reasonreason or look more closely at the context, or look more closely at the context, all I know is that all I know is that incoherentincoherent is being used to describe is being used to describe Billy's reply. Billy's reply.

I think I need more help to I think I need more help to resolveresolve the meaning of this the meaning of this word." word."

"Due to a severe lack of sleep and extreme "Due to a severe lack of sleep and extreme

nervousness, Billy's reply was nervousness, Billy's reply was incoherentincoherent."." When I When I looklook this time, there are no words after this time, there are no words after

incoherentincoherent, but I can figure out a lot from what's before , but I can figure out a lot from what's before the word. the word.

I'm going to I'm going to predictpredict that it means ‘does not make any that it means ‘does not make any sense.sense.

My My reasonreason is that it says ‘severe lack of sleep and is that it says ‘severe lack of sleep and extreme nervousness.' extreme nervousness.'

I think I can I think I can resolveresolve the meaning based on this context the meaning based on this context because I know what it's like when I'm overtired and because I know what it's like when I'm overtired and nervous." nervous."

Types of context CluesTypes of context Clues DefinitionDefinition–the word is defined directly and clearly in the –the word is defined directly and clearly in the

sentence in which it appears.sentence in which it appears.

“ “ The arbitrator, the neutral person chosen to settle the The arbitrator, the neutral person chosen to settle the dispute, arrived at her decision.”dispute, arrived at her decision.”

Antonym (or contrastAntonym (or contrast)–often signaled by the words )–often signaled by the words whereaswhereas, , unlikeunlike, or , or as opposed toas opposed to..

-“Unlike Jamaal’s room, which was immaculate, Jeffrey’s -“Unlike Jamaal’s room, which was immaculate, Jeffrey’s room was very messy.”room was very messy.”

-“Whereas Melissa is quite lithe, her sister is clumsy and -“Whereas Melissa is quite lithe, her sister is clumsy and awkward.”awkward.”

Synonym (or restatementSynonym (or restatement)–other words are used in the )–other words are used in the sentence with similar meanings.sentence with similar meanings.

““The slender woman was so thin her clothes were too big The slender woman was so thin her clothes were too big on her.on her.

InferenceInference–word meanings are not directly described, but –word meanings are not directly described, but need to be inferred from the context.need to be inferred from the context.

-“Walt’s pugnacious behavior made his opponent back -“Walt’s pugnacious behavior made his opponent back down.”down.”

-“ The man gigged the large fish, but he needed his friend -“ The man gigged the large fish, but he needed his friend to enlarge the hole to drag it out of the frigid water.”to enlarge the hole to drag it out of the frigid water.”