1. Vocabulary in Context
The SAGE Approach

2. SAGE Approach What is a sage? Therefore….
The SAGE approach is a _________ technique to employ!

3. Why? Why not!! When reading Often faced with words we do not know!
Rarely have a dictionary right next to us!
When reading (outside of school), real readers do not always seek the EXACT word meaning.

4. Ohhhhh……Ahhh….Tell Me More!

5. What’s the Point?
Authors intentionally (on purpose) put words’ meanings IN the context of their writing
There are four common ways that they do this!
S = synonyms
A = antonyms
G = general context
E = examples

6. Sooo……
When reading and you come across a word whose meaning you do not know, you could….
Use a dictionary
Ask a friend
Ask a teacher
Ask your pet
Use context (also known as – the SAGE approach!)

7. S = Synonyms
A synonym is a word that has the same or similar meaning as another.
Roots
Syn = same
Nym – name
Pairs of synonyms, for example:
Happy = glad
Sad = depressed
Cat = feline
Horse = equine
Watery = aqueous

8. Synonym Cue Words Or That is
If you see these words (or others like them), you should expect that a synonym will follow!
So….if you don’t know the first word’s meaning, you may know the second’s!!!

9. Synonym Examples
The dentist gave me laughing gas to alleviate (or ease) the pain of cutting out my wisdom teeth.
Cue word?
Meaning of alleviate?
Being nocturnal, that is, active at night, owls are rarely seen during the day.
What does nocturnal mean?

10. Whole Group Practice
The government should not infringe on or violate a person’s right to free speech.
What does this sentence mean?
Tom was so engrossed, that is, involved, in the football game on television that he did not hear his wife’s question.
What doe this sentence mean?
Endangered species such as manatees need a sanctuary, or haven, so they can begin to thrive, that is, repopulate, again.
What is a sanctuary?
What does it mean to thrive (in the animal kingdom)?

11. Assignment!
Flip through your history text book and find 10 sentences that utilize synonym context clues to struggling readers.
For each sentence, write down the difficult vocabulary word’s meaning (aside from just the synonym.)
For example:
The lawyer sought to adjudicate, or bring the case to trial, in order to help his client.
You would write the complete sentence down and…
Write down that adjudicate means to have his “case heard before a judge and jury”.
Do NOT just write down that adjudicate means “to bring the case to trial”!

12. A = Antonyms
Antonyms are words that have the opposite meaning of each other.
Roots
Ant = opposite
Nym = name
Pairs of antonyms, for example:
Happy = sad
Prompt = late
Studious = unfocused
Calm = hyperactive
Ingenious = commonplace

13. Antonym Cue Words But However In contrast Instead Not
On the other hand
Unlike
Yet
Sometimes antonyms are right next to the new word(set off by commas, dashes, or parentheses)
Sometimes antonyms are placed in other parts of the sentence to stress the contrast

14. Antonym Examples
During dinner, Anne Marie let out a long, loud burp that mortified her mother but amused her friends.
What did her friends think of the burp? Her mother?
Therefore, what does mortified mean?
Suzanne’s tone was surprisingly flippant, in contrast to her usual respectful manner.
How is she usually?
How was her tone this time?

15. Antonym Practice (small group)
Use the Antonym part of the SAGE approach to determine a meaning of the bold words.
Johnson’s Reconstruction plan was to treat the South with malice, not love.
Lincoln’s plan perturbed many people. However, some people thought it was a good one.
Lincoln’s assassination left many people incredulous. On the other hand, many people thought violence would come to Lincoln.

16. G = General Context
Often you will find that the author has not provided a synonym or antonym clue to a word’s meaning.
You may need to read the entire sentence or to read ahead for a few sentences.
Sometimes a definition may be provided.
Vivid word pictures or descriptions may be provided
Logic and reasoning may be needed!

17. General Context Cue Words
For instance
For example
Such as
Including
Consists of

18. Examples
To ensure safety, written and road tests should be mandatory for everyone who seeks a driver’s license for the first time; no exceptions should be allowed.
What part of this sentence gives you a clue of mandatory’s meaning?
What does mandatory mean?

19. Examples
Instead of being placed in adult prisons, where they often became more antisocial by mixing with hardened criminals, youth who have been convicted of crimes should be placed in programs that rehabilitate them.
A. Restore to useful life
B. Punish for good reason
C. Exhaust in order to break the spirit
D. Entertain

20. More examples
Jaime speculated about how much weight he wanted to gain during the three month bodybuilding program he was beginning.
A. Knew
B. Wondered
C. Worried
D. Celebrated
Losing weight too quickly – more than a pound or two a week – can be detrimental to long-term weight control and good health.
A. Helpful
B. Odd
C. Harmful
D. Pleasing

21. One More! From ”Popular”
And though you protest Your disinterest I know clandestinely You're gonna’ grin and bear it Your new found popularity
HOW will you find out what this word means?
What DOES clandestinely actually mean?

22. E = Examples
Many times an author will show the meaning of a new or difficult word by providing an example.
Example signal words
For instance
For example
Such as
Including
Consists of

23. Examples….examples!
The American presidency has suffered infamous events such as the Watergate scandal of Richard Nixon and the impeachment of Bill Clinton.
What are the examples in this sentence?
Do you know what these events were – in history?
If you DO, you might have a better idea of infamous’s definition.
If you DON’T, you may need to find another route.

24. More Examples
Some authors use pseudonyms; for example, famous American author Mark Twain’s real name was Samuel Clemens.
A. Typists
B. Mental tricks
C. Ghost writers
D. False name
Some people believe that the pesticides used on food cause serious physical impairments such as weakened kidneys and a more fragile immune system.
A. Improvements
B. Laws
C. Injuries
D. Pairings

25. Final Example…Example
Some students find collaborative leaning helps them understand and retain information; for example, Nicole, Vejay, and Chad meet every Tuesday and Thursday in the library to compare notes and help each other prepare for tests.
A. Additional
B. Intense
C. Independent
D. Shared