Context Clues CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.4

What are context clues? Other words, sentences, or phrases that help you find the meaning of words. Context clues surround more difficult words, and give us hints about their definition.

How do Context Clues Work? The author will often use hints to help you define a new or difficult word. He or she may use: Synonyms (words with the same meaning) Antonyms (words with the OPPOSITE meaning) Definitions Explanations

The Author May Use Synonyms Words that have the same meaning as the difficult word. The Author May Use Synonyms For example: “A prudent driver will have a safe and careful driving record and therefore pay a low insurance premium.” Clue: We can understand the word “prudent” as being “Safe and careful.”

The Author May Use Antonyms Words that have the opposite meaning as the difficult word. The Author May Use Antonyms For example: “Although most of the children were punished for their reprehensible acts, Carlos was rewarded for his good behavior.” Clue: We can understand the word “reprehensible” by comparing it to its opposite word: “good.”

The Author May Use Definitions Words that actually define the difficult word. The Author May Use Definitions For example: “After two weeks of pleading and begging, Pete’s mom finally assented; she agreed to let him spend the night at his friend’s house.” Clue: We can understand the word “assented” by its definition: “agreed.”

The Author May Use Explanations Words that help to explain the meaning of the difficult word The Author May Use Explanations For example: “People who avoid paying their bills could receive a disposition that requires them to pay everything back with interest.” Clue: We can understand the word “disposition” by the explanation that it is some sort of final settlement.

Now Let’s Try it with a Passage from our Lesson Use context clues to find the meaning of the word “malice” in the passage below.

We can see that the author uses explanation to help us define the word “malice.” The sword must be used to DESTROY the malice. Who has malice? The wicked. Malice = intention to do evil