Context Clues: You Be the Detective By Ms. Sherman

Context Clues – What Are They? Context clues are bits of information from the text that help you to figure out the meaning of unknown words in a story or article. As a reader you must act as a detective to use the clues to make an intelligent“guess” as to what the definition of a word is. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.7.4.A CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.7.4.A Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a word's position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

Types of Clues: Clue 1- Word Connotation 1. Word Connotation- the idea or feeling that you get from a word. Decide whether the word is positive, negative or neutral + Positive: something good - Negative: something bad ~ Neutral: neither good nor bad

Clue 2: Part of Speech: Noun, Verb or Adjective Noun Person, place or thing

Part of Speech Continued- Verbs Verb- action

Part of Speech Continued- Adjectives Adjective- Describe nouns

Clue 3: Clue Words Words in the sentence that give hints about the bolded word.

Let’s Try Some Together 1. unpleasant: Brian felt that Ms. Golding was much more unpleasant than usual and he suspected that she did not have her coffee this morning. Step 1: Does the word seem positive +, negative –, or neutral ~ Step 2: Identify the part of speech: Noun – person, place or thing Verb – action Adjective- describing word

Step 3: What are some clue words that give hints about unpleasant? “did not have her coffee this morning” Step 4: What do you think the meaning of unpleasant is? Uncomfortable, unhappy

2. remedy: The richest man in town was losing his hearing and he offered a large reward to anyone who could find a remedy for his condition. Positive, negative or neutral? Part of Speech: Noun, Verb, or Adjective What are some clue words? “losing his hearing” “large reward” “condition” What does remedy mean?

Remedy is another word for a cure.

Now, I want you to read the next two with a partner seated to your right. Discuss and label the three types of clues: 1) Positive +, negative- or neutral ~ 2) Noun, Verb or Adjective 3) Circle clue words 4) Write what you think the definition is on the line. I will give you 4 minutes. Then we will share. (If time- students do the rest of their own

What Did You Learn? What is one type of clue that you learned? How are context clues useful when you are reading?