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What is a Meaningful Sentence?
• A meaningful sentence is one that uses context clues and synonyms to convey the meaning of a vocabulary
word in the sentence.
Context Clues
Synonyms
Words that mean the same thing as another word.
Let’s Pretend! Dr. Seuss Style
• New word: squelbolump
Turn and Talk!
1. What is a squelbolump?
2. How do you know?
Sentence Frame:I think a squelbolump is a _________ because
_________________.
Why write Meaningful Sentences?
Because if we don’t, we end up with…
A POINTLESS Sentence
• Squelbolump is an interesting word.– This sentence is completely POINTLESS.– We still have no idea what squelbolump means.
A REPLACE Sentence
• A squelbolump has fur.– The word can be REPLACED with so many words
(dog, bear, tiger, monkey, etc) that it is meaningless.
A DICTIONARY Sentence
• A squelbolump is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal with soft fur, a short snout, and retractile claws.– We now know the DICTIONARY definition of
squelbolump, but we didn’t hear anything meaningful about the animal beyond a definition.
How About This One?
• Purring loudly while rubbing its plush fur against my leg, the ginger-colored squelbolump gently prodded me with its razor sharp claws in a bid to gain my attention.
1. NOW - what is a squelbolump?
2. How do you know?
Sentence Frame:I think a squelbolump is a _________ because
_________________.
MEANINGFUL SENTENCE
• Purring loudly while rubbing its plush fur against my leg, the ginger-colored squelbolump gently prodded me with its razor sharp claws in a bid to gain my attention.
• Notice that there are several synonyms and context clues that assist the reader in discerning the meaning of the word, squelbolump.– Purring– Plush Fur– Sharp Claws
Making sentences MEANINGFUL…
• Again…–Meaningful sentences are filled
with context clues and synonyms.
Let’s Try: Ostracize
• Definition: Excluded from a group
We need to write a MEANINGFUL SENTENCE for the word OSTRACIZE.
What does the sentence need?
CONTEXT CLUES!!!And/or
SYNONYMS!!!
Types of Context Clues…
• synonym (or paraphrase) clue: The sentence contains a word or group of words that means the same or nearly the same as the unfamiliar word.
• example (or cause & effect) clue: The sentence includes an example of the word or a cause and effect relationship which explains the word.
• antonym clue: The sentence contains a word that means the opposite as the unknown word.
Sentences with Context Clues for OSTRACIZE
• Chad felt ostracized, left out, because he was made to sit alone in the cafeteria. (synonym & paraphrase clues)
• The boy, who was ostracized from his friends because he was punished, wished he could have joined them in the game. (example or cause & effect clue)
• Courtney was so worried that her friends would ostracize her, but instead she was included in their group. (antonym clue)
Lets Try a Few!Turn and talk with your elbow partner to determine if the following sentences are
meaningful or not.
If they are not…1. Tell what level they are
2. Justify your responses! (Tell why)
The aperture in the little cave served as a window, and let in just the tiniest amount of light to see by..
Yes – Meaningful!Context Clues = A window is a thing light passes through, tiny amount of
light to see by
Aperture = A space through which light passes
The actor delivered a great soliloquy.
Not meaningful!Replace level!
The actor delivered a great pizza.The actor delivered a great bouquet of flowers.
If I speak my thoughts aloud in a play, I am giving a soliloquy.
Not meaningful!Dictionary level!
Definition was given – speaking thoughts aloud in a play
There was a chimera in the closet.
Not meaningful!Replace level!
There was a monster in the closet.There was a goblin in the closet.
The dog was fettered to the post in the yard so that he could not escape and wander the neighborhood.
Meaningful!Context Clues = to the post, could not
escape, could not wander the neighborhood
Her words spilling out in an incomprehensible babble, I panicked as I
realized that I couldunderstand nothing the teacher was
saying.
Meaningful!Context clues – I could understanding
nothing the teacher was saying, spilling out, babble
Incomprehensible = not able to be understood
I like catacombs.Not meaningful!
Pointless!Replace!
This tells us NOTHING about what catacombs are.
We could replace this word with anything:I like ice cream.
I like dogs.
The kids at the movies made a clamor, and the others in the theater were annoyed by the noisy disturbance.
Meaningful!Context clues = noisy disturbance
Now you try!
• On the handout, we will write all levels of sentences for the word PANTHER.
