MUSTANG MINUTE:ON THE BACK OF YOUR CONTEXT NOTES

Look at the following sentences, particularly the underlined word. Try to guess what the word’s meaning is and write down the word and its definition. Also, write one reason WHY you think that is the definition.1. When incorporating research into your writing, you should

use salient, specific details.

2. Unlike Sarah’s immaculate room, Sally’s room was a pig-sty!

3. The churlish girl glared at passersby and rudely spit on the sidewalk.

CONTEXT CLUES: A guide for figuring out what a word means!

WHAT ARE CONTEXT CLUES:• Context clues are HINTS that the author leaks onto the page to help

readers understand difficult or unusual words.

• DID YOU KNOW? • We learn most of our vocabulary through reading so being able to recognize

and take advantage of context clues will help you have a vocabulary like Scout’s!

TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES:

•Synonym•Antonym•Explanation / Definition•Example / Tone & Setting

SYNONYM:

•A synonym, or word with the same meaning, is used in the sentence.• The vociferous Hermione could talk for hours about

Hogwarts, A History.

ANTONYM:

•A word, or group of words, that has the opposite meaning can reveal the meaning of the term.• Malfoy showed his canniness throughout the story while

Crabbe and Goyle could only grunt stupidly.

EXPLANATION / DEFINITION:

•The unknown word is explained within the sentence or in a sentence immediately before or after.• Growing the bones in his arm had enervated

Harry so much that he had to sleep for days in the Hospital Ward.

EXAMPLE / TONE & SETTING:

•Specific examples are used to define the unknown word.• Hagrid loves the noxious creatures of

the magical world, such as dragons, blast-ended skrewts, and acromantulas.

HOW TO FIGURE OUT A WORD’S MEANING

LookPredictReplace

LookLook at the word(s) and sentence(s) before

and after the unfamiliar word.

PredictQuickly guess what the word may mean or

what you think it may mean.

ReplaceReplace the unknown word with what you

think it means. Does it make sense?

PRACTICE: LPR1. Because she was so timid, we rarely heard her say anything in class.

2. The woman crossed her fingers as her daughter did the cheer. She was hoping that everything would work out for her daughter as she vied for a position on the squad. Her daughter wanted to be a cheerleader.

3. The boy knew the lake was teeming, and overflowing with bass, so he brought a big net to help get the fish in the boat.

4. It was difficult to listen to Tom speak because he droned on and on just like a buzzer that won’t stop buzzing.

5. The frigid air seemed to suck his breath away as he attempted to finish his first snowman of the season.