ANALYZING WORDS
ANALYZING WORDS
Context Clues
Context Clues (Restatement)
What is it?
The use of context clues is an effective and efficient way to
determine the meaning of unknown words while you are reading,
which in turn will allow you to make greater sense of the material.
Practice
A good way to make sense of an unfamiliar word is to look at its
context: the words, phrases, or sentences that come before and
after a word that may help to explain its meaning. Sometimes a
writer will restate the meaning of a word right after it, putting the
restatement between commas. Other times, one of the following
words or phrases is used:
Some Restatement Signals
Passage 1:
Source (title, author):
Identify the unfamiliar word:
Identify the type of Context Clue used:
or, also called, that is, which is, also known as, in other words
Example
Our teacher received a small stipend, or payment, for giving
travel lectures to local clubs.
1. Identify the unfamiliar word.
Use the information to figure out what the unfamiliar word means:
Passage 2:
Source (title, author):
Identify the unfamiliar word:
Identify the type of Context Clue used:
Use the information to figure out what the unfamiliar word means:
2. Read to see if there is a word or phrase that signals a
restatement or definition may follow.
3. Find the restated information.
4. Use the information to figure out what the
unfamiliar word means.