Using Context Clues (part 2), English I Standards Lab

Using Context Clues (part 2), English I Standards Lab

Review:

Last time, we learned about using the context of the surrounding sentence to determine the meaning of a new or unfamiliar word.

Open Ended

Review Question: In your own words, what are context clues and what does it mean to use context clues?

Review: Key Understanding

Often times, the sentence that a word comes from (aka the context of the word) gives hints (aka clues) about what the word means. Using the hints from the surrounding sentence to figure out the meaning of a word is called using context clues.

Today's Learning Goal:

After today's lesson, scholars will be able to infer the meaning of unknown words in a text, based on the context of the passage overall, and say why key words are important in a passage.

Key Understanding (1/2)

Last time, we inferred the meaning of new words based on the sentence that the word came from. This time, we're going to use the same type of skills and thinking to infer the meaning of words based on the surrounding passage overall.

Key Understanding (2/2)

Helpful hint alert! Often times, when a question asks you the meaning of a certain word in the passage, it indicates that the word is important to the meaning of the passage overall.

Multiple Choice

Check for Understanding! If a test question asks you to determine the meaning of the word "flabbergasted" as it's used in a passage, what could you reasonably infer?

• That the word "flabbergasted" is the only challenging vocabulary word in the passage

• That the word "flabbergasted" is commonly used in real-world contexts

• That the word "flabbergasted" is important to the overall meaning or message of the passage

Directions:

As a class, we're about to read 2 short passages. Within each passage, you'll be asked to infer the meaning of an unknown word, and use text evidence to explain how you made that inference.

The words that the questions will ask about are highlighted in green, so that as you're reading the passage, you can think about the meaning of the word.

Passage #2

Even early in his life, Robinson confronted racism head on. In 1938, while still at junior college, he was arrested after disputing the police’s detention of one of his black friends. He managed to escape a long jail sentence, but this and other run-ins with the police earned him a reputation of being very combative against racial oppression. When the U.S. entered World War II, Robinson enlisted in the army. He never saw direct combat, but his military career was marred by racial problems. While stationed in Texas, Robinson boarded a non-segregated bus, but he was instructed to sit in the back anyway. He refused, and military police took him into custody for his insubordination.

From “How Jackie Robinson Changed Baseball” by Jessica McBirney

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of “combative” as used in the text?

• Compliant

• Ready to fight

• Ineffective

• Reckless

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the text provides the best evidence that combative means "ready to fight?"

• "Even early in his life, Robinson confronted racism head on.”

• “When the U.S. entered World War II, Robinson enlisted in the army.”

• “He never saw direct combat, but his military career was marred by racial problems.”

• “Robinson boarded a non-segregated bus, but he was instructed to sit in the back anyway.”

Share Out: Why is the word "combative" important in this passage?

Even early in his life, Robinson confronted racism head on. In 1938, while still at junior college, he was arrested after disputing the police’s detention of one of his black friends. He managed to escape a long jail sentence, but this and other run-ins with the police earned him a reputation of being very combative against racial oppression. When the U.S. entered World War II, Robinson enlisted in the army. He never saw direct combat, but his military career was marred by racial problems. While stationed in Texas, Robinson boarded a non-segregated bus, but he was instructed to sit in the back anyway. He refused, and military police took him into custody for his insubordination.s

Possible Answers:

-The word "combative" is important to the central idea of this passage, which is that Jackie Robinson fought against racism throughout his life

-The word "combative" is important to characterizing Jackie Robinson, because it shows that he was brave and that he didn't accept being treated badly

Passage #2

Alter ego is Latin for "the other I." It refers to a person's second self or identity that is different from a person's normal personality. The idea that people could have "another self" was first recognized in the 1790s. Franz Anton Mesmer, a German doctor, used hypnosis to separate his alter ego. Under hypnosis, Mesmer showed a behavior patter that diverged from the personality he had in his waking state. It was as if a completely distinct character had developed in the altered state of consciousness, but in the same body.

From "Alter Egos Explained" by Commonlit staff

Multiple Choice

What does the word "diverged" mean as its used in the passage?

• Differed

• Imagined

• Spread out

• Linked together

Multiple Choice

Which phrase from the passage provides the best evidence that "diverged" means "differed?"

• "in his waking state"

• "completely distinct"

• "altered state of consciousness"

• "in the same body"

Share Out! Why is the word "diverged" important in this passage?

Alter ego is Latin for "the other I." It refers to a person's second self or identity that is different from a person's normal personality. The idea that people could have "another self" was first recognized in the 1790s. Franz Anton Mesmer, a German doctor, used hypnosis to separate his alter ego. Under hypnosis, Mesmer showed a behavior patter that diverged from the personality he had in his waking state. It was as if a completely distinct character had developed in the altered state of consciousness, but in the same body.

Possible Answers:

-The word "diverge" is important to the central idea of the passage, since it's all about having an alter ego that's different from your normal self

-The word "diverge" captures the idea that your 2 identities can be very different from each other

Open Ended

Bonus question! The words "diverge," "differ," "distinct," and "different" all sound similar and have similar meanings. Why is this? (If you don't know, make your best guess!)

Answer:

The words "diverge," "differ," "distinct," and "different" all sound similar and have similar meanings because they come from the same root word. This means that all of those words came from the same original word, hundreds of years ago when the English language was being created. Most root words in English come from Greek or Latin.

Passage #3

Adam had no joy in his voice. He answered my questions in a monotone way, letting me know with every syllable how much he didn't want to be there. Adam's father, Frank, did want him to be there. Adam's mother, Judy, really didn't care, just as long as she didn't have to pay for it. She was just along for the ride.

​

​Adam lived with his mother and saw his dad every other weekend. Frank had watched his happy, laughing son slowly fade. The parents had divorced when Adam was eleven-- not an easy age. He was fourteen now, and Frank was convinced something was wrong. It wasn't just a phase Adam was going through.

​

From "The Role Reverser: Growing Up Too Soon" by Gregory L. Jantz

​

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of "monotone," as its used in the text?

• expressive and dynamic

• unchanging in pitch or intonation

• slow and unhurried

• aggravated and showing frustration

Multiple Choice

Which phrase from the passage gives the best clue about the meaning of the word "monotone?"

• "no joy in his voice"

• "he answered my questions"

• "with every syllable"

• "he didn't want to be there"

Share out! Why is the word "monotone" important in this passage?

Adam had no joy in his voice. He answered my questions in a monotone way, letting me know with every syllable how much he didn't want to be there. Adam's father, Frank, did want him to be there. Adam's mother, Judy, really didn't care, just as long as she didn't have to pay for it. She was just along for the ride.

​

​Adam lived with his mother and saw his dad every other weekend. Frank had watched his happy, laughing son slowly fade. The parents had divorced when Adam was eleven-- not an easy age. He was fourteen now, and Frank was convinced something was wrong. It wasn't just a phase Adam was going through.

​

Possible Answers:

-The word "monotone" is important to characterizing Adam's emotional state (that he's apathetic and seems to be detached from his feelings and experiences)

​-The fact that Adam is speaking in a monotone way sets up what seems like it'll become the central conflict in this passage ("why is Adam acting this way / what's wrong with Adam?")

Passage #4

Adam West, who starred as the classic Batman of the '60s, is now the voice of Mayor West on TV's Family Guy. To most folks, however, he will always be the Caped Crusader.

​

​In fact, he said he spent years trying to escape being a superhero.

​

​"Because I was typecast extraordinarily," West said. "it was difficult but after five years of doing dumb films, I decided that people love Batman, so why shouldn't I love Batman? Why be an ingrate? So I became rather fascinated by it and how to keep that particular thing going."

​

​-From "Why Are We Obsessed with Superheroes?" By ABC News

Multiple Choice

What does the word "ingrate" mean, as it's used in the passage?

• One who is looked up to; a hero

• A scoundrel or a minor criminal

• A person whose cynicism makes them disliked by others

• One who does not show sufficient appreciation for something

Multiple Choice

Which provides the best evidence that "ingrate" means "one who does not show sufficient appreciation for something?"

• "spent years trying to escape being a superhero"

• "after five years of doing dumb films"

• "people love Batman, so why shouldn't I?"

• "I became rather fascinated by it"

Share Out: Why is the word "ingrate" important in this passage?

Adam West, who starred as the classic Batman of the '60s, is now the voice of Mayor West on TV's Family Guy. To most folks, however, he will always be the Caped Crusader.

​

​In fact, he said he spent years trying to escape being a superhero.

​

​"Because I was typecast extraordinarily," West said. "it was difficult but after five years of doing dumb films, I decided that people love Batman, so why shouldn't I love Batman? Why be an ingrate? So I became rather fascinated by it and how to keep that particular thing going."

Possible Answers:

-The word "ingrate" represents an important conflict in the passage: that people tend to love superheroes, even though they can potentially be viewed as silly or "dumb," including by the actors who play them. Since the title of the passage is "why are we obsessed with superheroes?" it seems like the whole passage is centered around exploring why people like superheroes, in spite of the potential reasons to dislike them or write them off.

Today's Learning Goal:

After today's lesson, scholars will be able to infer the meaning of unknown words in a text, based on the context of the passage overall, and say why key words are important in a passage.

Poll

Which of the following best describes how you feel about today's learning goal?

• I'm still confused about what we learned today

• I understand some of what we learned today

• I understand all of what we learned today

• I'm an expert on what we learned today & I could teach the next lesson on this

Open Ended

In your own words, explain what 9th grade scholars need to know about determining the meaning of new words.