Using Context Clues (part 1), English I Standards Lab

Using Context Clues (part 1), English I Standards Lab

Review:

Last time, we learned about using text evidence to support your inferences about a text.

Open Ended

Review Question: What is the difference between an inference about a text and a guess about a text?

Review: Key Understanding

Forming your own creative interpretation of a text is an important skill. However, if an inference can't be supported by evidence from the text, then it isn't really an inference-- it's just a guess. That's why you need to always come back to the idea of text evidence, and using text evidence to support anything you say about the text.

Today's Learning Goal:

After today's lesson, scholars will be able to infer the meaning of an unknown word, based on context clues in the sentence.

Key Understanding (1/3)

The skills and ways of thinking that you use to make inferences about a text are the same skills and ways of thinking that you use to infer the meaning of words that you might not be familiar with.

Key Understanding (2/3)

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.

Key Understanding (3/3)

A common misconception is that context clues means the definition of a word will be in the sentence where the word is used. In reality, it's not quite that simple. You will probably see some clues, but not the full definition. Therefore, you need to read between the lines and examine the different answer choices to determine which makes the most sense.

Multiple Choice

Check for Understanding: When a question asks you to use context clues to figure out the meaning of a word, it means that the definition of the word can be found in the sentence where the word is used.

• True

• False

Directions:

As a class, we're about to determine the meaning of 5 words that may be new or unfamiliar to you based on context clues.

Example #1

As she laid baking in the sun on a crowded beach, Saleem had a longing for an ice cold bottle of water and an umbrella.

Multiple Choice

As she laid baking in the sun on a crowded beach, Saleem had a longing for an ice cold bottle of water and an umbrella.

The word longing means...

• an irritation

• a strong desire for something

• a length of beach

• an extreme thirst

Share Out: What evidence from the text best proves that longing means "a strong desire for something?"

As she laid baking in the sun on a crowded beach, Saleem had a longing for an ice cold bottle of water and an umbrella.

Example #2

Even though the administration tried to stifle student opposition to the new uniform code, they managed to express their concerns by carrying signs and speaking at the school board meeting.

Multiple Choice

Even though the administration tried to stifle student opposition to the new uniform code, they managed to express their concerns by carrying signs and speaking at the school board meeting.

The word stifle means...

• to stop

• to pardon or excuse

• a minor or unimportant point

• to encourage

Share Out: What evidence from the text best proves that stifle means "to stop?"

Even though the administration tried to stifle student opposition to the new uniform code, they managed to express their concerns by carrying signs and speaking at the school board meeting.

Example #3

Jared had a burning desire to play in the NBA, but he was pragmatic enough to realize that his lack of height and many basketball injuries in college might make his goal impossible to achieve.

Multiple Choice

Jared had a burning desire to play in the NBA, but he was pragmatic enough to realize that his lack of height and many basketball injuries in college might make his goal impossible to achieve.

The word pragmatic means...

• nonsensical

• hopeful

• realistic

• lack of common sense

Share Out: What evidence from the text best proves that pragmatic means "realistic?"

Jared had a burning desire to play in the NBA, but he was pragmatic enough to realize that his lack of height and many basketball injuries in college might make his goal impossible to achieve.

Example #4

Measles is a childhood disease that was eradicated in the USA 20 years ago, but it has returned to sicken people in several states because not all children have received vaccinations against it.

Multiple Choice

Measles is a childhood disease that was eradicated in the USA 20 years ago, but it has returned to sicken people in several states because not all children have received vaccinations against it.

The word eradicated means...

• frightening

• discovered

• completely destroyed

• made illegal

Share Out: What evidence from the text best proves that eradicated means "completely destroyed?"

Measles is a childhood disease that was eradicated in the USA 20 years ago, but it has returned to sicken people in several states because not all children have received vaccinations against it.

Example #5

Because she only gave the contract a cursory glance, Dina didn't realize that she had agreed to pay a penalty if she changed her cell phone company within the next two years.

Multiple Choice

Because she only gave the contract a cursory glance, Dina didn't realize that she had agreed to pay a penalty if she changed her cell phone company within the next two years.

The word cursory means...

• a sideways look

• thorough and complete

• quickly or without attention

• careful or prudent

Share Out: What evidence from the text best proves that cursory means "quickly or without attention?"

Because she only gave the contract a cursory glance, Dina didn't realize that she had agreed to pay a penalty if she changed her cell phone company within the next two years.

Today's Learning Goal:

After today's lesson, scholars will be able to infer the meaning of an unknown word, based on context clues in the sentence.

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 using context clues.