Determining Word Meanings

Determining Word Meanings

First a quick review!

Multiple Choice

What are context clues?

• Words or phrases near an unfamiliar word that help you understand the meaning of that word.

• How you break apart a word.

• The main idea of a text.

• An educated guess

Match

Match the following

• Denotative Language

• Connotative Language

• Figurative Language

Exact definition of a word

Uses not just an idea but also a feeling

Express ideas in creative, unusual ways

• Exact definition of a word

• Uses not just an idea but also a feeling

• Express ideas in creative, unusual ways

• Very specific vocabulary to a subject, content, or topic, and may require explanation.

• Meant to communicate to a specific audience for a specific purpose

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Technical Language

Draw

Look at the picture below and read how the boy and girl describe the music. Circle words and clues in the picture that tell you how each person feels about the music.

Words intense and earsplitting are both ways of saying something​ is loud.
Intense suggests positive feelings, while earsplitting suggests negative ones.
Both have similar meanings, but the words have different connotations.

Dropdown

Look again at how the girl describes the music. Are her ears really splitting? ​

Select answer

Open Ended

What does the girl really mean? Why

do you think she uses the word earsplitting?

Explore how to answer this question: "What does the author mean when she says 'was known for his phrasing'?"

The sentence says that, as a guitarist, Berry was known for his phrasing. The usual meaning phrasing is "putting a group of words together." What does this term mean in music?

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Draw

Underline/highlight any technical meaning/phrases in this paragraph.

The sentence says that, as a guitarist, Berry was known for his phrasing. The usual meaning phrasing is "putting a group of words together." What does this term mean in music?

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State the technical meaning of the word phrasing. Then explain how the context helped you figure it out.

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Close Reading
The author says Berry "shined a light on rock stars' paths." How can the context help you understand this figurative expression?

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Hint
Substitute each choice for the phrase in the text to see which meaning makes sense.

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Multiple Choice

Based on the text, which of the following is closest to the figurative meaning of the phrase "shined a light on many rock stars' paths"?

• made it possible for musicians to play rock and roll for a living.

• drew attention to the talents of other rock musicians, making them famous

• helped musicians learn their craft by studying his songwriting and performing

• exposed the secrets of rock musicians and the music business

Open Ended

Explain how the context in the paragraph helped you understand the meaning of "shined a light on many rock stars' paths."