Skilled Reader Explanation of Context Clues

1. Vocabulary in Context
THE SAGE APPROACH

2. What’s the Point?
 Authors intentionally (on purpose) put words’
meanings IN the context of their writing
 There are four common ways that they do this!
 S = synonyms
 A = antonyms
 G = general context
 E = examples

3. Sooo……
 When reading and you come across a word whose
meaning you do not know, you could….
 Use a dictionary
 Ask a friend
 Ask a teacher
 Ask your pet
 Use context (also known as – the SAGE approach!)

4. S = Synonyms
• A synonym is a word that has the same or similar
meaning as another.
• Roots
– Syn = same
– Nym – name
• Pairs of synonyms, for example:
– Happy = glad
– Sad = depressed
– Cat = feline
– Horse = equine
– Watery = aqueous

5. Synonym Cue Words
 Or
 That is
 If you see these words (or others like them), you
should expect that a synonym will follow!
 So….if you don’t know the first word’s meaning, you
may know the second’s!!!

6. Synonym Examples
 The dentist gave me laughing gas to alleviate (or
ease) the pain of cutting out my wisdom teeth.
 Cue word?
 Meaning of alleviate?
 Being nocturnal, that is, active at night, owls are
rarely seen during the day.
 Cue word?
 What does nocturnal mean?

7. Whole Group Practice
 The government should not infringe on or violate a person’s
right to free speech.
 What does this sentence mean?
 Tom was so engrossed, that is, involved, in the football game
on television that he did not hear his wife’s question.
 What doe this sentence mean?
 Endangered species such as manatees need a sanctuary, or
haven, so they can begin to thrive, that is, repopulate, again.
 What is a sanctuary?
 What does it mean to thrive (in the animal kingdom)?

8. A = Antonyms
 Antonyms are words that have the opposite meaning of
each other.
 Roots
 Ant = opposite
 Nym = name
• Pairs of antonyms, for example:
– Happy = sad
– Prompt = late
– Studious = unfocused
– Calm = hyperactive
– Ingenious = commonplace

9. Antonym Cue Words
 But
 However
 In contrast
 Instead
 Not
 On the other hand
 Unlike
 Yet
 Sometimes antonyms are right next to the new word(set off by
commas, dashes, or parentheses)
 Sometimes antonyms are placed in other parts of the sentence to
stress the contrast

10. Antonym Examples
 During dinner, Anne Marie let out a long, loud burp
that mortified her mother but amused her friends.
 What did her friends think of the burp? Her mother?
 Therefore, what does mortified mean?
 Suzanne’s tone was surprisingly flippant, in contrast
to her usual respectful manner.
 How is she usually?
 How was her tone this time?

11. G = General Context
 Often you will find that the author has not provided a
synonym or antonym clue to a word’s meaning.
 You may need to read the entire sentence or to read
ahead for a few sentences.
 Sometimes a definition may be provided.
 Vivid word pictures or descriptions may be provided
 Logic and reasoning may be needed!

12. General Context Cue Words
 For instance
 For example
 Such as
 Including
 Consists of

13. Examples
 To ensure safety, written and road tests should be
mandatory for everyone who seeks a driver’s
license for the first time; no exceptions should be
allowed.
 What part of this sentence gives you a clue of mandatory’s
meaning?
 What does mandatory mean?

14. Examples
 Instead of being placed in adult prisons, where they
often became more antisocial by mixing with
hardened criminals, youth who have been convicted
of crimes should be placed in programs that
rehabilitate them.
 A. Restore to useful life
 B. Punish for good reason
 C. Exhaust in order to break the spirit
 D. Entertain

15. More examples
 Jaime speculated about how much weight he wanted to gain
during the three month bodybuilding program he was
beginning.
 A. Knew
 B. Wondered
 C. Worried
 D. Celebrated
 Losing weight too quickly – more than a pound or two a week
– can be detrimental to long-term weight control and good
health.
 A. Helpful
 B. Odd
 C. Harmful
 D. Pleasing

16. One More!
 From ”Popular”
 And though you protest
Your disinterest
I know clandestinely
You're gonna’ grin and bear it
Your new found popularity
 HOW will you find out what this word means?
 What DOES clandestinely actually mean?

17. E = Examples
 Many times an author will show the meaning of a
new or difficult word by providing an example.
 Example signal words
 For instance
 For example
 Such as
 Including
 Consists of

18. Examples….examples!
 The American presidency has suffered infamous
events such as the Watergate scandal of Richard
Nixon and the impeachment of Bill Clinton.
 What are the examples in this sentence?
 Do you know what these events were – in history?
 If you DO, you might have a better idea of infamous’s
definition.
 If you DON’T, you may need to find another route.

19. More Examples
 Some authors use pseudonyms; for example, famous
American author Mark Twain’s real name was Samuel
Clemens.
 A. Typists
 B. Mental tricks
 C. Ghost writers
 D. False name
 Some people believe that the pesticides used on food cause
serious physical impairments such as weakened kidneys
and a more fragile immune system.
 A. Improvements
 B. Laws
 C. Injuries
 D. Pairings

20. Final Example…Example
 Some students find collaborative leaning helps
them understand and retain information; for
example, Nicole, Vejay, and Chad meet every
Tuesday and Thursday in the library to compare
notes and help each other prepare for tests.
 A. Additional
 B. Intense
 C. Independent
 D. Shared