There are different formats or techniques to aid students’ comprehension of a given passage or written work.
One of these diverse methods is using context clues to figure out a word’s meaning.
This method arms students with an inventory of ways to access obscure words and gain a broader meaning of the text.
Lack of understanding or awareness of the forms of context clues, students stand in disfavor to interpret meanings for themselves.
The teaching of this skill aids self-agency so students can define odd words individually. In this post, there will be a revealing of the devices authors use to integrate context clues into their writing.
Teachers should stand against students memorizing, each context clue device.
It is more that they come to understand that authors give hints in all kinds of ways to help readers figure out what words mean so they are alert to these devices.
Teachers should demonstrate to students how to read surrounding passages in which obscure words appear.
This aids readers deduce a word’s meaning and understand the whole passage where the word resides.
Here are 5 ways to deploy context clues for reading
Word Parts
The concept: First break down the parts of a word to the base word (word stem or root word), prefixes, and suffixes. This aids to figure out what the word means.
Some base words have prefix only attached (uncalm), a suffix only attached (calming), both a prefix and a suffix attached (uncalming), a combination (uncalmableness), or neither (calm).
Reproduction
re: repeat, again
Produc: manufactured substance or article, person or thing
tion: indicates the word is a noun
Definition/explanation
The concept: Aid the students to look for a definition or an explanation within the sentence.
• Reproduction or copying of exact words of someone’s work for this term paper instead of inputting your own, will not be allowed.
• Organisms and offspring cannot occur without a first of its kind.
Synonym
The concept: Words next to the unknown word could act as a clue that there serves as a synonym.
• Reproduction or close imitation of fashion wears makes it hard to know the original.
• The want for offspring and youngs is over the top in all parts of the world.
Example
The concept: Providing examples of the obscure word can give students a context clue about meaning.
• Having your own say and mind in matters will help in not reproducing what others say or do.
• Offsprings vary in man and animals, calf belongs to cows, puppy belongs to dogs, kitten belongs to cats.
Antonym/contrast
The concept: opposite information about the obscure word can be a balance by words and phrases such as unlike, as opposed to, different from.
• Reproduction of former musical pieces brings back memories, as opposed to original and new pieces.
• The way offspring are treasured is different from the way parents are treasured.
Conclusion
Some authors do not provide context clues throughout the text because they might have the supposition that readers know the meaning of certain words before reading the text.
Nevertheless, when these clues are present, providing students or readers with the techniques to use them productively enhances them to further their reading comprehension.
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