Legal Law

How to use context clues to improve reading comprehension and vocabulary

Learning to use context clues to figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words is an essential reading strategy and vocabulary builder. Identifying context clues in reading is made easier by looking up the key categories of context clues within the context of an effective step-by-step strategy. So, here is the strategy:

When you come to an unfamiliar word, apply the steps of the FP BAGS SELLING strategy in the following order until you get a good clue about the meaning of an unfamiliar word.

Prize ends.

See how the word fits into the complete sentence.

Say the word out loud.

Sometimes hearing the word will give you a clue to the meaning.

Syllables-Examine each part of the word.

Word parts can be helpful clues to meaning.

Before-Read the sentence before the unknown word.

The above sentence may hint at what the word means.

After reading the award after the unknown word.

The subsequent sentence can define, explain, or provide an example of the word.

Grammar-Determine the part of speech.

Pay attention to where the word is placed in the sentence, the ending of the word, and its grammatical relationship to other familiar words for clues to the meaning.

The context key categories:

Synonym: Sometimes an unknown word is defined by using a synonym.

Synonyms appear in apposition, in which case commas, hyphens, or parentheses are used.

The wardrobe, or closet, opened the door to a whole new world.

Antonym: Sometimes an unknown word is defined by using an antonym.

Antonym clues will often use signal words, for example, however, not, but, in contrast

Example: You signaled a looey, not a right turn.

Logic: Your own knowledge of the content and structure of the text can provide clues to the meaning.

Logical clues can lead to a logical guess about the meaning of an unknown word.

Example: He petted the canine and then made her sit down and beg for a bone.

Example: When it is part of an example list or if the unknown word itself provides an example,

either one provides good clues as to the meaning. Example tracks will often use transition words, for example, like, like, like

Example: all the adventurous, rowdy, and crazy pioneers found their way to the West.