2. Contextual analysis is usefull because sometimes we can
use context clues to figure out the meaning of an
unfamiliar word they come across in their reading.
Remind them that context clues are the words, phrases,
and sentences surrounding an unfamiliar word that can
give hints or clues to its meaning. Caution students that
although these clues can prove to be helpful, they can
sometimes be misleading
Using contextual aids
3. Examples of
contextual Analysis
TEST A : WORDS WITHOUT CONTEXT
Directions : For each item choose the word that is closest in
meaning to the first word . Circle the letter of your answer .
1. Audacity
a. Patience
b. Boldness
c. Good sense
d. Courtesy
e. Understanding
2. Disparaging
a. Encouraging
b. Questioning
c. Sincere
d. Logical
e. Belittling
4. Examples of contextual analysis
TEST B : WORDS IN CONTEXT
Directions : For each item choose the word that is
closest in meaning to the underlined word . Circle the
letter of your answer .
1. The woman had the audacity to return the dress to
the store after wearing it several time
a. Patience
b. Boldness
c. Good sense
d. Courtesy
e. Understanding
2. Despite her husband’s disparaging remarks , the
woman persisted in her afforts to find a full-time
job .
a. Encouraging
b. Questioning
c. Sincere
d. Logical
e. Belittling
6. 1. Definition
clues
Many times a writer directly or indirectly defines a word
immediately following its use . Usually , the writer does
this when he / she suspects that some readers may be
unfamiliar with the new term or concept . Sometimes a
writer will include a formal definition of the type you
might find in a dictionary . In these case , the meaning of
the word will be stated directly . At other times , writer
may informally restate the idea or offer the synonym , a
word that means the same thing .
7. Examples of definition clues
Formal definition
1. Hurology is the science of measuring time
2. Induction refers to the proccess of reasoning from the
known to the unknown
Indirect definition
1. Hypochondria , excessive worry over one’s health ,
afflicts many Americans over forty
2. There was a consensus , or agreement among the faculty
to require one term paper for each course
3. Reffering to the ability to “see” without using the normal
sensory organs , clairvoyance is under study at the
phychic Research Center
4. Middle age (thirty-five years to sixty-five years) is a time
for strengthening and maintaining life goals .
8. 2. Example
clues
A second way to determine the meaning of an
unknown word is to look for example that explain or
clarify it .
There are many transition signal of example clues :
Such as
Including
For example
For instance
To illustrate
9. Examples of example clues
1. Toxie materials, such as arsenic , asbestos ,
pesticides , and lead , can cause permanent bodily
damage .
2. Unconditioned responses , including heartbeat ,
blinking , and breathing , occur naturally in all
humans .
10. 3. Contrast
clues
It is sometimes possible to determine the
meaning of an unknown word from a word or
phrase in the context that has an opposite
meaning . Notice , in the following sentence ,
how a word opposite in meaning from the
boldface word provides a clue to its
meaning.There are many transition signals :
Even though
Although
On the other hand
However
Despite
Rather
While
Yet
Nevertheless
11. Examples of contrast clues
1. I loathe cats even though most of my friends love
them
2. Although the cottage appeared derelict , we
discovered that a family lived there on weekends
3. Pete , through long hours of study , successfully
passed the exam ; on the other hand , Sam’s efforts
were futile
12. 4. Inference
clues
Many times you can determine the meaning of a
word you do not know by guessing of figuring it
out . This proccess is called “ drawing an
inference” . From the information that is given in
the context you can infer the meaning the
meaning of a word you aren’t familiar with .
13. Examples of inference clues
1. My father is a versatile man ; he is a successful
businessman , sportsunan , author , and sports car
mechanic
2. At the age of seventy-seven , Mr.George was still
playing a skillful game of tennis . He jogged four miles
his daily swim . For a man of his age he was extremely
robust .
14. ANALYZING
WORD CLUES
Many words in the english language are made up of word parts called
prefix , root , and suffix . You might think of these as the
beginning , middle , and ending of a word .These word parts have
spesific meanings and when added together can provide strong clues
to the meanings of a particular word . Before you begin to use them ,
you must know that :
1. Words don’t always have a prefix and a suffix
2. Roots may vary in spelling when they are combined with certain
prefixes
3. Some roots are commonly found at the beginnings of words , other
at the end , while still others can be found in either position .
4. Words can have more than one prefix , root , or suffuxes .
15. Prefixes
Prefixes are added to the beginning of an existing word in order
to create a new word with a different meaning. For example:
word prefix new word
happy un- unhappy
cultural multi- multicultural
work over- overwork
space cyber- cyberspace
market super- supermarket
16. Suffixes
Suffixes are added to the end of an existing word. For
example:
word suffix new word
child -ish childish
work -er worker
taste -less tasteless
idol -ize/-ise idolize/idolise
like -able likeable
17. Root
A root, as its name suggests, is a word or word part
from which other words grow, usually through the
addition of prefixes and suffixes. The root of the
word vocabulary, for example, is voc, a Latin root
meaning "word" or "name." This root also appears in
the words advocacy, convocation, evocative, vocal, and
vociferous.
18. ROOT MEANING EXAMPLES
-ast(er)-(G) star asteroid, astronomy
-audi- (L) hear audible, audience
-auto- (G) self automatic, autopsy
-bene- (L) good benefit, benign
-bio- (G) life biography, biology
-chrono- (G) time chronic, synchronize
-dict- (L) say dictate, diction
-duc- (L) lead, make deduce, produce
-gen- (L) give birth gene, generate
-geo- (G) earth geography, geology
-graph- (G) write autograph, graph
-jur-, -jus- (L) law jury, justice
