Resources and ContextDetermining word meanings through the use of dictionaries, reference materials, and context clues.

The Problem

You are reading a text for school. You find a word that is new to you. You decide to look up the word in the dictionary. However, once you do, you find that the definition makes you more confused than before you started. Has this ever happened to you? You are not alone.

Common problems with dictionaries

I look it up, but I don’t understand the definition!

The synonyms are words I have never heard of before!

There are too many definitions and I don’t know which one is the one I need!

Dictionary Features

Most dictionaries have many features that are helpful if you know how to use them. Pronunciation—audio and phonetic spelling Multiple Definitions Origin Part of speech Related words Synonyms Antonyms Example sentences

Practice

Use the Kirkus Review of the book Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

Use your pre-reading strategies. What is this article about?

Read the article all the way through once at a fast pace to get the main ideas.

Practice

Read it a second time and annotate the text as you did in your last tutoring lesson. Highlight important ideas Underline ideas that are new to

you Circle words that you need to

look up Make notes in the margin

Identify the unknown words

Review your annotations.

Which words did you circle because you don’t know them well? First try to reread the sentence

and the paragraph. Based on the context, can you tell what this word might mean?

Find at least 3 words that you cannot figure out by rereading it in context.

Make a list of the words you need to look up.

Examples of difficult words

HeartfeltInternmentStaunchlyNationalisticMercySalvation ForbiddenSappyOvertlySubtleties

GleanWidowerFlashbacksBurgeoningEvacuatedDysfunctionalJarringly Precocious CredibleExploration

ArcDespite FloweryPortraitDebutShamefulCautionsExamineHeedInjustices

Deciphering words and meanings

1. Identify the words you do not know

2. Try to guess the meaning based on the context of what you read

3. Look up the words in a dictionary or other source

4. Eliminate definitions that do not match the context of what you read

5. Find additional details about the word that help you understand them

6. Practice using the words on your own

Practice

With your classmates or tutor, follow the steps on your handout with the example word.

Then proceed to use the same steps on your own.

Example Word: Staunchly

Step 1: Identify the word

Example Word: Staunchly

Step 2: Try to guess the meaning

Guessing the meaning based on context means that you have to analyze what is happening in the sentence and the sentences around the word.

Look at how the word is being used below. Discuss the sentences with your classmates and/or tutor. Clue: the word ends in –ly which means it is describing the word

nationalistic. Can you guess what nationalistic means based on the rest of the paragraph?

Step 3: Look it up

Dictionary.com is great source that gives multiple definitions.

Merriam-Webster also has a good dictionary site.

Thesuarus.com can offer words that have similar meanings.

The next three slides are examples.

Step 4: Eliminate definitions

Which two are obviously not relevant for your text?

Why?

The first two seem to be describing a person’s attitude, which fits our text.

The second two seem to be describing objects. Henry’s father is not an object.

Step 5: Find additional details

Step 5 continued What details can make

this word easy for you to understand and remember?

Notice common words: Loyalty Firm True Faithful

Step 6: Practice using it Notice how the word is

used in the examples.

Make up your own sentence about someone or something you know well that could be considered staunch.

Example: My grandmother is a

staunch Catholic. My best friend staunchly

defends vegetarianism.