What Are Context Clues – A Guide to Identifying and Using Them

By WR!TERS@WORK

Context is perhaps one of the most important things in the English language. Only when we comprehend the situation in which something applies can we then figure out what to say about it. Context paints many situations – many miscommunications and misunderstandings happen simply because people lacked the full context of a situation. WRITERS AT WORK students know that when reading a passage, they need to look for context clues – as the name suggests, it is simply a way to find out more information about what the student is reading simply from looking around the passage.

What Are Context Clues?

Context clues are hints and extra information in a sentence or a passage which helps you understand the meaning of a word you do not know. Context clues help you learn new words without the teacher telling you the meaning of the word or a dictionary to look up. When doing English comprehension passages, there will inevitably be new words you do not know the meaning of. It is unrealistic of students to expect themselves to be a human dictionary and learn every single word in the English vernacular – they need to instead exercise common sense and look at the surrounding sentences to find out the meaning of the words they do not know in the passage.

If you have tried to find the context clues and you still do not know the meaning of the word and cannot look it up because you are in an exam, you could potentially hazard your best inferred guess as to what the word means. Context clues can only do so much – they require some thought and reasoning as to what they mean and the student must put information together.

Different Types of Context Clues

• In-text definitions
• Examples
• Synonyms
• Antonyms or contrast
• Root words and affixes
• Mood or tone
• Cause and effect
• Inferences

How to Use Context Clues Wisely When You Read a Passage:

Edward did not know what to do. He had lost his life’s work – the frogs that had been sitting in a tightly sealed container, ready to be brought forward as the saviour of people, as the cure – were now hopping around somewhere in the sewers of New York. He thought of the husbandry that he had engaged in, the painstaking hours of turmoil he had endured just to find a solution to this hideous, uncaring plague, and he wanted to howl. He composed himself, however, and descended the metal ladder gingerly. He would find these frogs, no matter what it took.

In the passage above, the word “husbandry” is not something many students would know about. Husbandry is the practice of keeping animals and crops, and it is a term frog breeders use when they talk about keeping frogs cared for and well-fed. The context clues are all around the passage – the student should know that the passage is talking about some frogs that Edward had lost, which are supposed to be a “cure” and “saviour” for a “plague”. The student will also know that Edward has endured “painstaking hours of turmoil” in finding a “solution” to the plague. By putting two and two together, “husbandry” would mean taking care of the frogs in such a way that they would be used for the scientific purpose of curing the horrible plague.

What is Looking for Context Clues All About?

Looking for context clues is all about understanding the relationship between the sentences in the passage. Students need to piece together the various context clues found in what they have read and infer the meaning behind it. A good starting point is to look at the meaning of the sentences surrounding the one containing the word you do not know the meaning of. Do those sentences help you figure out what that word means? Are there any connections you can draw, based on what you know about the world around you? Can you guess the meaning of the word?

WRITERS AT WORK students are always reminded of the need to understand what they are reading and writing about, especially for PSLE and O Level English. For context, WRITERS AT WORK is an education centre offering some of the best English tuition courses for primary and secondary school students in Singapore. In the absence of such an understanding, students will not be able to answer questions or elaborate more about the things they are talking about. You cannot write what you don’t know, or about what you do not understand. Looking around for more information and inferring or deducing logically what the word you do not understand means is a highly important skill in the English language that gets better with practice. Students will need to master these higher order thinking skills if they want to master reading comprehension passages and answering questions.

Master the English Language with Writers At Work!

English is a compulsory subject which all students must undertake. However, mastering the English language is not something which happens overnight – it takes consistent practice and effort to learn the nuances of the language. Students must read more and practice writing to gradually improve. Cramming for a language subject nearer to the exams is an impossible feat. After all, Rome was not built in a day! Attaining such a skill will have positive implications for not only your child’s education in school, but also employment prospects in future.

At WRITERS@WORK, we are committed to providing the smoothest learning experience for your child sitting for their English exams. With our carefully curated methods of teaching your child how to write well, your child will learn how to present their thoughts and arguments in a coherent and concise manner. W@W reinforces your child’s language skills and provides a strong foundation for their academic success, keeping up with all aspects of their progress both inside and outside of the classroom to nurture them holistically. For more information about how W@W makes a difference, feel free to explore our website and watch our YouTube videos!

If you are interested in our primary English tuition and secondary English tuition in Singapore, WRITERS@WORK has expanded to 9 convenient locations. To find the nearest location that suits your needs, please explore our options. If you have any inquiries regarding our range of programs or class schedules, please feel free to contact WRITERS@WORK!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

1. Is Creative Writing Good for Kids?

Creative writing is good for children as it teaches them how to use their imagination. Children have a vivid imagination and will enjoy coming up with different storylines and characters. Through the use of creative writing, children can express themselves using the English language, which is also good for their emotional development and maturity.

2. What are Good Creative Writing Topics?

A good start is to write about what you know. Students can start by writing about things that are familiar to them, such as school or family. Then, students can move on to more complex topics, requiring them to use their imagination about events which would be unlikely to happen in real life, such as a fairytale or an adventure story. Older students can write descriptive essays about being in a situation or about more abstract concepts, such as regret.

3. How to Begin a Story?

A good story should have just the right amount of exposition to illuminate the setting and the characters for the reader without giving away the entire plot. The story should begin where it is relevant, and the general gist of the situation should be outlined. The writer should know how to move the plot along from where they start easily, and the story should flow logically.

4. What are the Basic Steps in Creative Writing?

A good first step would be to plan out the story – it is important that the story follows a Plot Curve which has a logical sequence of events and a clear conclusion. The main and supporting characters should be clear – there should not be a whole village of characters – just enough to further the plot. Moreover, the central conflict of the story should be clear.