Context Clues in The Hunger Games

Aim:
IWBAT use context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words in Chapter 1 of The Hunger Games.

Tasks:
1. Complete the Previewing The Hunger Games section of your classwork as the do now.

2. Watch the trailer for the film version:

 

3. Review these quick notes:

• Context clues are words or phrases around an unknown word that can help a reader determine what an unknown word means. While the dictionary can be helpful, sometimes we don’t need the dictionary; we can figure it out all on our own.
• There are four types of context clues:
• definition clues: when a word’s or phrase’s meaning is explained immediately after the word or phrase is used
• We entered the living room and sat down on the davenport, or large sofa.
• davenport means large sofa
• I tried a piece of cake and thought it was bland, or tasteless.
• bland means tasteless
• restatement clues: when a word or phrase can be replaced by a word or phrase that we already know
• In order to make the itching stop, I squeezed some of the liniment out of the bottle and rubbed it on the rash.
• liniment means ointment / liquid or lotion (as medicine)
• The heist was a failure for the burglars because they were caught as they tried to escape.  
• heist means robbery / theft
• contrast clues: when a word or phrase is later contrasted to something that is the opposite of what our unknown word means
• The youngest boy was very reticent, but his older brother was quite outgoing.
• reticent means shy
• I am very meticulous, but she is rather reckless.
• meticulous means careful and precise
• inference clues: when an unknown word’s or phrase’s meaning can be narrowed down based on other words or phrases in the sentences around the word
• The criminal was arrested and sent to the penitentiary for four years. While there, he could only leave his cell for a few minutes each day.
• penitentiary means prison
• That man’s calligraphy is quite horrible. I can barely read a word he writes; it looks like a child scribbled everywhere.
• calligraphy means decorative handwriting

4. Read chapter 1 of The Hunger Games (pp. 3-20). As you read, stop to predict meaning of challenging words and write the inferred meanings on your classwork.



Homework: Finish Classwork: Context Clues in Chapter 1 of THG