Explanation Context Clues
• Words or phrases that help to identify an unfamiliar word or phrase by providing clues near or next to the word
• This lesson will focus on Explanation Context Clues
Explanation Context Clues
• The writer provides an explanation of the unfamiliar word through the use of
– commas, dashes, or parentheses
– a phrase that explains the word’s meaning
– a direct explanation of the meaning of a word
Explanation Context Clues
• Can appear before the unfamiliar word • Can appear as one or more separate sentences after or nearby the unfamiliar word • Similar to a definition clue; however, longer than a definition
Examples
• Martha imperceptibly mixed vegetables into the brownies; that is, it could not be tasted, seen, or smelled.
• Jerry carried the cask, a large barrel that holds liquids, and he placed it on the table in front of him.
• Mermaids, mythical and beautiful creatures that live under the sea and gain legs while on land, appear throughout this tale.
Examples
• The Dodo bird has become extinct. They have completely disappeared from the Earth.
• Travis arrived in Trinidad prepared for Carnival: a highly celebrated event in which the participants wear extravagant costumes and dance and party in the streets until the early morning.