TECHNIQUES FOR BUILDING VOCABULARY

Making good Use of Resource Materials

1. Use a dictionary to find the meaning, spelling and pronunciation of words.
2. Use a thesaurus to find information about words that are similar in meaning.
3. Recognizing Related Words
a. Words similar in meaning are called synonyms.
b. Words that are opposite in meaning are called antonyms.
c. Words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings are
called homonyms.
4. Using Context Clues
Types of Context Clues
Clue
Formal
Definition

Familiar
words

Example
Many plant rhizomes,
underground stems or root
systems, offer an excellent
source of nutritious food.
The loud, shrill cries of the
bluejays broke the early morning
silence as they raucously called
other jays to the bird feeder.

Comparison

The monsignor, like a village

priest, blessed the pilgrims at the
shrine with gentleness and
compassion.

Contrast

His English students were more

tractable than he had
anticipated; in fact, only his
obstinate fifth-period class
resisted an appeal to participate
in some choral reading.
Jacks ignominious behavior was
shameful and disgraceful.
His sisters reacted to Jacks
behavior differently. Angie spoke
of Jack with acerbity and anger,
while Jessica spoke with
sweetness and love.
Shane was completely
distraught. She could not find her
glasses; her papers were all over;
she did not know how to get to
the vets office; but she had to
get the injured puppy to the

Synonyms
Antonyms

Summary

Method
The reader is given a definition
of the word rhizome, which
means an underground stem.
The use of the familiar words
loud and shrill coupled with
cries alerts the reader to the
meaning of raucously: loudly,
or rough-sounding.
The comparison of the
monsignor with a village priest
shows the reader that the
former is connected in some
way with the Catholic Church.
Monsignor is a title of honor
given to certain priests.
Only used with the words
obstinate and resisted indicates
contrast. Tractable means
easily led.

Shameful and disgraceful are

synonyms for ignominious.
Acerbity and anger contrasted
with sweetness and love
indicate that acerbity is an
antonym of sweetness. Acerbity
means bitterness
The actions described in the
second sentence are summed
up in the word distraught,
which means mentally
confused or extremely
troubled

Previous
knowledge of
an
associated
word

doctor.
San Francisco, California, is
located in an active seismic area.

Previous contact with the word

seismograph (an instrument
that records the severity of the
earths tremors.)coupled with
an awareness of the famous
San Francisco earthquake
should alert the reader to the
meaning of the word seismic,
which means of or having to
do with or caused by
earthquakes.