Word Wizardy
(Context & Nuance)
(Context & Nuance)
This context clue provides the exact meaning of a word right in the sentence.
Definition
"The wind whispered through the trees" is an example of this.
Personification
This structure explains why something happened and the result of it.
Cause and Effect
Doing this involves using what you know plus text evidence to guess what's next.
Predicting
These are the words underneath a picture that explain what is happening.
Captions
While "home" means a place where you live, it has a warm, cozy ________.
Connotation
A comparison of two unlike things using "like" or "as."
Simile
A recipe or a manual is almost always written in this structure.
Sequence/Order
To "sum up" the main points of a text in your own words.
Summarizing
This feature is a box of text set to the side of the main article.
Sidebars
A context clue that uses a word with an opposite meaning to help you understand.
Antonym
An extreme exaggeration used for emphasis (e.g., "I'm dying of thirst").
Hyperbole
This structure highlights similarities and differences between two topics.
Compare and Contrast
When you stop reading because you're confused and try to fix it.
Clarifying/Monitoring
These are notes or comments written in the margins of a text.
Annotations
The literal, "dictionary definition" of a word.
Denotation
A direct comparison that says one thing is another thing.
Metaphor
This structure presents a dilemma and then offers ways to fix it.
Problem and Solution
Connecting what you read to your own life or another book you've read.
Making Connections
These small numbers lead you to a definition at the bottom of the page.
Footnotes
Using clues and logic to "read between the lines" for a word's meaning.
Inference
"The classroom was a zoo" is an example of this device.
Metaphor
This structure uses sensory details to help the reader visualize a topic.
Description
Asking "Who? What? Why?" while reading to deepen understanding.
Questioning
Using boldface, italics, or underlining are ways to show this.
Emphasis (or Formatting)