a student is trying to understand the meaning of an unfamiliar word and a paragraph. The paragraph does not contain any examples of figurative language, and the student has already identified the unfamiliar word as a noun which strategy would work best in order for the student to define the word.

1 answer

To effectively define the unfamiliar noun, the student can use the following strategies:

  1. Context Clues: The student should carefully read the entire paragraph to identify any context clues. Sometimes, the way the noun is used in relation to other words or phrases can provide hints about its meaning.

  2. Word Structure Analysis: If the noun is derived from a root word, prefix, or suffix, the student can analyze these components to infer the meaning. Understanding parts of words can help clarify their definitions.

  3. Synonyms/Antonyms: The student can think of synonyms (words with similar meanings) or antonyms (words with opposite meanings) based on the context of the paragraph. This can help in forming a clearer understanding of the unfamiliar word.

  4. Referencing a Dictionary: If the context clues are insufficient, the student may look up the word in a dictionary to get the precise definition and any relevant details, such as pronunciation and usage in a sentence.

By combining these strategies, especially focusing on context clues and word structure, the student can more effectively deduce the meaning of the unfamiliar noun.