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Written by Admin
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From time to time while reading you will see a word you cannot identify. It may be a word you think you know but cannot identify, or it may be a word that is new to you. When this happens, you should use a word identification strategy to identify and say the word. Here are the steps of a word identification strategy you can use. Each step tells one thing you should do when you come to a word you cannot identify. Continue to follow the steps until you have identified the word. 1. LOOK AGAIN at the word. As you look at the word again, say each letter in the word. This will get you to look more carefully at the word. Often, when you look at a word a second or third time, you will identify the word as a word you know. 2. READ THE SENTENCE containing the word to see if you can determine what the word means by how it is used in the sentence. Sometimes, knowing the meaning of a word will help you identify the word. 3. LOOK FOR A PREFIX at the beginning of the word. A prefix is a word part that is attached to the beginning of a word. Here are some examples of words with the prefix underlined: prepaid, unheard, rerun. 4. LOOK FOR A SUFFIX at the end of the word. A suffix is a word part that is attached to the end of a word. Here are some examples of words with the suffix underlined: lovely, tallest, spelling. 5. LOOK FOR THE STEM. The stem is what remains after the removal of a prefix and/or suffix. If there is no prefix or suffix, then the whole word is the stem. Here are some examples of words with the stem underlined: prepaid, lovely, misspelling). 6. BLEND AND SAY THE WORD. Blend together the prefix if there is one, the stem, and the suffix if there is one to say the entire word. For example: un+help+ful = unhelpful. 7. USE A DICTIONARY to help identify the word. Look in the dictionary for the word and its phonetic respelling. The phonetic respelling shows the most common pronunciation of the word. Use the phonetic respelling to help you pronounce the word. Also, look at the definitions provided for the word. Select the definition that best fits the meaning of the word as used in the sentence. Knowing the pronunciation of the word and its meaning should allow you to identify the word. 8. ASK SOMEONE for help identifying the word. If you have reached this step and still cannot identify the word, ask your teacher, parent, or another student to help you identify and say the word. Use this word identification strategy whenever needed in your reading. You cannot understand what you read unless you can identify most or all of the words. |
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Written by Admin
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As you go through school, you will need to use reference sources to find information about topics, locate facts, and answer questions. Here are five types of reference sources you should use. Each type is available in print forms, on CD-ROMs, and on the Internet. 1. Dictionary A dictionary provides information about the meaning, pronunciation, and spelling of words. Unabridged dictionaries attempt to be complete by including all words currently in use in a language. They provide extensive information about the words included. Abridged dictionaries omit words that do not regularly appear in books, magazines, and newspapers. Specialized dictionaries provide detailed information about the words that apply to a particular subject such as space, math, biology, psychology, and many more. They include technical words that are rarely used outside of the subject. 2. Thesaurus A thesaurus contains synonyms for commonly used words. A synonym is a word that has the same meaning or nearly the same meaning as another word. For example, "simple" is a synonym for "easy." A thesaurus contains many more synonyms for a word than does a dictionary. A thesaurus can help you precisely express your ideas when writing. 3. Encyclopedia An encyclopedia contains articles on a variety of subjects. The articles are written by experts on each of the subjects. In addition to articles, encyclopedias may include illustrations and diagrams, definitions of some words, and references to additional information. A general encyclopedia includes overview articles on a wide range of topics. A subject encyclopedia contains longer and more detailed articles on specific topics, events, or fields of study. 4. Almanac An almanac is an annual single-volume reference source that contains useful facts about a wide range of topics. You can learn about countries of the world, government, historical events, and many other topics. Because almanacs are revised each year, the information is current. 5. Atlas An atlas is a collection of maps. The most common atlas contains maps that show the political and physical features of countries throughout the world. A political map shows government boundaries. A physical map shows the features of the earth's surface such as mountains, deserts, and bodies of water. You may also use a road map to learn how to get from place to place. There are also specialized atlases for such things as weather across the world, oceans of the world, and even the anatomy of the human body. Wherever you study, be sure you have access to each of these important reference sources. |
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