Name ____________________________ Date _______________________
Many times readers come to a word that may be unfamiliar (not sure what it means) in an article or story. Even though you can “say” the word, this doesn’t necessarily help you “understand” what it means. Remember – you read to understand so it’s important to be honest with yourself.
In the passage below, the word “wistfully” is used. Your job is to use context clues (words and sentences around the unfamiliar word) to determine its meaning.
“She glanced wistfully at her book lying on the chair, the book she was supposed to read at school, but which she was enjoying so much she brought it home.”
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 – p. 46
- Define “wistfully” using context clues.
- Using a dictionary, define “wistfully” below.
Authors often use figurative language to help paint a picture in the reader’s mind. They do this by comparing something from the story to an object or experience that most people can relate to (common background knowledge). The following simile is an example from the story to create a picture in the reader’s mind by connecting a new thing to you background knowledge.
“…the snow-capped peak of Mount Hood
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 – p. 40
Pick anything you want and describe it using a simile. Remember, to be effective, you need to compare a characteristic of your “thing” to something else that possesses the same, commonly understood characteristic.
