”SIGNAL WORDS” 1. Definition The author provides a direct Is, are ‐ Martha is a curator, a person who is (explicit) definition of an Is /are called responsible for looking after a museum’s unknown word in the Is / are known as collection. sentence. Is defined as ‐Entomology is the study of insects. Means, Refers to ‐ Archeology is the scientific study of prehistoric cultures by excavation of their remains. 2. Synonym or The author uses a word having Commas , Semicolon ; Carnivores, that is, meat eaters, are the top of Restatement the same or nearly the same Dashes - the food chain. meaning as another word or Parenthesis ( ) ‐ My best friend squandered all his money; his other words in a sentence. Sometimes signal words drinking and gambling wasted all his earnings. or, that is, or in other ‐After seeing the picture of the starving children, words are used. we all felt compassion or pity for their suffering. ‐ After a time, glaciers, or slowly moving rivers of ice, formed over many parts of the Earth. 3. Antonym or The author uses another word Words used are: ‐Mike’s parrot was loquacious, Contrast or phrase that means the But, however, but Maria’s said very little. opposite of an unfamiliar although, otherwise, word unless, instead of, on
the contrary, on the other hand, while, ‐The gentleman was portly, but his wife was thin. unlike. ‐While Luis is hardworking, his indolent brother spends most of the time watching TV or sitting around with friends.
4. Comparison In comparison clues, the Words used are: ‐My brother is enthralled by birds similar to the author uses words and like, as, similar to, in way that I am fascinated by insects. phrases that have the same or the same way, ‐ The stench of the old shoes was like the smell of similar meaning as an likewise, resembling, garbage. unfamiliar word. too, also
TYPE DESCRIPTION CLUES EXAMPLE
”SIGNAL WORDS” 5. Example/ The author provides examples For example ‐The archeologist found different amulets, such Explanation or additional explanations or For instance as a rabbit’s foot and bags of herb. summaries to help you Including ‐Paula was suspended from school because of understand an unfamiliar Such as several infractions of the rules, including word. The word is cleared up Specifically smoking in the bathroom and dressing by giving an example. To illustrate improperly. Celestial bodies, such as the sun, moon, and stars, are governed by predictable laws. 6. Cause and The meaning of an unknown As a result ‐Since no one came to the first meeting, Effect word depends on the Accordingly attendance for the second one is mandatory for cause/effect relationship with Because, Since all staff. other words in the text. Consequently ‐ Because the conflagration was aided by wind, it For this reason was so destructive that every building in the area Hence, if … then was completely burned to the ground. 7. List or The unfamiliar word is Look for a list of ‐North American predators include grizzly bears, Series included in a series of related words pumas, wolves, and foxes. words that give an idea of the ‐The debris in the stadium stands included word’s meaning. numerous paper cups, ticket stubs, sandwich wrappings, and cigarette butts. 8. Inference The meaning of an unfamiliar Look for clues over ‐The monkey’s vociferous chatter made me wish or General word can be inferred several words or I had earplugs. (guessed) from the sentences ‐ Katie’s belligerence surprised everyone. She Context description of a situation. threw her book across the room, glared at Chris, The author provides non‐ and then pushed him to the floor. specific clues, often spread over the sentence or number of sentences.