English Language Arts
Grade 7
15 min
Use guide words
Use guide words
What you'll learn
- Identify the two guide words on a dictionary page with 100% accuracy.
- Explain how guide words indicate the alphabetical range of words on a dictionary page in a complete sentence with correct grammar.
- Apply the concept of guide words to determine if a given word would be found on a specific dictionary page with 80% accuracy.
- Solve a word ordering problem by using guide words to determine the correct placement of 5 out of 6 words within a provided alphabetical sequence.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify guide words on a dictionary or glossary page.
Explain the purpose of guide words in various reference materials.
Determine if a given word falls alphabetically between a pair of guide words.
Locate a specific word on a dictionary page using guide words efficiently.
Distinguish between words that belong and do not belong on a page based on its guide words.
Apply guide word knowledge to navigate reference materials more quickly and accurately.
Ever felt lost trying to find a single word in a giant dictionary or textbook glossary? 🗺️ What if there was a secret map on every page to guide you?
In this lesson, you'll discover the power of guide words – those helpful words at the top of dictionary and glossary pages. Learning to use them will tran...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Guide WordsThe two words located at the top of a dictionary or glossary page that indicate the very first and very last entry words found on that specific page.On a page with guide words 'apple' and 'apron', all words on that page will come alphabetically after 'apple' and before 'apron'.
Entry Word (Headword)The main word being defined or explained in a dictionary or glossary entry. These are typically bolded.In a dictionary entry for 'curiosity', 'curiosity' is the entry word.
Alphabetical OrderThe arrangement of words or names in sequence according to the letters of the alphabet, comparing letter by letter from left to right.'Banana' comes before 'bear' because 'a' comes befo...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The 'Between' Rule
A target word belongs on a dictionary or glossary page if and only if it comes alphabetically AFTER the first guide word and BEFORE the second guide word.
This rule is fundamental. If a word is alphabetically equal to or before the first guide word, or equal to or after the second guide word, it is NOT on that page.
Letter-by-Letter Comparison
When comparing words to determine alphabetical order, always compare them one letter at a time, starting from the first letter on the left.
Continue comparing letters until you find the first letter that is different. The word with the letter that comes earlier in the alphabet at that point is the one that comes first alphabetically.
First Letter Priority
If the first letters of the guide words and th...
5 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
A page has guide words 'interject' and 'internal'. A student is looking for 'interim' and 'international'. Which statement is true?
A.Both words are on this page.
B.Neither word is on this page.
C.Only 'interim' is on this page.
D.Only 'international' is on this page.
Challenging
You see two dictionary pages. Page 150 has guide words 'craft' - 'crane'. Page 152 has guide words 'crawl' - 'cream'. What is a possible pair of guide words for the page in between, Page 151?
A.'crane' - 'crater'
B.'crawfish' - 'crawl'
C.'crash' - 'crank'
D.'crater' - 'crave'
Challenging
A dictionary page with guide words 'symbol' - 'symphony' is full. You need to insert a new page to add entries for 'sympathy', 'symptom', and 'synapse'. What would be the most logical new guide words for the two resulting pages?
A.Page 1: 'symbol' - 'symphony'; Page 2: 'sympathy' - 'synapse'
B.Page 1: 'symbol' - 'sympathy'; Page 2: 'symptom' - 'symphony'
C.Page 1: 'symbol' - 'symptom'; Page 2: 'synapse' - 'symphony'
D.Page 1: 'symbol' - 'symbiotic'; Page 2: 'sympathy' - 'symphony'
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Use guide words"?
Use guide words is a Grade 7 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Use guide words?
You'll be able to: Identify the two guide words on a dictionary page with 100% accuracy; Explain how guide words indicate the alphabetical range of words on a dictionary page in a complete sentence with correct grammar; Apply the concept of guide….
Is "Use guide words" free to practice?
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How many practice questions are included with Use guide words?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.