Connotation and Denotation

Transcription

1 Connotation and Denotation For Middle and High School 2015 gritgrindteach.wordpress.com

2 Stay up to date with GritGrindTeach! Follow GritGrindTeach on Teachers pay Teachers. Follow GritGrindTeach on Pinterest Visit Thank You! Thank you for purchasing this resource! I hope that it helps your students master skills in reading and writing. If you found this resource useful, please consider leaving feedback. Please note that this product is for personal classroom use by a single teacher. You may not copy or modify any part of this document and make it available for free or for sale. If you wish to share this item with colleagues, please purchase additional licenses at 50% off the original price Much gratitude, Sara Credits Copyright 2015 Sara Nelson/gritgrindteach. All rights reserved. Permission granted to copy pages specifically designed for student or teacher use by the original purchaser or licensee. The reproduction of any other part of this product is strictly prohibited. Copying any part of this product and placing it on the Internet in any form (even a personal/classroom website) is strictly forbidden. Doing so is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

3 Teacher Directions: This is a complete lesson plan and student materials for introducing connotation and denotation. This is a no prep lesson on connotation and denotation that contains everything you need to print and execute in your middle or high school classroom. This lesson contains the following: 1. A Do Now Opener 2. A short reading on connotation and denotation 3. Two activities for sorting words by their connotation 4. Two passages to practice determining connotation from word choice 5. An exit ticket, or mini-assessment where students determine connotation from word choice. 6. An answer key This lesson plan on connotation and denotation is designed for a 90 minute class period. It could be split into two parts for a shorter class period.

4 Do Now: Would You Rather Be? Imagine your mom was introducing you to a person who knew nothing about you. She wants to describe you in the best way possible. From each pair of words below, choose the word you would rather your mom use to describe you. Then, explain why. 1. hard-working OR a workaholic 2. conceited OR self-confident 3. firm OR stubborn 4.flexible OR indecisive Part 1: Connotation and Denotation A word s denotation is its literal meaning or dictionary definition. But, certain words can evoke feelings or make people think in a certain way. A word s connotation is the ideas and feelings that come to mind when people read or hear a word. Words that have almost the same denotation can have very different connotation depending on the context in which they are used. Paying attention to and understanding the connotation of words helps readers determine the mood and tone of a passage. In the table below, write the differences between connotation and denotation. Connotation Denotation

5 Look at the examples below. Do the italicized words have the same denotation? Which one has the most positive connotation? Which one has the most negative? a. Running every day has made Thomas slender and lithe. b. Running every day has made Thomas thin. c. Running every day has made Thomas scrawny. Part 2: Differentiating Denotation from Connotation Below are several sets of words. All of them have a similar meaning, but have different connotations. Sort the words into the table below, deciding which word has a positive connotation, which word has a negative connotation and which word or phrase best expresses the denotation of each set. 1. gaze, look steadily, stare 2. fragrance, odor, a smell sensed by the olfactory nerve 3. brainwash, persuade, influence one way or another 4. delayed, not on time, tardy 5. somewhat interested, nosy, curious 6. lazily, without haste, leisurely 7. ask of someone, demand, request 8. gathering, a large group, mob 9. slim, skinny, less than average build 10. discuss with others, debate, argue Negative Connotation Denotation Positive Connotation

6 Part 3: Identifying Positive and Negative Connotation Read the sets of phrases below. Identify which phrases have a positive connotation and which have a negative connotation. Write each phrase on the correct side of the table. 1. a powerful stink 2. a powerful aroma 3. a dynamic leader 4. a pushy leader 5. answered with arrogance 6. answered with confidence 7. sloppy clothes 8. comfortable clothes 9. spent his money 10. squandered his money Positive Connotation Negative Connotation

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9 Exit Ticket: Directions: Read each of the passages below. Look for words and phrases that help create the connotation. Then, answer the questions that follow. Passage 1: Mr. Smith has been a valuable employee since the company started. During that time, he has expressed many strong opinions that have influenced the company. His methods of solving problems are sometimes unusual. In short, he is a real leader. 1. What is the overall connotation of this passage? a. positive b. negative c. neutral d. this passage has no connotation 2. List and explain two words that create the overall connotation. Word 1: How does this word help create the overall connotation? Word 2: How does this word help create the overall connotation? /5 Passage 2: I was shocked to get a birthday gift from my Aunt because she is usually so cheap. When I tore the gaudy paper off the package, I saw a scarf made form flimsy material. It was covered with busy embroidery and flashy sequins. It certainly was a strange present. 1. What is the overall connotation of this passage? a. positive b. negative c. neutral d. this passage has no connotation 2. List and explain two words that create the overall connotation. Word 1: How does this word help create the overall connotation? Word 2: How does this word help create the overall connotation? /5

10 Key Do Now: Would You Rather Be? Imagine your mom was introducing you to a person who knew nothing about you. She wants to describe you in the best way possible. From each pair of words below, choose the word you would rather your mom use to describe you. Then, explain why. 1. hard-working OR a workaholic 2. conceited OR self-confident 3. firm OR stubborn 4.flexible OR indecisive Answers will vary in this section, but you should discuss the connotation of each word, without telling the students the meaning of the word. Part 1: Connotation and Denotation A word s denotation is its literal meaning or dictionary definition. But, certain words can evoke feelings or make people think in a certain way. A word s connotation is the ideas and feelings that come to mind when people read or hear a word. Words that have almost the same denotation can have very different connotation depending on the context in which they are used. Paying attention to and understanding the connotation of words helps readers determine the mood and tone of a passage. In the table below, write the differences between connotation and denotation. Connotation Denotation The ideas and feelings a word or phrase brings to mind. Connected to the mood and tone of a passage. The literal meaning or dictionary definition of a word.

11 Look at the examples below. Do the italicized words have the same denotation? Yes Which one has the most positive connotation? Slender and lithe Which one has the most negative? Scrawny, because of the image It brings to mind a. Running every day has made Thomas slender and lithe. b. Running every day has made Thomas thin. c. Running every day has made Thomas scrawny. Part 2: Differentiating Denotation from Connotation Below are several sets of words. All of them have a similar meaning, but have different connotations. Sort the words into the table below, deciding which word has a positive connotation, which word has a negative connotation and which word or phrase best expresses the denotation of each set. 1. gaze, look steadily, stare 2. fragrance, odor, a smell sensed by the olfactory nerve 3. brainwash, persuade, influence one way or another 4. delayed, not on time, tardy 5. somewhat interested, nosy, curious 6. lazily, without haste, leisurely 7. ask of someone, demand, request 8. gathering, a large group, mob 9. slim, skinny, less than average build 10. discuss with others, debate, argue Negative Connotation Denotation Positive Connotation Stare Odor Brainwash Tardy Nosy Lazily Demand Mob Skinny argue look steadily A smell sensed by the olfactory nerve Influence one way or another Not on time Somewhat interested Without haste Ask of someone A large group Less than average build Discuss with others Gaze Fragrance Persuade Delayed Curious Leisurely Request Gathering Slim De\bate

12 Part 3: Identifying Positive and Negative Connotation Read the sets of phrases below. Identify which phrases have a positive connotation and which have a negative connotation. Write each phrase on the correct side of the table. 1. a powerful stink 2. a powerful aroma 3. a dynamic leader 4. a pushy leader 5. answered with arrogance 6. answered with confidence 7. sloppy clothes 8. comfortable clothes 9. spent his money 10. squandered his money Positive Connotation Negative Connotation A powerful aroma A dynamic leader Answered with confidence Comfortable clothes Spent his money A powerful stink A pushy leader Answered with confidence Sloppy clothes Squandered his money

13 Answers here will vary, but students should pick up on the overall positive connotation. Push students to make the connection between positive feelings toward cooking and memories of his mother. Answers here will vary and may include: intelligent. shrewd, berbere, miraculous, mysterious Each conveys the idea that for the author, memories of his mother are positive, even though the passage discusses a sad reality.

14 Answers here will vary, but students should pick up on the overall negative connotation Esperanza gets from her name.. Answers here will vary and may include: sadness, waiting, too many letters, a muddy color etc.

15 Exit Ticket: Directions: Read each of the passages below. Look for words and phrases that help create the connotation. Then, answer the questions that follow. Passage 1: Mr. Smith has been a valuable employee since the company started. During that time, he has expressed many strong opinions that have influenced the company. His methods of solving problems are sometimes unusual. In short, he is a real leader. 1. What is the overall connotation of this passage? a. positive b. negative c. neutral d. this passage has no connotation 2. List and explain two words that create the overall connotation. Words may include: valuable, influenced, unusual, real leader. All of these show that Mr. Smith is an employee who is appreciated. Students may point out that unusual generally has a different connotation. /5 Passage 2: I was shocked to get a birthday gift from my Aunt because she is usually so cheap. When I tore the gaudy paper off the package, I saw a scarf made form flimsy material. It was covered with busy embroidery and flashy sequins. It certainly was a strange present. 1. What is the overall connotation of this passage? a. positive b. negative c. neutral d. this passage has no connotation 2. List and explain two words that create the overall connotation. Word 1: Words may include: shocked, cheap, gaudy, flimsy, busy, flashy, strange, These convey the idea that the author did not like the present. /5