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Monday
Complete writing prompt.
What is the difference between connotation and denotation? Can you give me an example?
Word Root Quiz
Review Connotation and Denotation.
Denotation: the dictionary and literal meaning of a word
Connotation: the emotional / contextual / cultural meaning attached to a word; shades and degrees of meaning
Complete the activity.
Since everyone reacts emotionally to certain words, writers often deliberately select words that they think will influence your reactions and appeal to your emotions. Read the dictionary definition (DENOTATION) below.
cock roach (kok' roch'), n. any of an order of nocturnal insects, usually brown with flattened oval bodies, some species of which are household pests inhabiting kitchens, areas around water pipes, etc. [Spanish cucaracha]
What does the word cockroach mean to you?
Is a cockroach merely an insect or is it also a household nuisance and a disgusting creature?
Tuesday
Complete writing prompt.
Do some words have more impact than others when describing the same thing? Can you use words to subtly give a message? Give examples.
**See what meanings poets Wild and Morley find in roaches in the following poems.
Roaches
Last night when I got up
to let the dog out I spied
a cockroach in the bathroom
crouched flat on the cool
porcelain,
delicate
antennae probing the toothpaste cap
and feasting himself on a gob
of it in the bowl:
I killed him with one unprofessional
blow,
scattering arms and legs
and half his body in the sink...
I would have no truck with roaches,
crouched like lions in the ledges of sewers
their black eyes in the darkness
alert for tasty slime,
breeding quickly and without design,
laboring up drainpipes through filth
to the light;
I read once they are among
the most antediluvian of creatures,
surviving everything, and in more primitive times
thrived to the size of your hand...
yet when sinking asleep
or craning at the stars,
I can feel their light feet
probing in my veins,
their whiskers nibbling
the insides of my toes;
and neck arched,
feel their patient scrambling
up the dark tubes of my throat.
--Peter Wild
from Nursery Rhymes for the Tender-hearted
Scuttle, scuttle, little roach-
How you run when I approach:
Up above the pantry shelf
Hastening to secrete yourself.
Most adventurous of vermin,
How I wish I could determine
How you spend your hours of ease,
Perhaps reclining on the cheese.
Cook has gone, and all is dark-
Then the kitchen is your park;
In the garbage heap that she leaves
Do you browse among the tea leaves?
How delightful to suspect
All the places you have trekked:
Does your long antenna whisk its
Gentle tip across the biscuits?
Do you linger, little soul,
Drowsing in our sugar bowl?
Or, abandonment most utter,
Shake a shimmy on the butter?
Do you chant your simple tunes
Swimming in the baby's prunes?
Then, when dawn comes, do you slink
Homeward to the kitchen sink?
Timid roach, why be so shy?
We are brothers, thou and I,
In the midnight, like yourself,
I explore the pantry shelf!
--Christopher Morley
Reread the dictionary definition.
Which of the denotative characteristics of a cockroach both poets include in their poems?
What characteristics does Wild give his roaches that are not in the dictionary definition?
What additional characteristics does Morley give to roaches?
In each poem, the insect acquires meaning beyond its dictionary definition. Both poets lead us away from a literal view of roaches to a nonliteral one.
Which poet succeeds in giving roaches favorable connotations?
Which poet comes closer to expressing your own feelings about roaches?
Shades of Meaning
Decide if each of the words has a positive meaning or negative meaning.
obsessive
reserved
mushy
curious
bold
timid
cheap
hyperactive
sentimental
strong-willed
withdrawn
brash
scrawny
frugal
stylish
smug
cowardly
stubborn
nosy
energetic
thin
self-confident
faddish
fervent
Read 30 minutes.
Wednesday
Complete writing assignment. Copy the Positive vs Negative Connotation notes below. At the end of each section, write your interpretation of the notes. Try to relate an example to something real world you know.
*****************************BEGINNING OF NOTES***********************************************
Positive versus Negative Connotation
Denotation: The specific, exact and concrete meaning of a word. This is the meaning you would find in a dictionary.
Mother
Definition: female parent
Connotation: The attitudes, feelings and emotions aroused by a word.
Mother • attitude: positive
• feelings: love and respect
• emotions: security and warmth
“Mommy” all of the above, plus
• extra connotations of familiarity and childhood
(children call their mothers “mommy” but adults do not)
A word can have positive or negative connotations. Sometimes words have different connotations to different people because of their experiences.
Scientists and philosophers focus on the denotations of words in order to communicate exact meaning. Writers of literature rely more heavily on connotation in order to evoke an emotional response in the reader.
Same Denotation, Different Connotation?
Two words can have the same definition while carrying different emotional content. One word may be cruel or insulting while another word might be neutral or positive.
Example: Aunt Myrna is proud of her nephew George. Aunt Willa, by contrast, disapproves of everything George does. Let’s see how their different views of George determine the language they use.
The fact is: George likes to save money when shopping.
Aunt Myrna says: “He’s thrifty.”
Aunt Willa says: “He’s stingy.”
Both of these words refer to saving money, but they have different connotations. “Thrifty” suggests that George is smart and knows how to find bargains. “Stingy” depicts George as greedy and lacking generosity.
The fact is: George works hard.
Aunt Myrna says: “He’s very focused on his job.”
Aunt Willa says: “He’s obsessed with his job.”
Both of these words refer to paying close attention to something; however, “focused” implies that someone is interested in what they’re doing, while “obsessed” suggests that they are addicted to it.
The fact is: George has a son and two daughters.
Aunt Myrna says: “George has three children.”
Aunt Willa says: “George has three brats.”
“Brat” is a slang word for a noisy, annoying child. Willa is implying that George’s children misbehave all the time.
Some words seem more loaded with meaning than others.
friendship, love, vacation, freedom usually arouse pleasant feelings
slum, drunkard, torture, criminal usually arouse unpleasant feelings
Politicians and advertisers try to choose words with positive connotations in order to make their message more appealing. On the other hand, if you are angry at someone, you may choose a word with negative connotations to describe them!
Things to remember:
• Words can have context-specific connotations that are not always obvious from their
dictionary meaning. For example, the word elderly means “old” but it can only be
applied to a person; no matter how old a house is, it would not be called “elderly.”
Similarly, blonde means “yellow” but it refers only to hair and to some kinds of wood; it
is never used to describe other yellow objects. It is important to be aware of this in
order to avoid misusing words.
• Sometimes writers choose euphemisms, which are nice ways to describe things that are
upsetting. For example, English has many euphemisms for death: instead of saying that
someone “died,” we might say they “passed away” or “departed.” This is a way to avoid
the negative associations with certain ideas. We will look further at euphemisms in a moment.
Extra Reading:
http://www.littlemiamischools.com/userfiles/321/connotation%20_%20denotation.pdf
***************************END OF NOTES**********************************************
Read each of the following sentences. Decide from the context whether the speaker is showing approval (positive) or disapproval (negative) of the topic. Then select the best word to put into the sentence.
1. “The sooner we move out of this (home, dump),” said Jack, “the happier I’ll be.”
2. This cell phone is (expensive, overpriced), but I don’t mind paying extra because it has
so many useful features.
3. You’re lucky to have Wilma on your committee. She has lots of (original, crazy) ideas.
4. Boss Reed and his (cronies, employees) have controlled the politics in this city for
more than twenty years. I certainly hope the other party wins this year!
5. It was a beautiful spring day, and the (stench, scent) of apple blossoms filled the whole
yard.
6. I hope I don’t have to share an office with Janice. Sandra told me how (curious, nosy)
she can be.
7. “I think Fay is an excellent president,” said the principal. “She really knows how to
(manage, meddle).”
8. Will you please turn your stereo off? I can’t concentrate with all that (music, noise).
9. I love going camping and getting in touch with nature. The woods are filled with so
much (vermin, animal life).
10. What makes Jim such an excellent storyteller is his knack for (invention, lying).
11. Mr. Benton had better watch out for that new assistant of his. He’s a (clever, crafty)
one.
12. I have a lot of respect for Jenny’s father. He’s rather (reserved, antisocial) and
dignified.
13. My brother can’t stand his mother-in-law. She’s practically a millionaire, but she’s
about as (thrifty, miserly) as a person can get.
14. This coffee is very (bitter, strong) – just the way I like it!
15. Can you please ask the new saleswoman not to be so (enthusiastic, pushy)? She is
scaring away the customers.
Thursday
Complete writing assignment. Copy the Euphemism notes below. At the end of each section, write your interpretation of the notes. Try to relate an example to something real world you know.
Euphemisms
Contains the Greek prefix eu-, meaning well or pleasing
Contains the Greek root pheme, meaning speak
An inoffensive expression that is substituted for one that is considered too harsh or blunt
Is a more pleasant name for something that is unpleasant
A person who speaks with euphemisms speaks with pleasing words.
Euphemism
• Words we use to:
o soften the reality of what we are communicating
o express what is socially difficult to express in direct terms
o discuss an issue that is terrifying or taboo
o elevate the status of something
o “After the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the community began to make a
distinction between a genteel and an obscene vocabulary, between the Latinate words
of the upper class and the lusty Anglo-Saxon of the lower. That is why a duchess
perspired and expectorated - while a kitchen maid sweated and spat” (Farb 80).
Examples
• addicted - chemically dependent
• to die - pass away, pass on, go to heaven
• drunk - intoxicated, inebriated
• garbage man - sanitation engineer
• fat - overweight, curvy
• old - mature, seasoned, distinguished
• cop - peace officer
• ugly - unattractive, plain, average
EUPHEMISM PRACTICE
What are some euphemisms for the following words?
1. to die: __________________________________________________________________
2. fat: _____________________________________________________________________
3. ugly: ____________________________________________________________________
Translate the following sentences from their connotative euphemisms to their denotative
definitions. The number of euphemisms in each sentence is located in parentheses.
4. His grandfather passed away. (1)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. The sales associate answered in the affirmative when the judge asked him if he had ever
been incarcerated. (3)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
6. The manager complained to his administrative assistant of inventory shrinkage. (2)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
7. Dan’s supervisor laid him off because he was unmotivated. (3)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
8. The correctional facility has 220 inmates, five of whom are facing capital punishment. (2)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Euphemism Activities
Notecard Match Game - Find your match!
Are you aware of any use of language as for example in advertising in American culture that also serves to hide real meaning?
Research and find as many contemporary euphemisms used today in government, advertising, education, and especially military.
Find a recent (within the last year) newspaper or magazine article that uses at least 10 euphemisms. If you need to, you may use multiple articles in order to reach 10 euphemisms.
Copy the article(s) into a Google Doc.
Highlight, circle, underline or otherwise mark the euphemisms in the articles.
Think-Pair-Share - Combine your findings with a partner.
Friday
You have received an email from me labeled Hero's Journey Narrative Essay. Cut and paste your final draft of your essay in a reply to this email. This needs to be done ASAP. (This is the story you wrote about the hero you created.)
Complete writing prompt.
Summarize what you did and learned last Friday. You may need to review your notes, or look over my web pages to refresh your memory.
Collaborative Remediation and Skill Review Team
Signal Words – Understanding Text Structure
NOTE: Understanding the Basic Patterns for Organizing Information
How do you normally go about explaining your ideas to someone? Most of us do pretty much the same thing: we use patterns of speech.
Although there are many ways to express ideas, writers usually use speech patterns and generally mix or combine them in paragraphs and passages. Once you begin to understand these patterns, you should be able to follow the writer’s sequence of ideas more readily and improve your comprehension. These patterns will further help to clarify topics, key ideas, and the relationship of supporting statements.
The writers’ purpose and the topic help determine how their material will be arranged. Terms writers use to signal to the reader which organizational method is being used should be familiar to you, since these are often the very words instructors use in exams and quizzes: for example, classify, define, list, describe, analyze. You have probably used these words unconsciously when writing responses in test-taking situations. Understanding patterns of organizations used by writers assists you in your reading/study tasks and better prepares you to take examinations. These patterns can also serve as models or examples for your own writing tasks.
Emphasis Signals (This is important.)
Among the most valuable signals for you to know are emphasis words, through which the writer tells you directly that a particular idea or detail is especially important. Think of such words as red flags that the author is using to make sure you pay attention to an idea. Look over the following list, which contains some typical words showing emphasis.
a major development
it all boils down to
a significant factor
most of all
a primary concern
most noteworthy
a key feature
more than anything else
a major event
of course
a vital force
pay particular attention to
a central issue
remember that
a distinctive quality
should be noted
above all
the most substantial issue
by the way
the main value
especially important
the basic concept
especially relevant
the crux of the matter
especially valuable
the chief outcome
important to note
the principle item
Select 6 of the above signal words and write a sentence with each.
Identify the signal words in the paragraph below:
The most effective solution to various approaches to language education
is a course of compromise. Clear information about language options should be presented to students. Above all, however student must be encouraged to view language education as a positive step in diversity. The main objective is they become
sensitive, responsible, culturally sensitive citizens.
Change-of-Direction Signals (Watch out—we’re doubling back.)
Writers often need to modify a statement, or add something to it. The following words help a reader follow the writer’s change in direction.
although
but
conversely
despite
different from
even though
however
in contrast
instead of
in spite of
nevertheless
otherwise
the opposite
on the contrary
on the other hand
rather
still
yet
while
though
Select 6 of the above signal words and write a sentence with each.
Review the Signal Words links and notes in my Notes/Handouts section.
PRACTICE
Circle all the signal words in the selections that follow. Write in the margin beside each word whether it is an emphasis or, change-of-direction signal.
One of the oldest and most persistent desires of human beings has been to indulge in mood-changing and pleasure-giving practices. For instance, diverse cultures have engaged in the drinking of alcoholic beverages of all descriptions. But as with most pleasures, over-indulgence can be harmful to oneself and others. Also, not everyone agrees that drinking or using other mood modifiers should be an accepted pleasure.
Energy is used to cause chemical changes. For example, a chemical change occurs in the electroplating of metals when electrical energy is passed through a salt solution in which the metal is submerged. A chemical change also occurs when radiant energy from the sun is utilized by plants in the process of photosynthesis. Moreover, as we saw, a chemical change occurs when heat causes mercuric oxide to decompose. Chemical changes are often used to produce energy rather than new substances. The heat or thrust generated during the combustion of fuels is more important than the products formed.
*Excerpted from Doing Well in College, by John Langan and Judith Nadell, McGraw Hill Inc., 1980, p. 79.
Independent Research Assignment Team
You are required to complete a research based project on the topic of your choice. There will be two components of the project – written and visual. The written component consists of a 300-500 word expository essay that demonstrates knowledge of your topic. The visual component is negotiable, and should encompass what you would like an audience to know about your topic.
Stages 1 and 2 should have been completed and submitted before you continue. Failure to meet deadlines may result in you losing your status and placement in the group.
Stage 3 – Making a Plan – My Thesis Statement
Now you should have an idea of your topic. You will need to create a thesis statement for your expository essay to focus your research.
DEVELOPING A THESIS STATEMENT
A thesis statement can also be called a purpose statement. A thesis statement is a one sentence summary stating the purpose of the paper. Keep in mind that the focus of this thesis statement may change as you progress through your research paper.
For example:
The purpose of this paper is to:
show the development of a (an)
summarize the information about
to discuss
to analyze
to prove
to make comparisons between
to explain why _________________ happened
etc.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/writeit/cavalcade/pdf/feb2004/p36-37_thesis_exp_essay.pdf
There are two methods that may help you develop your thesis statement: Essay Map and Umbrella.
MY THESIS STATEMENT
Write the purpose of your research paper below. Be sure to make it one, strong sentence.
Answer the following questions about your sentence above:
Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that has missed the focus of the question. Be sure it deals with the topic assigned.
Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one could disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.
Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific. Your thesis should have a clear direction.
Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response after reading your thesis statement is, “So what?”, then you need to clarify or connect to a larger issue.
Does my thesis pass the “How?” and “Why?” tests? IF a reader’s first response after reading your thesis statement is, “How?” or “Why?”, your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on what your position is in the paper.
Write your completed thesis statement:
Stage 4 – Making a Plan – The Visual Component
Your visual aid will be determined by your topic, your personal preferences, and the resources you have available to you.
To be effective your visual aid must:
Enhance the audience understanding of the topic,
Have a pleasing effect on the viewing audience,
Be well conceived and constructed,
Be relevant to the topic, and
Entertain the viewer and capture attention.
https://www.pinterest.com/explore/visual-aids/
Decide what you want your visual aid to communicate.
List the materials you have available to you to create the visual aid.
Describe how you want your visual aid to look.
Make a timeline for completing the visual aid.
Copy and paste the responses to an email to me labeled Stages 3 and 4, your class period #, and your name in the subject line.
Read 30 minutes.
Complete writing prompt.
Are you aware of any use of language as for example in advertising in American culture that also serves to hide real meaning?
How do people communicate effectively?
Tell me ways euphemisms help and hinder the communication process.
As a pod, complete Euphemism Practice sentences from Notes/Handouts section.
Read 30 minutes.
Complete writing prompt.
Brainstorm as many words as you can to define a heroic person.
Activity - Collaborate and Investigate
Compare your words with those in your pod. add words to your list. You will only want to exchange as many as you get to your list. The object is to have the longest list. We will rotate pods, and repeat.
Now use an online thesaurus to to add additional synonyms or other words.
Select 8 words from your list. Sort the words by parts of speech.
You should have adjectives, nouns, and verbs.
Adjectives will describe what a hero is. (brave, courageous)
Nouns will define what a hero shows. (courage, bravery)
Verbs will define what a hero does. (moves forward, sacrifice)
Activity - Putting It Together
We can use our words to define heroism, and make the concept clearer to the reader.
Definition Essays use Strategies of Definition to clarify, develop, and organize ideas.
What is a definition essay?
What are three specific definition strategies?
Explain the following:
Definition by function
Definition by example
Definition by negation
http://essayinfo.com/essays/definition_essay.php
http://www.slideshare.net/mirandabattles/function-example-negation-plan-and-model
Complete Activity 3 on page 62 of your Springboard.
Read the passages and decide if they use Definition by function, Definition by example, or Definition by negation. Explain your reason for each answer.
Complete Activity 4 During Reading on pages 63-64.
Homework: Finish questions 5-10 on pages 64-65.
Read 30 minutes.
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