Connotative & denotative meaning, & diction

Connotative & denotative meaning, & diction



Authors use diction, careful choice of words in order to best convey their meaning or convince the audience of their point of view.  They try to pick the most precise words to create the proper tone for their message.   Denotation the the literal meaning of a word.  Connotation includes the meanings associated with the word.  For example:

Denotation: Grey is a color.

Connotation: Grey means old, boring, and lifeless.

Task

0. Team up for better results.

1. Rewrite the following sentences by replacing the neutral word, using one with a positive and one with a negative connotation:

a) The house was on the hill.

Positive: ______________________________________________________

Negative: ______________________________________________________

b) Billy went to a foreign country.

Positive: ______________________________________________________

Negative: ______________________________________________________

c)  The class started at 7 AM, John was delayed.

Positive: ______________________________________________________

Negative: ______________________________________________________

d) The new girl in school was chubby.

Positive: ______________________________________________________

Negative: ______________________________________________________

e) His ways of thinking are unique.

Positive: ______________________________________________________

Negative: ______________________________________________________

f) The girl's face showed a smile.

Positive: ______________________________________________________

Negative: ______________________________________________________

g) Billy killed the old dog.

Positive: ______________________________________________________

Negative: ______________________________________________________

h) The meal was served at 6:30 PM sharp.

Positive: ______________________________________________________

Negative: ______________________________________________________

i) The handsome boy looked at the young girl.

Positive: ______________________________________________________

Negative: ______________________________________________________

j) The small woman was able to fit into the secret passage.

Positive: ______________________________________________________

Negative: ______________________________________________________

k) I bought the inexpensive one.

Positive: ______________________________________________________

Negative: ______________________________________________________

l) They all laughed at me.

Positive: ______________________________________________________

Negative: ______________________________________________________

m) I can hear the sound of the neighbor's music.

Positive: ______________________________________________________

Negative: ______________________________________________________

n) The Smith's house was clean.

Positive: ______________________________________________________

Negative: ______________________________________________________

o) The temperature is cold today.

Positive: ______________________________________________________

Negative: ______________________________________________________

p) The boy held the rabbit firmly.

Positive: ______________________________________________________

Negative: ______________________________________________________

2. Rewrite the following descriptive paragraphs by adding adjectives or changing out words for ones with richer connotations.  Make one version in which the tone is warm and joyous; and in the other paragraph, the tone is sinister and ghoulish.



A small house stands in a forested valley.  Two men hold axes.  Smoke is rising from the chimney of the house.  There is a smell coming from the house.  A few clouds hang in the sky and birds circle in the sky above the house.  A girl comes out of the small house.

Paragraph A:

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph B:  

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

3. The thesis of the article linked below is that teen depression is caused by cellphone use.  The more phone related activities a teen is involved with, the more unhappy he or she is; the more real-world activities involving other people a teen participates in, the happier he or she is.  

Use three pieces of evidence from the article to write an argument reversing the thesis: gadgets are associated with teenage happiness.  Use tone and diction to present cellphones as good things.



Twenge, Jean M. “What Makes Teens Happier Hint: It Doesn't Involve Their Phones.” Psychology Today, 31 Aug. 2018, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/our-changing-culture/201808/what-makes-teens-happier .