Denotation vs. Connotation Please copy into the Class Notes section of your notebook.

Connotation The attitudes and feelings associated with a word. The connotation of a word may be positive or negative. For example… Snake = evil, danger, scary, gross, etc.

Denotation The literal or dictionary meaning / definition of a word. For example… Snake = any of numerous scaly, legless, sometimes venomous reptiles; having a long, tapering, cylindrical body and found in most tropical and temperate regions.

Practice Provide the connotative definitions for each of the following words: Remember, connotation is the emotions and other words that are associated with a given word. What comes to mind with each of these words? Beast Epic Savage Hip Hungry Thirsty Salty

Practice Provide the denotative definitions for each of the following words: Remember, denotation is the exact literal definition as found in a dictionary… Beast Epic Savage Hip Hungry Thirsty Salty

Positive or Negative Connotation… With each of the following pairs of words, identify which word has a positive connotation and which word has a negative connotation 1. gaze; stare 2. brainwash; persuade 3. delayed; tardy 4. lazily; leisurely 5. demand; request 6. gathering; mob 7. observe; spy 8. youthful; immature 9. irresponsible; carefree 10. unique; strange 11. inexpensive; cheap 12. competitive; cutthroat

The following topics are words / themes that can be applied to TKAM… Find a partner in the classroom. One person will a positive; the other will be a negative. For each of the following words, write down at last five (5) connotative words or phrases according to your positive / negative placement (10 words total). Prejudice Gender Justice Education Equality Compassion / forgiveness Family Pride Community