Denotation vs. Connotation By S. Cugini & N. Clayton High 5 Achievers © 2013

Denotation/Connotation PowerPoint Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards: English Language Arts/Language Knowledge of Language: 3. Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.  

Lesson Plan Continued Common Core State Standards: English Language Arts/Reading Craft and Structure: 4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone.)

Lesson Plan Continued Title: Understanding Denotation and Connotation Objective: Students will describe in writing the differences between denotation and connotation. Materials: PowerPoint presentation; pen and paper Directions: Students will first take the pre test on slide 5. After watching the PowerPoint, students will complete a series of exercises that may be completed in class as a group activity or assigned as homework. Closure: The teacher will review exercises. Assessment: Students will achieve a minimum score of 70% on the exercises.  

Pre Test Define denotation. Define connotation. In two to three sentences, what are the connotative differences among “plump”, “fat” and “obese”? Why is it important for a good writer to understand the difference between denotation and connotation? Denotation is the dictionary meaning of a word. Connotation is what the word suggests over and above its dictionary meaning. Suggested answers: Plump is more pleasing term for a person who is overweight. Fat and obese are more negative terms than plump. Obese is also a medical term which makes it less negative than fat. A good writer understands the differences between denotation and connotation in order to choose the appropriate word for his intended meaning. In order to choose the right word, a writer needs to understand the nuances among words. This is why translators often struggle to find the exact word to convey the speaker’s or writer’s meaning.

Defining the Terms Denotation is the dictionary meaning of a word. Example: Night- the time from dusk to dawn when no light from the sun is visible. Connotation is what the word suggests over and above its dictionary meaning. Connotations may be positive, negative or neutral. Example: Night suggests darkness, fear, evil, blackness, death, silence.

The Purpose of Connotation To understand the nuance of a word’s meaning To evoke a specific mood/response To create narrative power To formulate convincing arguments

Connotation: Levels of Intensity UPSET IRRITATED ANGRY FURIOUS

Connotation: Levels of Intensity HATE ABHOR DETEST DISLIKE

NOW YOU TRY IT ! Place the following words in the boxes from least intense to the most intense: passionate, fond, love, like, This can be done as a class discussion. Suggested response from least to most intense: like, fond, love, passionate. This response is only suggestive since personal feelings color their answers.

Denotation Pirate: One who robs on the high seas.

Connotation Pirate: adventure, danger, mystery, swords wooden legs, people walking the plank big black ships, skull and crossbones buried treasure, parrots patches over the eyes

Now You Try It! Directions: Briefly list four to five connotations of the following words: Robber: Hero: Party: Brawl: Giant: Dark: At the teacher’s discretion, these exercises may be done orally with the class. Suggested responses: Robber – burglar, thief, violator, bad guy, criminal, jail bird, gangster. Hero – bravery, courage, super powers, warrior, knight. Party – gala, fun, festivity, bash, celebration, soiree, shindig, fiesta. Brawl – fight, lawless, confrontation, argument, scuffle, tussle, melee, skirmish, wrestle. Giant – huge, big, large, immense, colossal, mammoth, massive, gargantuan, vast. Dark – evil, scary, tragic, sinful, dead, black, mysterious, hidden, threatening, ominous.

Connotation vs. Denotation: Exercise 1 Directions: Look at the following words. In a class discussion, point out the connotative differences between the two terms. toilet vs. john house vs. home. inexpensive vs. cheap rich vs. wealthy Notes: Toilet – a respectable word; john is a slang word for a toilet and is slightly negative. House is a just a structure and a home suggests family, warmth, love, togetherness. Inexpensive suggests something that doesn’t cost very much; economical. Cheap is much more negative and suggests inferior quality. Rich has a more varied meaning. One can be rich in money or friends, talent etc. Wealthy just pertains to money – having quite a bit of it.

Exercise 2 For each example, tell how the connotation of the word in the second sentence changes the meaning. Sam felt sick when he was on the boat. Sam felt nauseated when he was on the boat. Those girls are very slender. Those girls are very scrawny. Tom showed pride after winning the prize. Tom showed conceit after winning the prize. Notes: (1.) Sick suggests a more general term which can be as mild as just not feeling well to as extreme as being hospitalized; whereas, (2.) nauseated, which is a more specific term, connotes vomiting, fainting, dizziness, clammy, diarrhea. (3.) Slender is a more positive flattering term which suggests health and beauty. (4.) Scrawny is much more negative and suggests an unhealthy weight and an unattractive appearance. (5.) Pride is a more positive term because it suggests a healthy self-esteem and self-satisfaction with a job well-done. (6.) Conceit, on the other hand, is negative and suggests smugness and arrogance.

Exercise 2 Continued Ana gave her little sister a disapproving look. Ana gave her little sister a hateful look. The teenagers discussed their neighbors. The teenagers gossiped about their neighbors. Notes: (7.) Disapproving is a mildly negative word without strong condemnation. (8.) Hateful, however, is a much stronger and more powerful negative word. This word often suggests a deep-seated loathsome response to someone. (9.) Discussed is a general word that is a super mild description of people talking. (10.) Gossiped is a specific type of conversation and it suggests secrecy, meanness, cattiness. In short, a person who is a busybody.

Quiz Directions: Tell students that they may work alone or in pairs, but each student is to turn in his/her own exercise. Point out that the first one has been done as a model. Note – some words may appear in two columns. The words are on the next slide

Titter, giggle, chuckle, laugh, guffaw, roar, snicker, cackle Quiz : For each numbered set below, write the individual word under the column which best describes its connotation. Fill in the chart on the following slide; the first has been done. Mansion, shack, abode, dwelling, residence, house, home, dump, domicile Spinster, old maid, unmarried woman, maiden, career woman, wife, single Titter, giggle, chuckle, laugh, guffaw, roar, snicker, cackle Corpulent, fat, obese, fleshy, overweight, whale, porky, burly, plump Shrewd, calculating, clever, sly, astute, skillful, smooth, steady, even Quizzes 1 and 2 may be done together in class or in pairs.

Positive (student chart) Neutral Negative Mansion, house, home, residence Abode, dwelling, domicile, residence Shack, dump This is the student chart that can be completed in class as a group activity. The suggested key is on the following slide.

Mansion, house, home, residence Abode, dwelling, domicile, residence Positive (KEY) Neutral Negative Mansion, house, home, residence Abode, dwelling, domicile, residence Shack, dump Maiden, career woman, wife Single, unmarried woman Spinster, old maid Giggle, chuckle Laugh Titter, guffaw, roar, snicker, cackle Plump Overweight, burly Corpulent, fat, obese, fleshy, whale, porky Clever, astute, skillful Steady, even Shrewd, calculating, sly, smooth This is the student chart for quiz 2.

Post Test Assessment Define denotation. Define connotation. Read the following three sentences and briefly discuss the differences among the connotations of the underlined words: She is a homely girl. She is an unattractive girl. She is an ugly girl. The post test assessment, at the teacher’s discretion, may be done as a whole-class activity group, in pairs or printed out and assigned as homework. If printed, make sure to print out as handouts and not slides. KEY: Denotation is the dictionary meaning of a word. Example: Night- the time from dusk to dawn when no light from the sun is visible. Connotation is what the word suggests over and above its dictionary meaning. Homely suggests plain in appearance. Unattractive implies unappealing, hideous, ghastly and is far more negative than homely. Ugly is the most negative of the three words because it suggests words like horrible, repulsive, vile, revolting and disgusting.

Post Test Continued Snake Nation House Tribe Car Gang Orgy Ferrari Read the following list of words. Decide if the word has a positive, negative or neutral connation. If the word is positive, write “+” after the word; if the word is negative write “–” after the word; if the word is neutral, write “O” after the word. Snake Nation House Tribe Car Gang Orgy Ferrari Ocean Party Serpent Shack Beating Puppy Animal Jalopy Girl Argument Snake (neg) Tribe (neut) Orgy (neg) Nation (neut) Car (neut) Ferrari (pos) House (neut) Gang (neg) Ocean (neut) Party (pos) Beating (neg) Jalopy (neg) Serpent (neg) Puppy (pos) Girl (neut) Shack (neg) Animal (neut) Argument (neg)

Post Test Continued Look at this advertisement and answer the following questions: What product is being advertised? Who is the target audience? What is the image suggesting to the target audience? What words does the advertiser use to encourage the target audience to choose this service and what connotations do those words suggest to the viewer? Why does the advertiser use women’s hands for the manicurist? This slide can be completed in class as a group activity for struggling students or printed out as a handout and given to advanced students as a homework assignment. See the following: KEY: The product advertised is skin care for men. Men are the target audience. The image is suggesting that even men can benefit from skin care. The advertiser uses words such as “tough care”, “tough men”, “exclusively for men” to encourage the target audience to choose this service. These words suggest that men who use skin care products and have manicures are not effeminate, but tough – a real man! Men, generally, do not want other men holding their hands. A woman holding a man’s hand is not only pleasurable, but also sexually alluring. “Tough care for tough men” Cosmetic Perfumes: Skin care and massage exclusively for men

By S. Cugini & N. Clayton High 5 Achievers © 2013 The End By S. Cugini & N. Clayton High 5 Achievers © 2013