1. Tuesday, September 16th Assignments: Tomorrow:
Topic: Age of Reason
Level: Recall, Analyze; Synthesize
Agenda
Diction Notes
The Revolutionary Period
Assignment
Assignments:
Tomorrow:
The Scarlet Letter (critically read packet)
Textbook Assignment

2. On Your Desk: Diction Notes Binder paper (for more notes)
Orange Textbook

3. Connotation vs. Denotation
Connotation is the emotional and imaginative association surrounding a word; can have positive or negative associations.
Denotation is the strict dictionary meaning of a word.
Exercises:
Rank the following words in order from positive to negative:
Group 1:
Thin, slim, lanky, gaunt (lean, suffering from hunger), slender
Group 2:
Shrewd, egghead, bright, clever, brilliant, cunning, smart, brainy

4. Connotation vs. Denotation
Connotation is the emotional and imaginative association surrounding a word; can have positive or negative associations.
Denotation is the strict dictionary meaning of a word.
Exercises:
For each pair of words, place a + after the word that coveys a positive meaning and a – after the word that conveys a negative meaning.
refreshing – chilly
plain – natural
clever – sly
snob – cultured
smile – smirk

5. Connotation vs. Denotation
The following words and phrases all refer to "a young person," but their connotations may be quite different depending, in part, on the context in which they appear: youngster, child, kid, little one, small fry, brat, urchin, juvenile, minor. Some of these words tend to carry favorable connotations (little one), others unfavorable (brat), and still others fairly neutral connotations (child). But referring to an adult as a child can be insulting, while calling a young person a brat lets our readers know at once how we feel about the rotten kid. Each of the short passages below (in italics) is fairly objective and colorless, using words with neutral connotations. Your job is to write two new versions of each passage: first, using words with positive connotations to show the subject in an attractive light; second, using words with negative connotations to describe the same subject in a less favorable way.

6. Connotation vs. Denotation
A. Gus cooked dinner for Madeline. He prepared some meat and vegetables and a special dessert.
(1) Describe the meal that Gus prepared, making it sound appetizing by using words with favorable connotations. (2) Describe the meal again, this time using words with negative connotations to make it sound quite unappealing.
B. The person did not weigh very much. The person had brown hair and a small nose. The person wore informal clothing.
(1) Identify and describe this particularly attractive person. (2) Identify and describe this particularly unattractive person.

7. The Revolutionary Period 1706-1810
Known as The Age of Reason This period of time focuses on: -Founding of the American nation. -Developing the American character and philosophy. (philosophy = study of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature of meaning, etc…) -Moral progress. -Self-examination and improvement.

8. The Revolutionary Period
“The civilization of people engaged in attempting to transform themselves.” –Harold Rosenburg
Writings in this unit are by the men most closely associated with the American Enlightenment.
-Used words to rail against Great Britain.
-Gained support for the Revolution.
Devices used in writings:
-persuasion
-propaganda
-rhetoric
This was an age where people believed there as virtually no limit to what well-intentioned people could accomplish when guided by reason.

9. Assignment
“Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America.” by Benjamin Franklin
Read the text – PAGE 81
Respond to the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. Use complete sentences.
Identifying Facts – 1 & 3
Interpreting Meanings – 5 & 6
Loaded Words – 2 & 3