Standards:

CCSS: L.8.3: Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing,
speaking, reading, or listening.
CCSS: L.8.6: Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and
domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering
a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
Objective: Students will be able to gain a better understanding of descriptive and
connotative language through a hands on activity and adapt their understanding to
their argumentative paper they will complete late in the unit.
Procedures:
1. Do-Now will be placed on the board: What does it mean to be descriptive?
Students will be asked to write this on a separate sheet of paper, in order for
collection later.
2. Students will share 3-4 answers with the class (5 minutes)
3. Teacher Talk:
Today we are going to discuss the importance of descriptive and connotative
language and how it effects your writing. So for todays activity we will be
working in partners to show examples of how descriptive and connotative
language can change the reading of your writing. Pass out the first
worksheet. On this worksheet I have handed you there are the definitions of
descriptive and connotative language for your reference and there are also 2
examples of how the connotation of your words can change the meaning of a
simple sentence.
4.
Then students will receive the activity handout with the topic they are to take
a stand point on and instructions on how to deliver the activity. There will also be an
example of how to transform the paragraph to fit their position.
4.
The class will then be broken up in to groups of 2 and I will allow the students
to choose if they want to be the negative or positive representation of the given topic.
4.
After the writing is complete (10-15 minutes) the students will come to the
front of the room, group by group, to present their standpoints.
4.
The students will be asked to sit back down and at the completion of the
sharing the students will be asked to switch roles and do the opposite, these will be
collected. (If time allows 1-2 groups may be able to share)
4.
I will collect all of their work and pass out a worksheet that has a list of
different ways to say the words they commonly use, along with a worksheet that
shows positive and negative meanings of words.
Materials:
1. Lines paper
2. White board
3. Handouts
Assessment:
1. Students will hand in their second paragraph rewrites.
2. Exit slip: Provide one sentence with a negative connotation and one sentence
with a positive connotation on a piece of lined paper.

IRLA--Seiler
Instructions: Please fill in the blanks with your name, the topic I gave you, and the
position you will be taking. After you and your partner have discussed that position
you will be taking on the topic, I would like for you to use the space below to come
up with a few sentences to prove your standpoint. Be sure to use descriptive
language and a variety of word choice to prove to me why I should take your side.

Name:___________________________
Topic:___________________________
Position:_________________________

IRLA--Seiler
Descriptive Language: Language intended to create a mood, person, place, thing,
event, emotion, or experience. Descriptive language uses images that appeal to the
readers senses, helping the reader to imagine how a subject looks, sounds, smells,
tastes, or feels.
Irony
Tone
Alliteration
Mood
Imagery
Allusion
Satire
Onomatopoeia
Connotative Language: an implied meaning that is associated with a word in
addition to its literal meaning. This association can be cultural or emotional.
Positive Connotations

Childlike
Dove (peace)
Hollywood (fame)
Home
Lean
Modest
Slender
Thrifty
Wall Street (wealth)
Youthful

Negative Connotations

Babe (woman)
Chick (woman)
Chatty
Chicken (coward)
Mutt
Procrastination
Pushy
Retarded
Skinny
Uppity

Examples: Do they have a positive or negative connotation?

1. My boss demanded I get his coffee on my lunch break.
2. My boss asked me to get his coffee on my lunch break.
3. I abandoned my dog outside while he chewed on a bone.
4. I left my dog outside while he chewed a bone.
5. Mr. Jones has a lazy personality and just sits in the house all day.
6. Mr. Jones has a relaxed personality and just goes with the flow.
7. While I was in New York City last night I saw a bum scavenging for money.
8. In New York City last night, I saw a homeless man looking for money.

Positive
Connotation

Negative Connotation

Reserved

Withdrawn

Timid

Cowardly

Bold

Brash

Self-willed

Stubborn

Sentimental

Mushy

Curious

Nosey

Self-Confident

Cocky, Smug

Overweight

Fat

Determined

Head-strong

Frugal

Cheap

Relaxed

Lazy

Energetic

Hyperactive

Remind

Nag

Aged

Old

Homeless

Bum

Thin

Scrawny

Dislike

Hate, Despise, Loathe

Trival

Petty

Fervent

Obsessed

Childlike

Childish