Author's Purpose

Author's Purpose

Determining Word Meaning

Important Reminders!

• All late work is due to your teachers by February 7- not just in my class, but ALL classes.

• Spend a little time each day making up any missing work or asking your teachers for help.

• If you want to raise your grade- now is the time to ask.

Learning Goal: Today I will...

• learn the difference between the figurative and technical meaning of words

• learn how to use context clues to determine meaning of words

What's the difference?

• Words can have multiple meanings; connotative or technical

• Context clues can help the reader understand the meaning of words

Multiple Choice

According to the video, what is a word's literal meaning?

• the implied meaning behind a word (to help us convey an idea by painting a picture with words)

• the exact definition of a word (words used in their most basic sense)

Technical Meaning (aka, the literal meaning)

Crab: a crustacean with a broad carapace, stalked eyes, and five pairs of legs, the first pair of which are modified as pincers. Crabs are abundant on many shores, especially in the tropics, where some have become adapted to life on land.

Figurative Meaning

We need to use context clues to determine the meaning of a word.

Writers use figurative language to draw out emotion; to help readers form mental images and draw readers into the work.

Here, calling someone a "crab" means someone who is angry or irritable.

Multiple Select

Select all phrases that contain figurative language.

• It's raining cats and dogs.

• My sister ate her dinner.

• I'm feeling under the weather.

• Spill the beans.

• I went outside today.

Open Ended

Can you think of a phrase with figurative language? Write it here.

Connotation

• In addition to their technical meaning, words can make us feel certain ways

• The emotional meaning tied to a word is its connotation

Multiple Choice

What is connotation?

• The dictionary definition of a word

• The emotional meaning behind a word

• The literal meaning of a word

An easy way to remember...

Denotation = Dictionary Definition

Connotation = emotional or figurative meaning

Multiple Choice

How does this word make you feel? Nosy

Multiple Choice

How does this word make you feel? Curious

The way each of these words made you feel reveals their connotation.

Both words mean the same thing (a strong desire to know or learn something), but each has a different emotion tied to it.

Nosy carries a negative connotation ☹️

Curious carries a positive connotation 😀 

Why is this all important?

Authors make very specific word choices to make the reader feel a certain way.

All authors have a reason, or purpose for their writing, and analyzing these word choices can help us determine that purpose.

Now it's time for...

practice questions!

Multiple Choice

What is the figurative meaning of the underlined word in this sentence?

Do you want to hang out today?

• To spend time

• To put in a closet

• To make fun of

• To dangle down

Multiple Choice

Attention! Trespassing is strictly prohibited! Individuals found on property will be charged with a crime.

What does the word prohibited mean in these sentences?

• reckless

• against the law

• out of bounds

• thoughtless

Multiple Choice

What is the figurative meaning of the underlined word?

Mark was sick of receiving hundreds of spam emails a day

• nauseous

• he had a fever

• annoyed

• bored

Multiple Choice

What is the literal meaning of the underlined word?

Jessica made sure to act cool when she was giving her speech.

• relaxed

• cold

• excited

• intelligent

Multiple Choice

Which words should be changed so that the following sentence has a positive connotation?

At Betty's Groomers, turn your mangy mutt into a prized pooch with the best haircut in town!

• prized pooch

• mangy mutt

• best haircut

• Betty's Groomers

Multiple Choice

After looking at the study and finding moderate levels of pollution in the lake, Dr. Brennan concluded that it was unlikely that the town would need to close the swimming area this summer.

What does the word moderate suggest about the pollution in the lake?

• That the level of pollution was too high.

• That the level of pollution was very low.

• That the level of pollution was not harmful.

• That the level of pollution would mean closing the beach.

Multiple Choice

Read the sentences. Then, answer the question.

Sentence 1: Cardiovascular exercises, like sprinting and jumping rope, will elevate one's heart rate quickly.

Sentence 2: In the 1990s, she was elevated to the position of State Attorney General.

Based on the context, what does the word elevate mean in each sentence?

• In sentence 1, elevate means to increase; in sentence 2, elevate means to rise to a more important level.

• In sentence 1, elevate means to surge; in sentence 2, elevate means to do a better job.

• In sentence 1, elevate means to multiply; in sentence 2, elevate means to find a more fulfilling position.

• In sentence 1, elevate means to develop; in sentence 2, elevate means to change careers.

Open Ended

What questions do you have about today's lesson? Write them here and I'll answer it for you.

If you don't have any questions, you are done with my class for the day!