Understanding Diction

Which word carries a more negative connotation?

The fresh paw prints - that our guide identified as belonging to a black bear - ___________me.

• scared

• frightened

• unsettled

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.L.11-12.5B

Choose the word which would convey the greatest emotional intensity.

I was _________ when my best friend came back to visit after moving away.

• ecstatic

• happy

• pleased

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

Words mean exactly what they say

• concrete

• connotation

• literal

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

Words go beyond their literal meaning to suggest a more complex idea, or to provide clarification or comparison

• figurative

• imagery

• abstract

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.6

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

CCSS.W.9-10.2D

CCSS.W.8.2D

The diction of characters can tell us about their

• education

• where they are from

• both

Tags

CCSS.L.3.3A

CCSS.L.4.3A

CCSS.L.5.3A

CCSS.L.6.3A

CCSS.L.6.3B

Ordinary and familiar words that may vary from region to region

• colloquialisms

• jargon

• idioms

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.6

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

CCSS.W.9-10.2D

CCSS.W.8.2D

CHALLENGE: An author's diction can give us insight into how s/he feels about the topic; we refer to this as _____________. Furthermore, diction can cause the reader/listener to feel certain emotions, thereby creating a certain atmosphere; this we refer to as ______________.

(We covered these terms last week.)

• opinion/tone

• tone/mood

• mood/evocation

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Words that are similar in meaning, but have varying levels of intensity

• denotation

• connotation

• shades of meaning

Tags

CCSS.L.1.5D

CCSS.L.2.5B

CCSS.L.3.5C

CCSS.L.K.5D

Informal language that is ever-changing, and often particular to a certain group, used to create identity and exclude outsiders.

• colloqialism

• slang

• jargon

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.6

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

CCSS.W.9-10.2D

CCSS.W.8.2D

Words used within a particular profession or group, may be difficult for others to understand

• colloquialism

• jargon

• slang

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.6

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

CCSS.W.9-10.2D

CCSS.L.8.6