Writing with specific word choices...

Goal: Using diction to describe a scene.

Agenda:
Read
Describing a scene using specific diction.


Submit your winning description HERE.

While you are waiting for the judges decision, you should try this part-of-screech adventure. Or work on something you need to finish in your English Journal.

Novel Quiz and Practice with Connotation Denotation

Scrantrons are scary looking.  (We won't use them.)

Goal: Take a quiz about your group novel and practice your knowledge of connotation and denotation.

Agenda: 
Read
Novel Quiz
Practice

Novel Quiz: 
This quiz will assess your knowledge of the first 3/4 of your book.
You should be finished with your group novel by now anyway.
Ready? Take the QUIZ.

Done with your quiz? 

• Open your English Journal
• Write a six sentence summary of your group novel. It must be exactly six sentences. (No run-on sentences.) 

Practice with Connotation and Denotation: 
Even though you wrote about this yesterday we still think you need a little more practice.
Click HERE and wait for the code we will give you.

Reminders: 
Finish reading your group novel ASAP
Make sure your English Journal is up to date.

Writing About Diction

Goal: Finding and writing about examples of diction with purpose in our group novels.

Agenda: 
Read
Selecting and writing about diction (We learned about diction yesterday.)

#1 Choose: (The hard part) 

• Find a passage in your group novel that has a lot of description and sensory detail.
• Figure out what the author is DOING in that passage. Why is it there? What is the purpose?

#2 Talk: (The easier part) 

• Pick out three words that you think the author chose specifically because of the purpose of the paragraph.
• Agree on those words with your group. If you disagree talk about why.
• Don't pick boring words. These should be words with a connotation that fits the purpose of the passage.

#3 Write: (The easiest part) 
Open your English Journal and use the frame below to write a paragraph about the diction (word choices) the author uses in your chosen passage.

Frame: (Copy into your English Journal)

10/29/19

On page ___, of (book title) the author, (author) uses words such as “_____,” “_____,” and “_____” in order to (author’s purpose for choosing those words). The first word "_____" (shows/implies/demonstrates/give the impression) that ......... Then the author uses "_____" to....... The third word, "______" also supports the author's purpose because.........The use of this diction in this passage allows the author to....(specific impact on that part of the text).

Example:

• This example uses the story we read on Friday. 
• YOU are writing about your GROUP novel. 
• Note that the words here have been changed slightly from the frame above to make the writing work for this specific example. You can make adjustments too. 

In paragraph 2, of "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings" the author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, uses words such as “pitiful,” “dirty,” and “entangled,” to illustrate how vulnerable the angel is. When he calls him "pitiful" the reader gets the sense that we should feel sorry for the angel. The word "dirty" lets us know that the angel is not clean and maybe in need of care. The third word, "entangled," implies that the angel is trapped and vulnerable. The use of this diction in the passage allows the author to portray the angel as suffering, neglected, and in need of sympathy.

Reminders:

Keep reading your group novel to finish by 10/30, tomorrow.

Finish the work from today for HW if you didn't finish in class.

Check your English Journal for any work you need to finish.

Check the blog when you are absent. You are responsible for making up the work you missed. "I was absent," is not an acceptable excuse for missing work.

Connotation and Denotation

Goals: Understanding connotation and denotation and then applying that knowledge to some excerpts from the story we read yesterday. 

Agenda: 
Read
Connotation and Denotation Lesson
Application with a partner. 


Connotation and Denotation Lesson: 
DICTION refers to the specific word choices that authors make.
Often, authors choose specific words because of their CONNOTATION.
Words can be interpreted three different ways.

1. DENOTATION - This is the literal, dictionary definition of a word.

2. CONNOTATION (emotional charge) - Every word has a positive, neutral, or negative connotation or association. 

• "Youth" = positive connotation (or association); "Juvenile" = negative connotation; "Adolescent" = neutral connotation.
• "Request" or "Remind" = positive connotation; "Whine" or "Nag" = negative connotation; "Ask" = neutral connotation.
• "Assertive" = positive; "Bossy" = negative; "Dominant" = neutral.
  

3. CONNOTATION (symbolic meaning) - Some words have a secondary figurative or cultural association with them. In this case, the word can take on a whole new meaning.

• Snake: An evil, devious or immoral person.
• Chicken: A coward.
• Pig: A vulgar person or slob.
• Sweet: Cool, awesome or fun.

With your partner: 
Complete THIS GOOGLE FORM to look more closely at some of the language from the story we read yesterday. (It's okay if you didn't finish reading it. There are paragraphs on the form of the parts you really need.)
Absent? You are still responsible for the work. You can do it on your own. 

Reminders: 

• Did you finish all the work in your English Journal? Are you sure? (Especially your theme paragraph and your characterization paragraph, and your most recent article of the week?)
• Did you finish reading (questions) for A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings. 
• Finish reading your group novel by Wednesday 10/30. 

Reading a new text

Goal: First read of A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings

Agenda:
Read
First read of a new text

You know about these things:

• Direct and indirect characterization
• Theme
• Setting
• Using text evidence

Reading: 

• A new text has been assigned to you in GoFormative. 
• You can find the text HERE. 
• Choose "Sign in with Google."
• Read and answer the questions as you read. 
• Not seeing the story? Check to see that you are in our Google Classroom for this period. Then ask for assistance. 
• We are going to use this text to learn some more skills related to reading novels, but first you need to know what it says. 

Reminders: 

• Keep reading. You need to finish your group novel by 10/30/19.
• Be sure all your work is up to date in your English Journal.