Word Choice
Good writers choose their words based on the effects that the words will have on their readers. Effective readers know that a writer's word choice plays a big part in the text that they are reading. Word choice helps a writer establish his attitude The author, narrator, or speaker's attitude toward the subject. or tone The way the author, narrator, or speaker thinks or feels toward the subject. toward his subject. The words will reveal whether or not the author has a positive or negative opinion about the subject. Certain adjectives can describe the author's tone. Look at the words below.
- Happy
- Sad
- Cheerful
- Outraged
- Sarcastic
- Serious
- Frightened
- Delighted
- Worried
- Calm
- Peaceful
- Depressed
Adjectives
Examine the picture below. What are some adjectives you could use to describe the duckling?
Denotation
The denotation of a word is its dictionary meaning, its literal definition.
The young duckling was disoriented when the oil splattered on its feathers.
According to Merriam-Webster, the denotation of disoriented is confused.
Connotation
The connotation of a word is the emotional or figurative meaning of a word.
Read the sentence below. How do you think the author feels about the duckling?
The weakest duckling had oil splattered on it because it was absent-minded.
The author seems to think the duckling is weak and absent-minded; this leads the reader to believe that he has a negative tone towards the animal.
Negative or Postive
There can be negative and positive connotations to words.
Decide if each word in the word bank below has a negative or positive connotation. Type each word into the appropriate text box.
- Crippled
- Youthful
- Disabled
- Cheap
- Conversational
- Relaxed
- Economical
- Talkative
- Immature
- Lazy
Positive:
Negative:
Tone
A reader must infer, or read between the lines, to figure out the author's attitude and identify the tone. The tone is not directly stated in the text.
Read the sentence below and select the tone it implies.
As chills ran up her spine, Lauren hesitated as she entered the old, abandoned mansion.
- Fearful
- Brave
- Indifferent
Brandon believed he was going to his friend's basketball game, but when he walked into the gym, twelve of his friends jumped out and sang "Happy Birthday" to him.
- Calm
- Surprised
- Aware
Review
The denotative definition is the word's literal completely true and accurate definition.
The connotative definition is the figurativenot true or emotional meaning of a word.
Look at the sentences below. See the difference when you make the description positive or negative:
Adults thought Lewis Carroll was ________ Positive: different
Negative: bizzare , but Alice and other ________Positive: children
Negative: brats really liked him.
They thought he was ______Positive: cool
Negative: strange . When Carroll was with children, making up _________ Positive: fantastical
Negative: weird stories for them, he did not _________ Postive: stammer
Negative: stutter .
"Little Things Are Big"
Before you read the nonfiction piece by Jesus Colon called "Little Things Are Big," watch the story (3:39) as Colon remembers what happened as he was riding on a subway in New York City. There is no vocabulary link in this lesson. If you are unsure of a word in the nonfiction text, use the dictionary or context clues to help.
Is the narrator happy with how he behaved on the subway?
Why did Colon not help the lady?
Would you have helped the lady if you were in Colon's shoes?