Creative Writing

1. Lesson 3

2. At the end of the lesson, the students are
expected to be able to:
* Understand the difference between the
connotative and denotative meaning of
words.
* Consider how connotative diction relates
to the author's meaning and tone.
* Determine the positive and negative
connotation of each word

4. Guiding Questions
* How does diction relate to the
author's meaning?
* How does an author's choice
of diction affect the tone of a
passage?

5. Study the
following
sentences.

6. QUESTION???
Does “house” have the same associations
that “home” has?

7. House refers to
the physical
building only
Home conjures up
images of the people (and
animals) who make up
the family unit and the
feelings I have when we
are all together either for
meals or for special
occasions.

8. scrawny
slim
thin
Which word do you
feel is the best
word to describe
someone you
consider attractive?
Study the following words.

9. scrawny
slim
thin
unattractively thin
and bony.
slender built
with little
thickness or
depth

11. Diction
- refers to the word choice an
author makes.
- refers to the writer’s or speaker’s
distinctive vocabulary style and
expression
- is the precise word choice;
selection of words for specific
denotative and connotative

13. It is the actual meaning of a word. It
is what you would read when you
look the word up in the dictionary.
For example, if you look up the word
“home” in The Concise Oxford
English Dictionary, here is the first
part of the definition:
“Dwelling-place; fixed residence of
family or household”.

14. DENOTATION is the straight
forward or common sense
meaning of a sign. Literally what
is shown in the image.

15. Connotation is a bit more complex. If we take the
meaning of the word “house” from the same
dictionary you find this: “Building for human
habitation”.
Now, when you compare the definition of “house”
with the definition of “home”, you may think there
is very little difference between them, so, if you’re
a writer and you have to use one or the other as a
noun, how do you decide which one to use? Does
it matter?
That’s where connotation comes in because
connotation is the association we put on words.
HOUSE
or
HOME??
?

16. CONNOTATION
- It is the secondary meaning of
the word associated to your
emotions.
- It is adding attitude to a word.

17. POSITIVE CONNOTATION
- refers to favorable
connotation
In this type, a person feel
good about any word or the
words make them happy. In
this, the words are giving
positive impact to a person.
NEGATIVE CONNOTATION
- refers to unfavorable
connotation
Those terms considered to be
negative where the words
describe the negative
qualities or the disabilities or
disrespect of a person.

19. Let us try!

20. Student Scholar Nerd Learner Undergraduate
Skinny Bony Slim Scrawny Anorexic
Jail Slammer prison Pockey Detention center
Vacation Lay off Holiday Unemployed Fiesta
Busy Active Employed Workaholic Active
Fear Dread Anxious Panic terror
Decide whether the synonyms are usually considered a positive
connotation or a negative connotation.

21. Copy this table and then write your answers accordingly.
Given word Positive connotation Negative connotation
Student
Skinny
Jail
Vacation
Busy
Fear

23. DIRECTIONS: Each pair of phrases includes synonyms with
different connotations. Identify a positive connotation and a
negative connotation. Then use each in a sentence.
1. A strong reek - A strong aroma
2. Spoke with arrogance - Spoke with confidence
3. A charismatic leader - A pushy leader
4. Ratty clothes - Casual clothes
5. Squandered his time - Invested his time

24. DIRECTIONS: Each pair of phrases includes synonyms with
different connotations. Identify a positive connotation and a
negative connotation. Then use each in a sentence.
Positive connotation Negative connotation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

25. Sentences using each of the phrases:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

26. How do the denotative
and connotative
meanings of words differ?

27. QUIZ # 3

28. A. Identify what is
being described.

29. 1.It refers to the implied or suggested
meanings associated with a word
beyond its dictionary definition
2.It is the dictionary definition of a
word.
3.This refer to the word choice.
4 & 5. The two kinds of connotation.

30. B. For each pair of words and a phrase, list
the one that is positive in the “Positive
Connotation” category, the one that is
negative in the “Negative Connotation”
category, and the phrase that is a more
neutral definition for both words in the
"Denotation" column.

31. brainwash persuade way or influence
one another
unique not commonly
found
Strange
fragrance odor a smell sensed by
the olfactory
nerve
gathering a large group Mob
extravagance generosity giving much
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

32. POSITIVE CONNOTATION DENOTATION NEGATIVE CONNOTATION

33. ASSIGNMENT
List 10 words of your choice. Write
their denotative and connotative
meanings. In coming up with
connotative, write examples of
positive and negative connotation.