CAHSEE ELA PrepLesson 3

• Figurative Language• Denotation and

Connotation

Warm Up:Write a list of ten words about this image. Be ready to share two or three

with the class.

After five minutes, teacher should solicit student responses and write words on white board or butcher paper. Put words in two groups: #1 Denotation (words that describe what is literally in the image) and #2 Connotation (words that describe what the image alludes to or suggests but that are not literally in the image. Ask students what they notice about the kinds of words in each group.

Words work like imagesThey both communicate information which we call

Like words, the image you wrote about has two types of meaning:

“meaning”

Group #1 Denotative meaningAnd

Group #2 Connotative meaning

Denotation

The denotative meaning of a word is its literal meaning – it’s what the word

directly represents or means.

The words in group #1 denote the objects in the image. They tell what is literally or actually in the image. Teacher should discuss student examples from group #1 and explain that

these are literally in the image. The point is to make clear the direct relationship between image or word and denotative meaning.

Connotation

The connotative meaning of a word is the feelings or ideas it evokes – it’s what a

word indirectly makes you think or feel.

The words in group #2 connote feelings or ideas that you can’t see. They tell what is implied by, but not literally in the image.

Teacher should discuss student examples from group #2 and explain that these are not literally in the image. The point is to make clear the indirect relationship between image or word and connotative meaning.

You Use Denotation and Connotation All The Time Without Realizing it

Example: If you say, “Don’t trip” to someone who is getting

upset you are using connotation.Explanation:

“Trip” directly denotes falling down or stumbling.“Trip” also indirectly connotes losing control of

yourself because when you fall down you are out of control.

So finally, “trip” connotes losing control of your emotions.

Here’s what this might look likein a diagram

Trip

Fall Stumble

Lose control of your body

Lose control of your emotions

So, connotation helps us arrive at other, indirect meanings of images, words, and phrases

Consider the phrase “…a world of hurt.”As in, “If you don’t study, you’re going to be

in a world of hurt.”

Teacher should facilitate students’ sharing back as a class in order to reveal the chain of meaning from denotative to connotative (planet of pain to very bad place or situation and suffering).

Take two minutes, turn to your neighbor and explain what you think this means. Try to explain

how you get to that meaning (denotation -> connotation -> connotation). Be ready to share

with the rest of the class.

When we use words in this indirect way, it is called figurative language

One last thing: Figurative language may have positive or negative

connotation (indirect meaning).

Teacher should solicit responses from studentsand write them on white board under the heading “Fancy - positive connotations”

Connotations that make something sound good are positive.

For example: The word “fancy” has positive connotations

like fine, luxurious…

Can you think of any others?

On the other hand,

Teacher should solicit responses from studentsand write them on white board under the heading “Expensive - negative connotations.”

connotations that make something sound bad are negative. For example:

The word “expensive” has negative connotations like over-priced or not

affordable.

Can you think of any other negative connotations?

Consider the sentences below

1) “My sister wants to buy a fancy car.”

2) “My sister wants to buy an expensive car.”

Teacher should facilitate partner and class discussion. Be sure to point out the distinct connotations of these denotatively similar words.

Discuss with your neighbor what each sentence connotes, and why. Be ready to share with the

class.

So you see how two words can have very different connotations, even when they denote

similar things.

Let’s try a sample CAHSEE question

Open your CAHSEE prep binders to page 202.

Take three minutes to silently read the passage from “A Surprise.”

Read the question that follows and be prepared to share your answer and rational (reasons for

choosing) with the rest of the class.

What was your answer to the question, “what does the phrase buried under a mountain of

work mean?”

Raise your hand if you chose answer:

Teacher should go through each answer as they are revealed and voted on, suggesting key rational for eliminating answers a-c (context clues, denotative vs. connotative interpretation, etc).

A. Avoiding his studying

B. Beneath a pile of books that fell on him

C. Skipping classes in order to study

D. Overwhelmingly busy

Quick ReviewWhat is denotative meaning?

- Literal or direct meaningWhat is connotative meaning?

- Indirect meaningWhat is figurative language?

- Using language to communicate meaning indirectly, as with connotation

What is positive connotation?- Connotations that make something sound good

What is negative connotation?- Connotations that make something sound bad

Exit Slip

Your exit slip tasks for today are: • Read and complete problems 1-3 in your

CAHSEE binder beginning on page 203. And…

• Complete the positive and negative connotation chart on page 205, using the

words in the Word Box at the bottom of the page.