Connotation and Denotation: For Middle and High School

Connotation and
Denotation
For Middle and High School
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Teacher Directions:
This is a complete lesson plan and student materials for

introducing connotation and denotation. This is a no prep
lesson on connotation and denotation that contains
everything you need to print and execute in your middle
or high school classroom.

This lesson contains the following:
1 . A Do Now Opener
2. A short reading on connotation and denotation
3. Two activities for sorting words by their connotation
4. Two passages to practice determining connotation
from word choice
5. An exit ticket, or mini-assessment where students
determine connotation from word choice.
6. An answer key

This lesson plan on connotation and denotation is
designed for a 90 minute class period. It could be split
into two parts for a shorter class period.
Do Now: Would You Rather Be?
Imagine your mom was introducing you to a person who knew nothing about you. She
wants to describe you in the best way possible. From each pair of words below, choose
the word you would rather your mom use to describe you. Then, explain why.

1. hard-working OR a workaholic
Why?
______________________________________________________________________________________
2. conceited OR self-confident
Why?
______________________________________________________________________________________
3. firm OR stubborn
Why?
______________________________________________________________________________________
4.flexible OR indecisive
Why?
______________________________________________________________________________________

Part 1: Connotation and Denotation
A word’s denotation is its literal meaning or dictionary definition. But, certain words can
evoke feelings or make people think in a certain way. A word’s connotation is the ideas
and feelings that come to mind when people read or hear a word. Words that have
almost the same denotation can have very different connotation depending on the
context in which they are used. Paying attention to and understanding the connotation of
words helps readers determine the mood and tone of a passage.
In the table below, write the differences between connotation and denotation.

Connotation
Denotation

Look at the examples below. Do the italicized words have the same
denotation? Which one has the most positive connotation? Which one has the
most negative? Why?

a. Running every day has made Thomas slender and lithe.
b. Running every day has made Thomas thin.
c. Running every day has made Thomas scrawny.

Part 2: Differentiating Denotation from Connotation
Below are several sets of words. All of them have a similar meaning, but have
different connotations. Sort the words into the table below, deciding which word has
a positive connotation, which word has a negative connotation and which word or
phrase best expresses the denotation of each set.

1. gaze, look steadily, stare
2. fragrance, odor, a smell sensed by the olfactory nerve
3. brainwash, persuade, influence one way or another
4. delayed, not on time, tardy
5. somewhat interested, nosy, curious
6. lazily, without haste, leisurely
7. ask of someone, demand, request
8. gathering, a large group, mob
9. slim, skinny, less than average build
10. discuss with others, debate, argue

Negative Connotation Denotation Positive Connotation
Part 3: Identifying Positive and Negative Connotation
Read the sets of phrases below. Identify which phrases have a positive connotation and
which have a negative connotation. Write each phrase on the correct side of the table.

1. a powerful stink
2. a powerful aroma
3. a dynamic leader
4. a pushy leader
5. answered with arrogance
6. answered with confidence
7. sloppy clothes
8. comfortable clothes
9. spent his money
10. squandered his money
Positive Connotation Negative Connotation
Exit Ticket:
Directions: Read each of the passages below. Look for words and phrases that help create the
connotation. Then, answer the questions that follow.

Passage 1: Mr. Smith has been a valuable employee since the company started. During that
time, he has expressed many strong opinions that have influenced the company. His methods
of solving problems are sometimes unusual. In short, he is a real leader.
1. What is the overall connotation of this passage?
a. positive
b. negative
c. neutral
d. this passage has no connotation
2. List and explain two words that create the overall connotation.
Word 1: ________________________________________________________________________________
How does this word help create the overall connotation?
____________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Word 2: ________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

_____/5

Passage 2: I was shocked to get a birthday gift from my Aunt because she is usually so cheap.
When I tore the gaudy paper off the package, I saw a scarf made form flimsy material. It was
covered with busy embroidery and flashy sequins. It certainly was a strange present.
a. positive
b. negative
c. neutral
Word 1: ________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Word 2: ________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

_____/5
Key
Do Now: Would You Rather Be?
Imagine your mom was introducing you to a person who knew nothing about you. She
wants to describe you in the best way possible. From each pair of words below, choose
the word you would rather your mom use to describe you. Then, explain why.

1. hard-working OR a workaholic
Why?
2. conceited OR self-confident
Why?
3. firm OR stubborn
Why?
4.flexible OR indecisive
Why?
Answers will vary in this section, but you should discuss the connotation of each word,
without telling the students the meaning of the word.

Part 1: Connotation and Denotation
A word’s denotation is its literal meaning or dictionary definition. But, certain words can
evoke feelings or make people think in a certain way. A word’s connotation is the ideas
and feelings that come to mind when people read or hear a word. Words that have
almost the same denotation can have very different connotation depending on the
context in which they are used. Paying attention to and understanding the connotation of
words helps readers determine the mood and tone of a passage.
In the table below, write the differences between connotation and denotation.

Connotation Denotation

The literal meaning or dictionary
The ideas and feelings a word or phrase definition of a word.
brings to mind.
Connected to the mood and tone of a
passage.

Look at the examples below. Do the italicized words have the same
denotation? Yes Which one has the most positive connotation? Slender and
lithe Which one has the most negative? Why? Scrawny, because of the image It
brings to mind

a. Running every day has made Thomas slender and lithe.
b. Running every day has made Thomas thin.
c. Running every day has made Thomas scrawny.

Part 2: Differentiating Denotation from Connotation
Below are several sets of words. All of them have a similar meaning, but have
different connotations. Sort the words into the table below, deciding which word has
a positive connotation, which word has a negative connotation and which word or
phrase best expresses the denotation of each set.

1. gaze, look steadily, stare
2. fragrance, odor, a smell sensed by the olfactory nerve
3. brainwash, persuade, influence one way or another
4. delayed, not on time, tardy
5. somewhat interested, nosy, curious
6. lazily, without haste, leisurely
7. ask of someone, demand, request
8. gathering, a large group, mob
9. slim, skinny, less than average build
10. discuss with others, debate, argue

Negative Connotation Denotation Positive Connotation
Stare look steadily Gaze

Odor A smell sensed by the Fragrance
Brainwash olfactory nerve Persuade
Tardy Influence one way or Delayed
Nosy another Curious
Lazily Not on time Leisurely
Demand Somewhat interested Request
Mob Without haste Gathering
Skinny Ask of someone Slim
argue A large group De\bate
Less than average build
Discuss with others
Part 3: Identifying Positive and Negative Connotation
Read the sets of phrases below. Identify which phrases have a positive connotation and
which have a negative connotation. Write each phrase on the correct side of the table.

1. a powerful stink
2. a powerful aroma
3. a dynamic leader
4. a pushy leader
5. answered with arrogance
6. answered with confidence
7. sloppy clothes
8. comfortable clothes
9. spent his money
10. squandered his money
Positive Connotation Negative Connotation

A powerful aroma A powerful stink
A dynamic leader A pushy leader
Answered with confidence Answered with confidence
Comfortable clothes Sloppy clothes
Spent his money Squandered his money

Answers here will vary, but students
should pick up on the overall positive
connotation. Push students to make
the connection between positive
feelings toward cooking and
memories of his mother.
Answers here will vary and may

include: intelligent. shrewd, berbere,
miraculous, mysterious
Each conveys the idea that for the
author, memories of his mother are
positive, even though the passage
discusses a sad reality.
Answers here will vary, but students
should pick up on the overall
negative connotation Esperanza gets
from her name. .
Answers here will vary and may

include: sadness, waiting, too many
letters, a muddy color etc.
Exit Ticket:
Directions: Read each of the passages below. Look for words and phrases that help create the
connotation. Then, answer the questions that follow.

Passage 1: Mr. Smith has been a valuable employee since the company started. During that
time, he has expressed many strong opinions that have influenced the company. His methods
of solving problems are sometimes unusual. In short, he is a real leader.
a. positive
b. negative
c. neutral
2. List and explain two words that create the overall connotation. Words may include: valuable,
influenced, unusual, real leader. All of these show that Mr. Smith is an employee who is
appreciated. Students may point out that unusual generally has a different connotation.
_____/5

Passage 2: I was shocked to get a birthday gift from my Aunt because she is usually so cheap.
When I tore the gaudy paper off the package, I saw a scarf made form flimsy material. It was
covered with busy embroidery and flashy sequins. It certainly was a strange present.
a. positive
b. negative
c. neutral
Word 1: Words may include: shocked, cheap, gaudy, flimsy, busy, flashy, strange, These convey
the idea that the author did not like the present.
_____/5

Connotation and Denotation: For Middle and High School

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Connotation and

For Middle and High School

This is a complete lesson plan and student materials for

Positive Connotation Negative Connotation

Stare look steadily Gaze

Positive Connotation Negative Connotation

Answers here will vary and may

Answers here will vary and may

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