Word Choice National 5 Reading for Understanding Analysis

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Word Choice National 5 Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation

Word Choice National 5 Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation

crusty experienced mature elderly ancient pensioner

crusty experienced mature elderly ancient pensioner

Word Choice Writers often exploit the associations which we make with certain words. They

Word Choice Writers often exploit the associations which we make with certain words. They also use specific words and phrases to get a reaction from you, a reader, as well as using words to influence your views and opinions. Although we pick up on all this, we rarely think consciously about it. Your task is to do precisely that.

Two Types of Meaning Denotation Ø Literal meaning – what it really means Connotation

Two Types of Meaning Denotation Ø Literal meaning – what it really means Connotation Ø Emotional associations – how it makes you feel

Connotation - Example Colours are loaded with connotations. Write down all the connotations associated

Connotation - Example Colours are loaded with connotations. Write down all the connotations associated with your favourite colour.

Connotation - Example What is the difference between the following? • “Look, ” Dan

Connotation - Example What is the difference between the following? • “Look, ” Dan giggled, pointing past me. • “Look, ” Dan whispered, pointing past me. • “Look, ” Dan demanded, pointing past me. • “Look, ” Dan pleaded, pointing past me.

Activity 1 With the person next to you, rank the words on the next

Activity 1 With the person next to you, rank the words on the next slide in the order of which you would most like to be described as to which you would least like to be described as. Be prepared to share this with the class and to explain your choices.

Activity 1 scrawny skinny slender underweight lean slim cadaverous spare svelte slight Denotative meaning

Activity 1 scrawny skinny slender underweight lean slim cadaverous spare svelte slight Denotative meaning of thin: having little flesh on the body

Activity 2 Consider the fairly neutral statement Percival walked into the room. What would

Activity 2 Consider the fairly neutral statement Percival walked into the room. What would the connotations of the following words suggest about the mood, feelings or appearance of Percival, if they replaced “walked”? slouched strode crept skipped waddled

Word Choice Writers exploit connotations and ‘loaded language’ to show their stance towards a

Word Choice Writers exploit connotations and ‘loaded language’ to show their stance towards a topic. • By choosing particular words, writers can portray a subject in a negative or positive light. • This shows their opinion/stance without them having to tell the reader explicitly.

Activity 3 Complete the table on the next slide to show you would describe

Activity 3 Complete the table on the next slide to show you would describe something in a positive/negative way.

Positive Negative government spending cuts manipulating terrorist injure killed smut/pornography correctional centre economic downturn

Positive Negative government spending cuts manipulating terrorist injure killed smut/pornography correctional centre economic downturn abolish/destroy

Positive Negative government regime economic savings spending cuts changing manipulating freedom fighter terrorist injure

Positive Negative government regime economic savings spending cuts changing manipulating freedom fighter terrorist injure maim/disfigure killed slaughtered adult entertainment smut/pornography correctional centre jail/prison economic downturn crash/recession remove abolish/destroy

Word Choice Questions • When you answer a question about word choice, you are

Word Choice Questions • When you answer a question about word choice, you are not only being asked what the word means but to consider how that meaning is affected by the context of the passage. • Considering word choice is all about thinking beyond the obvious meaning of a word in order to explore what it suggests.

Word Choice Questions • QUOTE the word – be specific! • SUGGESTS… • Discuss

Word Choice Questions • QUOTE the word – be specific! • SUGGESTS… • Discuss the word’s MEANING or CONNOTATIONS. • LINK these to the question to answer it.

Word Choice Questions For all RUAE questions, it is essential that you look at

Word Choice Questions For all RUAE questions, it is essential that you look at the number of marks available. • 2 marks generally means one example and a comment. • 4 marks generally means two examples with a comment for each.

Question 1 Hadley Freeman is appalled by the fact that the wearing of fur

Question 1 Hadley Freeman is appalled by the fact that the wearing of fur might be making a comeback. While fur is obviously disgusting, it is also incredibly useful in that it alerts you to the fact that the person wearing it is a complete moron, without you having to waste time talking to them. Q: Show the writer’s word choice alerts you to her contempt for the wearers of fur. (2 marks)

Question 1 Hadley Freeman is appalled by the fact that the wearing of fur

Question 1 Hadley Freeman is appalled by the fact that the wearing of fur might be making a comeback. While fur is obviously disgusting, it is also incredibly useful in that it alerts you to the fact that the person wearing it is a complete moron, without you having to waste time talking to them. Q: Show the writer’s word choice alerts you to her contempt for the wearers of fur. (2 marks)

Question 1 Hadley Freeman is appalled by the fact that the wearing of fur

Question 1 Hadley Freeman is appalled by the fact that the wearing of fur might be making a comeback. While fur is obviously disgusting, it is also incredibly useful in that it alerts you to the fact that the person wearing it is a complete moron, without you having to waste time talking to them. Q: Show the writer’s word choice alerts you to her contempt for the wearers of fur. (2 marks)

Question 1 • “disgusting” suggests that she looks down on the wearer with scorn.

Question 1 • “disgusting” suggests that she looks down on the wearer with scorn. • “(complete) moron” suggests that the wearer is seen as a total idiot by the writer. • “waste (time)” suggests that discussion with the wearer is wholly pointless.

Question 2 I blundered on: “Were you away long then? I mean during the”

Question 2 I blundered on: “Were you away long then? I mean during the” - I hoisted the name gingerly - “Cultural Revolution. ” Q: Show the word choice of these lines indicate that the narrator feels his questions may be tactless or insensitive. (4 marks)

Question 3 Mr. Lockwood has spent a restless night in a room that once

Question 3 Mr. Lockwood has spent a restless night in a room that once belonged to a now dead girl. A tapping at the window disturbs him. “I must stop it, nevertheless!” I muttered, knocking my knuckles through the glass, and stretching an arm out to seize the importunate branch: instead of which, my fingers closed on the fingers of a little, ice-cold hand. Q: Show the writer’s word choice contributes to the horror of this incident. (2 marks)