Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Connotation/Denotation

In your notebook, under the heading Connotation/Denotation, write the following: A connotation is an association that readers might have with a specific word.  An example is the different associations brought up by the words "pride" and "arrogance."  While the two words have similar meanings, "pride" generally has positive associations while "arrogance" carries negative associations.  Denotation refers to the direct meaning of a word, usually the one you find in the dictionary.  There is no emotional association to the word.

Sensing the difference between connotation and denotation will help you detect bias in the articles you look at when you are researching your debate topic, and it will help you to notice if you and/or your debate opponents are using emotionally-charged words to make your points when you should be using logic.

There are two assignments that will give you some practice with this concept. 
Here is a link to the first assignment.  Write the answers on a separate piece of paper and turn it in.  Here is a link to the second assignment. Rewrite the paragraph in your notebook under the title, Mood Paragraph.

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