Diction = Word Choice

1. Explain how the author uses diction to show a contrast between Jonas’s father and the act of release which he is responsible for carrying out. Diction = Word Choice Words have a Denotation: Dictionary Definition Words can have a Connotation: Emotional Response Can be +/—/n

2. HOUSE Denotation: A building in which people live HOME Denotation: same! Connotation: Love, acceptance, belonging, family Its Connotation is POSITIVE

3. Connotation Practice Write the individual words in each list and label each as having a positive, negative, or neutral connotation. giggle, chuckle, laugh, snicker, cackle 2. thin, scrawny, petit, boney, slender 3. talkative, social, outgoing, friendly, gossip

4. Keep in mind… Not EVERY word is meant to draw an emotional response! Look closely…which words are connotative? The father tenderly smiled and looked at his newborn baby through the window of the room. The judge slammed down the gavel and called for order in the unruly courtroom.

5. Connotation Practice Make a two-column chart for positive/negative connotations. Place each word in the appropriate column.

6. To the end… Paragraph Plug-in Fill in the blanks with words, phrases, or sentences that complete each thought. One blank does NOT equal one word. Some blanks come directly from the text; others are more of your thoughts and conclusions. After Jonas views Release, he and the Giver decide they must make a plan _____1___. One part of this plan involves _______2______. Unfortunately, though, the plan falls apart because __3________. At this point, Jonas knows _______4___. While on his journey, Jonas has moments of fear, when he sees _________5____or feels ______6______. He also has moments of exquisite happiness, when he ________7______. As the escape continues, though, things start to get more and more difficult because _________8___. Finally, at end, Jonas ________9____. The reason I think this is because _______10_____. (not just what the text tells you ).

7. Arrange words from your chart into related groups or patterns.

8. CHOOSE A STRONG WORD FROM THE CONNOTATIVE LIST: What is the context? How is it being used? To describe what? What is the denotation? What is the dictionary definition? What is the connotation? What is suggested by the word? What does it bring to your mind? What do you think of when you read the word? What emotions are stirred by the words or its connotations? Start with positive or negative, but then try to apply a more specific feeling, such as happiness, anger, compassion, guilt, sadness, loneliness, dread, shock, love, etc. What is the intended effect? What does the author want the audience to think, to feel, to do? What kind of connections does she want us to make?

9. Trash “He picked up the carton and carried it to the other side of the room. He opened a small door in the wall; Jonas could see darkness behind the door. It seemed to be the same sort of chute into which trash was deposited at school. His father loaded the carton containing the body into the chute and gave it a shove (150).” On this page in the text, trash is talking about ___________________________________________________________________. The word trash means _________________________. When I think of trash, I think of ____________ and ____________. I also picture _____________and ______________. Trash gives me a _______________ feeling. More specifically, I connect it with feelings of _______________ and ______________. When the author compares the chute where the baby is deposited to one where trash usually is, she suggests that _______________________________________________________________. The negative connotations point out ______________________________ ______________________________________.