Activities

1. Identify several words that are well chosen by an author of a literary text.
   
   
2. Identify examples of figurative language such as similes, metaphors, personification, or hyperbole in a literary text.
   
   
3. Identify an author’s use of a word or phrase in a literary text for its connotative meaning.

4. Describe the effect of an author’s well-chosen words on a story, and on yourself as a reader.
   
   
5. Explain the intended or implied meaning of figurative language or a word used for its connotative meaning in a literary text.

6. Analyze the impact that specific word choices in a literary text have on the meaning and tone of the text.
   
   
7. Evaluate the effectiveness of an author’s decision to use deliberately selected words or phrases to develop the meaning and tone of a literary text.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Student identifies several words in a literary text that are well-chosen by an author. Well-chosen words may include figurative language, descriptive words, or words use for their connotative meaning.
   
   
2. Student identifies in a literary text examples of figurative language such as similes, metaphors, personification, or hyperbole. Figurative language includes the use of words or phrases to express an idea beyond the literal or denotative meaning of the word(s).

• Simile: a comparison of two unlike things that uses like or as
• Metaphor: a comparison of two unlike things that uses a form of “to be” and does not use like or as to compare
• Personification: assigning human characteristics or qualities to a nonhuman
• Hyperbole: emphasis created through an exaggeration

3. Student identifies an author’s use of a word or phrase in a literary text for its connotative meaning. A word’s connotative meaning is the implied or suggested meaning of the word. A positive, negative, or neutral emotion can be assigned to a word’s connotation. For example, “frugal” and “cheap” have different implied or connotative meanings when used to describe an individual. An individual described as “frugal” has a positive connotation while “cheap” has a negative connotation.
   
   
4. Student describes the effect of an author’s well-chosen words on a story, and on him- or herself as a reader. That description includes the effect of specific words on the meaning of text. Using direct evidence from a text, the student describes the effect of specific words on the author’s purpose, development of plot, tone, and theme of a text.
   
   
5. Student explains the intended or implied meaning of figurative language or a word used for its connotative meaning in a literary text. The student’s response correctly interprets figurative language and connotative meanings of words in a literary text. The interpretation includes an understanding of both the denotative and implied meaning of word(s). For example, “all the word’s a stage” is a metaphor written by William Shakespeare to compare human life and existence to a staged theatrical production. Shakespeare’s metaphor implies that individuals cycle through periods of life on the stage of the world.
   
   
6. Student analyzes the impact of specific word choices in a literary text on the meaning and tone of the text. Through the use of text evidence and correct interpretations of specific word choices, the student deconstructs and discusses the impact of well-chosen words on the overall meaning and intended tone of a literary text.
   
   
7. Student evaluates the effectiveness of an author’s decision to use deliberately selected words or phrases to develop the meaning and tone of a literary text. The student states a position using direct evidence on the effectiveness of an author’s decision to use deliberately selected words or phrases in a literary text. The student explains whether or not an author’s intended purpose is achieved.