Activities

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

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

6. Analyze the impact of specific word choices in an informational text 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 an informational text.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Student identifies several words in an informational text that are well-chosen by the author. Well-chosen words may include figurative language, descriptive words, or words use for their connotative or technical meanings.
   
   
2. Student identifies in an informational 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 an informational 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 the ideas in an informational text, and on him/her as a reader. That description includes the effect of specific words on the meaning of the text. Using direct evidence from a text, the student describes the effect of specific words on the development of ideas and the author’s purpose.
   
   
5. Student explains the intended or implied meaning of figurative language or a word used for its connotative meaning in an informational text. The student’s response correctly interprets figurative language and connotative meanings of words in an informational text. The interpretation includes an understanding of both the denotative and implied meaning of word(s). For example, “clever” and “shrewd” have the same denotative meaning. However, “clever” has a positive connotation while “shrewd” has a negative connotation.
   
   
6. Student analyzes the impact of specific word choices in an informational text on the meaning and ideas in 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 ideas in an informational text.
   
   
7. Student evaluates the effectiveness of an author’s decision to use deliberately selected words or phrases to develop the meaning and ideas of an informational 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 an informational text. The student explains whether an author’s intended purpose is achieved.