Analyzing Word ChoiceTEST REFLECTION

Example

Ruled supports the author's admiring tone. Ruled is stronger and represents a major influence while lead is positive, yet it represents less dominance. The author is trying to say that Andrew Carnegie was a successful man because he led the steel industry, and he donated some of his wealth. Furthermore, the author demonstrates his admiring tone when he says, “He died a rich man, in more ways than one." The author refers to Carnegie’s success in terms of the money he earned and the love he received as a result of his generosity.

* Other acceptable words for the tone: appreciative, respectful, reverent, and optimistic.

Identify the tone

Ruled supports the author's admiring tone. Ruled is stronger and represents a major influence while lead is positive, yet it represents less dominance. The author is trying to say that Andrew Carnegie was a successful man because he led the steel industry, and he donated some of his wealth. Furthermore, the author demonstrates his admiring tone when he says, “He died a rich man, in more ways than one." The author refers to Carnegie’s success in terms of the money he earned and the love he received as a result of his generosity.

Understand that the author did not experience these events first hand. Therefore, his tone isn’t successful, generous, or persevering. What is the author’s tone according to this response?

Determine the connotation of ruled

Ruled supports the author's admiring tone. Ruled is stronger and represents a major influence while lead is positive, yet it represents less dominance. The author is trying to say that Andrew Carnegie was a successful man because he led the steel industry, and he donated some of his wealth. Furthermore, the author demonstrates his admiring tone when he says, “He died a rich man, in more ways than one." The author refers to Carnegie’s success in terms of the money he earned and the love he received as a result of his generosity.

To simplify connotation, just answer the questions on your strategy: Is ruled stronger or weaker than lead? Is it more positive or negative? Then, it’s good to add the denotation, or what the word actually means. Underline the connotations and highlight the denotations of this example.

Determine the connotation of ruled

Ruled supports the author's admiring tone. Ruled is stronger and represents a major influence while lead is positive, yet it represents less dominance. The author is trying to say that Andrew Carnegie was a successful man because he led the steel industry, and he donated some of his wealth. Furthermore, the author demonstrates his admiring tone when he says, “He died a rich man, in more ways than one." The author refers to Carnegie’s success in terms of the money he earned and the love he received as a result of his generosity.

To simplify connotation, just answer the questions on your strategy: Is ruled stronger or weaker than lead? Is it more positive or negative? Then, it’s good to add the denotation, or what the word actually means. Underline the connotations and highlight the denotations of this example.

Analyze the word choice

Ruled supports the author's admiring tone. Ruled is stronger while lead is weaker.

Notice that the analysis is missing. You’re going to complete the analysis on the paper that you havebeen given. Write an effective analysis by combining why the author chose “ruled” and how it impacts the meaning of the text.

Analysis of word choice

Analyze the word choice

Charred supports the author’s appalled tone. The connotation of charred is strongly negative while burnt isn’t as negative.

Notice that the individual analyses are missing. You’re going to complete them on the paper that you have been given. Work backwards to split up the effective analysis into the two parts: why the authorchose the word and how impacts the meaning of the text.

Analysis of word choice

Analyze the word choice

Rallied supports the author's admiring tone. Rallied is positive while worked is sometimes negative.

Notice that the questions are missing; you’re going to complete them on the paper that you have been given. Work backwards to figure out what you were actually answering to producean effective analysis.

Analysis of word choice

Common Mistakes and Reflection

Common Mistakes:

Didn’t state a specific tone

Thinking that the events were the author’s experiences

Writing the definitions of rallied and worked instead of discussing the feeling the reader gets from the words (positive, negative, strong, weak, etc.)

Leaving out important details about the meaning of the text

Finding a quote without explaining how it connects to the tone

Use what you learned today and your test score to complete the second entry of your reflection log. Specify what you missed. Reflect on your vocabulary goal, too.