English 12 - Mr. RinkaLesson #40

Word Choice to Improve Your Writing &

A Modest Proposal

The Power of Words

The words we choose to use when writing greatly affect the meaning the readers will infer. The tone we use when we speak influences how a listener will interpret our meaning. When writing, the words themselves carry with them a tone that we call connotation. It is very important we

select our words carefully and understand the impact they have. The denotation of a word is the dictionary meaning.

fat = (adjective) carrying a larger than normal amount of fat on one’s body.

The fat man had trouble getting up from his chair.

In this sentence the word has negative connotation. The reader will associate the word “fat” with unattractive, unhealthy, and unproductive.

The man sitting next to me was overweight.

The word “overweight” has a neutral connotation. The reader has neither a negative nor positive feeling for the man.

My father is a robust man.

The word “robust” has a more positive connotation. The reader pictures a robust man as being energetic, strong and productive.

Whether using a verb, an adjective or an adverb, select your words carefully considering the connotation of each and what you want to imply in your writing.

The fashion model was slender and moved gracefully.Slender connotes health and beauty. While gracefully connotes

movements that are dance-like and pleasing.

The slim woman moved gradually along in the crowd.

Slim has a neutral connotation as does the word gradually. The reader dose not judge the woman here.

The emaciated woman moved laboriously down the street.

Emaciated connotes frailty, weakness and illness. Laboriously connotes strain and difficulty.

Positive Neutral Negativeconfident assured cocky

dedicated persistent obsessed

polite diplomatic obsequious

dignified formal reserved

conscientious

prudent cautious

funny amusing silly

grin smile smirk

Word Choice

It’s best to be specific when choosing your words.

run (verb) To move forward quickly upon two feet by alternately making a short jump off of either foot.http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/run

The verb run has many synonyms:

bound, canter, dart, dash, gallop, hurry, jog, lope, plunge, race, rush, scamper, scurry, sprint, tear, trothttp://www.thesaurus.net/search/

Each of these synonyms has it own distinct meaning and connotation.

Acrobats bound…Horses canter…Fish dart…Dogs dash…Horses also gallop…Competitors race…People hurry…Exercisers jog…

Be Specific

I have a good dog. (too general)I have a friendly Collie.I have a loyal Labrador Retriever.I have a quiet Bassett Hound.I have an obedient German Shepherd.

Avoid Redundancies The man smiled happily.The baby cried sadly.The boy hopefully dreamed of success.The young speaker nervously stammered throughout her speech.The dancer stumbled clumsily during her performance.

Avoid Overused Intensifiers

actually, definitely, even, extremely, just, really, so, totally, truly, veryThe sunset was really beautifulThe sunset was spectacular.It was so cold outside.It was freezing outside.The comedian was extremely funny.The comedian was hilarious.

Double-Negativeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_negative

A double negative occurs when two forms of negation are used in the same sentence. Double negatives cancel one another and produce an affirmative sense. Stylistically, in English, double negatives can sometimes be used for understated affirmation.

I didn ’t do nothing. (wrong)I didn ’t do anything (correct)I did nothing. (correct)

He couldn ’t get no help. (wrong)He couldn ’t get any help. (correct)He got no help. (correct)

I could not hardly speak. (I spoke easily.)

I could hardly speak.(It was very difficult to speak.)

I could not speak. (It was impossible to speak.)

Double negatives can sometimes be used for understated affirmation.

I don ’t feel unhappy.He is not unattractive.The movie wasn ’t terrible.The experience wasn ’t awful.

A Modest Proposalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juvenalian_satire#Horatian_vs_Ju

venalian

A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People From Being a Burden to Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Public, commonly referred to as A Modest Proposal, is a Juvenalian satirical essay (addresses social evil through scorn,

outrage, and savage ridicule) written and published anonymously by Jonathan Swift in 1729. Swift suggests that the impoverished Irish might ease their economic troubles by selling their children as food for rich gentlemen and ladies. This satirical hyperbole mocks heartless attitudes towards the poor, as well as Irish policy in general.

In English writing, the phrase "a modest proposal" is now conventionally an allusion to this style of straight-faced satire.

#40 LA 12 A Modest Proposal

Assignment #1

Go to this website http://thesaurus.com/ and type in one of the words from the following list. Write down each synonym for the word and look up the definition of each. Once you have compiled your list, choose 3 synonyms and write an appropriate sentence for

each one. Present these sentences to the class and discuss the subtle or not so subtle differences.

big small fast slow beautiful ugly smart ignorantrich poor hard soft

Assignment #2

Go to one of the following websites for the novel you read:Robinson Crusoe http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/crusoe/

Gulliver’s Travelshttp://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gulliver/

Pride and Prejudicehttp://www.sparknotes.com/lit/pride/

Read the section “Important Quotations Explained.” Choose one of the quotations and present it to the class explaining it in your own words.

English 12 - Mr. RinkaLesson #40

Word Choice to Improve Your Writing &

A Modest Proposal