English lesson plan · 9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 45 minutes
Word choice that reveals a writer's attitude
Vocabulary
CCSS L.9-10.5.BCCSS RI.9-10.4England: GCSE English Language Paper 2 Q3England: SAT Reading and Writing (Words in Context)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Word choice that reveals a writer's attitude.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Near-synonyms: strength and shades of meaning; Connotation and denotation
Leads to: Precise reporting verbs: argues, concedes, refutes, speculates…; Bias and loaded language in reporting; Words for tone and attitude: indignant, sardonic, conciliatory…
Materials: Word cards, A thesaurus or dictionary, A short text with the target words, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Near-synonyms: strength and shades of meaning; Connotation and denotation). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Read the question and choose. Which word has the most NEGATIVE connotation for someone who is confident? (self-assured / arrogant / bold / assertive) → arrogantPrompt: Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling a word carries.
- Choose the word whose exact shade of meaning best fits the context. The old map was ___: it was the only one of its kind in the world. (unusual / rare / uncommon / unique) → uniquePrompt: All the choices are related. Look for the detail in the sentence that rules most of them out.
- Read the question and choose. Which word has the most NEGATIVE connotation for an old building? (decrepit / historic / vintage / antique) → decrepitPrompt: Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling a word carries.
Hook · 5 min
- Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
- Share the objective: Word choice that reveals a writer's attitude. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Choose the word that best conveys the writer's attitude. The writer is critical of the crowd: "A ___ gathered outside the stadium."
- Step 1: Connotation lets a writer show approval or criticism without saying it directly.
- Step 2: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "The writer is critical of the crowd: "A mob gathered outside the stadium.""
- Step 3: So the answer is: mob
- Answer: mob
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Is the proposed answer correct? The writer disapproves of the politician: "The minister ___ the question." → dodged (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Decide whether the writer's attitude is positive or negative.
- Choose the word that best conveys the writer's attitude. The writer approves of the plan's cost: "The scheme is ___." (economical / stingy / cut-price / cheap) → economicalPrompt: Decide whether the writer's attitude is positive or negative.
You do: independent practice · 10 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Is the proposed answer correct? The writer disapproves of the politician: "The minister ___ the question." → addressed (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: Decide whether the writer's attitude is positive or negative.
- Choose the word that best conveys the writer's attitude. The writer approves of the plan's cost: "The scheme is ___." (stingy / economical / cheap / cut-price) → economicalPrompt: Decide whether the writer's attitude is positive or negative.
Watch out for
- Picking a "bigger" synonym that doesn't fit the meaning.
- Ignoring the clues in the rest of the sentence.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Near-synonyms: strength and shades of meaning.
- Use concrete materials: word cards.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Precise reporting verbs: argues, concedes, refutes, speculates…; Bias and loaded language in reporting; Words for tone and attitude: indignant, sardonic, conciliatory….
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-9.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder