6th grade · English Language Arts · Unit 2 of 12
Connotation & Tone
Word choice changes meaning
What your child practices
Words can share a dictionary meaning (denotation) but carry different feelings (connotation), like “cozy” and “cramped.” Students choose words for effect and identify a writer's tone.
Maine Learning Results learning standard: Reading 7; Language 5 · connotation and tone
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- Denotation is a word’s dictionary meaning. Connotation is the feeling it carries.
- Cozy and cramped both mean small, but cozy feels good and cramped feels bad.
- Tone is the writer’s attitude, shown by word choice: cheerful, angry, worried, playful.
Example: Which has the more positive connotation: “thrifty” or “stingy”? Both mean careful with money. Stingy sounds selfish. Thrifty sounds wise. Answer: thrifty
Connotation & Tone in Maine
In the Maine Learning Results, this is unit 2 of 12 in 6th grade English Language Arts, after Point of View and before Make Your Case.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
- 6th grade guide for Maine parents
- Printable 6th grade English Language Arts sheet
- Maine report cards explained
Source: Maine Department of Education
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Sort each word: positive or negative connotation?
Sort into: 😊 Positive · 😒 Negative
- 🔤scrawny
- 🔤cozy
- 🔤stubborn
- 🔤nosy
- 🔤confident
- 🔤thrifty
😊 Positive: cozy, confident, thrifty · 😒 Negative: scrawny, stubborn, nosy
Hint: Ask yourself: would you feel pleased or upset if someone used this word to describe you?
Question 2
Which word has the most positive connotation?
- unusual
- weird
- unique
unique
Hint: All three words mean about the same thing (not common or ordinary). Which one sounds the most pleasant?
Question 3
Which word has the most negative connotation?
- trudge
- walk
- stroll
trudge
Hint: All three words mean about the same thing (to move along on foot). Which one sounds the most unpleasant?
Question 4
Which sentence shows that the writer admires Leo?
- Leo talks in class.
- Leo is arrogant and talks over everyone.
- Leo is confident and speaks up in class.
Leo is confident and speaks up in class.
Hint: “Confident” and “arrogant” are close in meaning, but only one is a compliment.
Question 5
What is the tone of this message?
Please be careful near the edge. The rocks are slippery, and the water is deeper than it looks.
- cautious
- bored
- playful
- furious
cautious
Hint: The writer gives a warning about possible danger.
Question 6
Which sentence makes the room sound unpleasant?
- The room was cramped and dim.
- The room was small and had one lamp.
- The room was cozy and softly lit.
The room was cramped and dim.
Hint: Look for words with negative connotations.