Loaded Word Use for Persuasive Writing 8th Grade Mini-Lesson by Taylor Anne Weaver Standards:

RL.8.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.

L.8.5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

Objective: Students will identify and define samples of loaded words within mentor texts and will create (or revise) a persuasive writing sample to incorporate loaded words. Materials:

Whiteboard Computers with internet access Copies of former student samples Writers notebooks (or paper) Pencils Highlighters

Procedure: Word choice is extremely important for persuasive writing. When choosing words that will help you be persuasive, you must consider the connotation of impactful words. What kind of feeling do the words you are choosing elicit? For example, when I hear the word family, I consider it to be a positive word. Have you ever heard a politician talk about how they support family values in a political ad or during a debate? This is a great example of using loaded words in order to be persuasive. Can you think of a word that elicits a negative feeling? Allow students to think-pair-share words with negative connotations. List responses on the board. Facilitate another think-pair-share for words with positive connotations. List responses on the board. Some words elicit stronger feelings than others. Which of the words on the board do you consider to be the strongest choices? Why would a writer want to use stronger words for their persuasive writing? Draw a three-column chart on the whiteboard with the labels: Positive Words | Negative words | Text Example (sentence)

Have students copy the chart into their writers notebooks (or distribute printed versions if desired). Tell students that they will be working in small groups of 2-3 to do a close study of persuasive writings to look for use of loaded words. Explain that they will be looking both online for mentor texts and using good examples from former students. Students are to continue looking at new texts to find as many examples of both positive and negative loaded words as possible. In the third column of the chart, they are to record the sentence in which the word is used. Write the web addresses for the following mentor texts on the board: http://www.thewritesource.com/studentmodels/ws2k-summer.htm http://www.mnh.si.edu http://www.thewritesource.com/studentmodels/wi-petpeeve.htm Distribute past student work samples. Tell students that they may also look online at news editorials in opinion sections. Divide students into groups and allow them to begin working. Allow students to share their findings at the end of class. The teacher will circulate throughout the classroom to guide student thinking and ask questions to help students identify the strongest examples of loaded words. Assessment: Students will write a persuasive essay or letter using loaded words, or add to a previous persuasive writing. When the writing is completed, students will go through and highlight the loaded words they used. Students will complete and attach a self-evaluation form (seen below) for this formative assessment. Language Standard 8

I can analyze specific word choices on meaning and tone. I can use loaded words in persuasive writing to demonstrate my understanding of

nuances in word meanings. What score would you give yourself for this standard from 1 (I didnt do the standard) to 5 (I completely understand the standard. I completed this independently.)? Why? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Did you use more negative loaded words or positive? How did you choose the words you used? _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________