Prairie River Academy

English Language Arts

Grade 7Unit 1Lesson 4

Close reading routines

Study Diction in Context

Today: Analyze how one word choice shapes tone and meaning.

A

Begin

Warm-up

  1. 1.Define diction.

  2. 2.Give a neutral substitute for clawed.

B

Learn

Study Diction in Context

Diction analysis names the word's denotation, connotations, alternatives, and effect in this exact context.

Select a consequential word, define it, compare a neutral substitute, and explain what the original makes the reader feel or understand.

Study the model

The path 'clawed' uphill versus 'rose' uphill.

C

Read

Original PRA passage

The narrow road clawed its way up the mountain, refusing every gentle turn.
ELA-7-01-04-01Original Prairie River Academy curriculumELA-7-01-04-01

Prairie River Academy

Study Diction in Context

Grade 7Practice and apply
D

Practice

Read, think, and respond

  1. 1.What does clawed literally suggest? ELA-7-01-04-Q1

  2. 2.What tone does it create? ELA-7-01-04-Q2

  3. 3.How would rose change the sentence? ELA-7-01-04-Q3

  4. 4.What is personified? ELA-7-01-04-Q4

E

Apply

Use the lesson

Analyze refusing or clawed in a focused paragraph.

ELA-7-01-04-02Original Prairie River Academy curriculumELA-7-01-04-02