South Dakota ELA 9-10.L.5.c

ELAGrades 9–10Language

The Standard

Analyze connotative meanings of words with similar denotations.

South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025)

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students compare words with similar basic meanings but different associations. They explain how a word changes the reader's impression of a person, place, or event.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can explain why calling a speaker 'cocky' sounds less approving than calling them 'confident.' They can choose a different word to change the impression and explain their choice.
Common Misconceptions: Students may treat synonyms as interchangeable and miss that 'slim' usually sounds kinder than 'skinny.' They may call a word positive or negative without explaining its effect on the reader.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Compare 'The neighbor was thrifty' with 'The neighbor was stingy.' Which sentence makes the neighbor sound less likable, and what does that word suggest beyond careful spending?

Lesson moves

Give pairs 'thin,' 'slim,' and 'skinny' cards to sort under positive, neutral, and negative headings, then ask them to defend one placement.
Write two sentences about the same speaker, one using 'confident' and one using 'cocky,' then explain which sounds more approving.
Play a synonym swap game: replace 'thrifty' with 'stingy' in a character sketch, then explain the changed impression to earn a point.
Put two price tags on one phone photo, labeled 'affordable' and 'cheap,' then ask which label builds more trust and why.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 9-10.L.5.c, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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