What is Normal? Exploring Connotations and Denotations

The goal of this lesson is to give students the opportunity to explore the connotations and denotations of the word "normal" and its various meanings. Through the use of "Us and Them," a personal essay by David Sedaris, students will explore the various beliefs and points of view of "normal" based on the picture painted by Sedaris. Students will need to consider the emotional context of words and how diction reveals an author's tone and message, as well as how the use of irony can impact the tone of a piece. Students will also read and analyze a Time article, "An In-Depth View of America by the Numbers," by Nancy Gibbs. For the summative assessment, students will write an explanatory essay (several prompts are provided) about normality using evidence from the texts studied in the lesson for support.
Resource ID#: 29409 Type: Lesson Plan
Rate It!
Feedback?

Please sign in to access this resource

Teacher
Click here to sign in
as a FL public educator

Not a Florida public school educator?

Access this resource
on CPALMS.com

General Information

Subject(s): English Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 8
Intended Audience: Educators educators
Suggested Technology: Document Camera, Computer for Presenter, Computers for Students, Internet Connection, LCD Projector, Overhead Projector
Instructional Time: 4 Hour(s)
Resource supports reading in content area:Yes
Freely Available: Yes
Keywords: denotation, connotation, irony, verbal irony, sarcasm, tone, David Sedaris, Us and Them, Time magazine, normal
Instructional Component Type(s): Lesson Plan,  Worksheet,  Assessment,  Text Resource,  Formative Assessment
Resource Collection: CPALMS Lesson Plan Development Initiative

Aligned Standards

This vetted resource aligns to concepts or skills in these benchmarks.

Related Resources

Other vetted resources related to this resource.