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Figures of Speech to Understand Nuance

Tags

ELA: Reading All Ages Strategy

Skills

Flexible Thinking Social Awareness Verbal Reasoning

Figures of Speech to Understand Nuance

If your student tends to read text very literally

Instruction And Practice

  1. Objective: Students will learn to interpret figures of speech, and the associated tone or applications that go along with them, to help them pick up nuances and interpret the author's intent.
  2. Teach students the most common types and examples of figures of speech, and why an author is using them. Take time to review them when they come up during discussions or reading, even if that is not part of the lesson objective.
  3. Consider if it is worthwhile to have students memorize important figures of speech.

Figures Of Speech

  1. Simile: Used for comparison of two similar items. The writer often will do this for emphasis and to create a visual image in the reader's mind.
  2. Metaphor: Used for comparison of two similar items, often using the word "is" to create greater emphasis than a simile.
  3. Analogy: Used for more complex comparisons to aid in understanding, but perhaps less to create visual imagery. Here are some apps that teach analogies.
  4. Hyperbole: An obvious exaggeration intended for effect.
  5. Idiom: Common sayings that the writer expects the reader to be familiar with, even though the words would never be used literally. Be sure your students are familiar with and understand the most common ones.
  6. Here are some options to practice and learn figures of speech.

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

Writers often use figures of speech to make their writing more vivid and interesting, but if students are not aware of the intent and take the speech literally, they could be very confused. Helping students understand word play can be important as they progress to more nuanced text and dialogue.