Pass-4 MECHANICS + denotation/connotation precision + final Tier-2 Set 18

Quick-share: name 2 words with similar denotation but different connotation (e.g., thrifty / cheap; curious / nosy).

• Affirm connotation awareness
• Connect: today we audit capstone diction

Today: PASS-4 MECHANICS audit + denotation/connotation precision audit + final 5 Tier-2 Set 18 words for cumulative mastery. Pass 4 has 8 criteria: (1) MLA 9th in-text 6-case precision. (2) Works Cited 6-source-type templates correct. (3) Hanging indent; alphabetization. (4) Pause-and-break punctuation correct. (5) Dash-colon distinction applied deliberately. (6) Ellipsis-for-omission ethical. (7) Spelling verified with reference materials. (8) Title page / header formatted per MLA. Pass 4 is the LAST pass — fix surface errors without introducing new content. The pass-4 trap: students try to keep revising content. Resist — Pass 4 is mechanics only. Now denotation/connotation precision (MG-7). Denotation: literal/dictionary meaning. Connotation: emotional/cultural/evaluative association. Audit your capstone for connotation-mismatch — places where you used the right denotation but wrong connotation. Examples: 'thrifty' (positive) vs. 'cheap' (negative); 'slim' (positive) vs. 'gaunt' (negative-clinical); 'curious' (positive) vs. 'nosy' (negative). Use the thesaurus to find connotation-correct alternatives. This is a Pass-3 follow-up but easier to do today as you finalize. Finally: final 5 Tier-2 Set 18 words consolidating 20-word mastery — LOGOS, MODULATE, EXIGENCE, PERSONA, REGISTER (you've met all 5 across the term; today they consolidate).

• Big corporations aren't 'frugal' — that's a person word. Connotation includes cultural-context fit.

  model 'Frugal' is a positive connotation — careful with money in a simple-living sense. Applied to a corporation, it sounds odd. Better: 'efficient,' 'cost-disciplined,' 'thrift-conscious.' The denotation (spending little) is shared; the connotation matters.

  prompt Sample connotation-mismatch in capstone: 'The corporation's frugal practices saved millions.' What's wrong?
• Pass-4 is concrete: visible errors fixed. Don't over-think — fix and move on.

  model Fix hanging indent in word processor (Format → Paragraph → Special → Hanging). 0.5" indent on subsequent lines. Verify all entries.

  prompt Sample Pass-4 audit finding: 'My Works Cited list is alphabetized but missing hanging indent.' Revision priority?

• Pair-share: name 1 connotation-mismatch in your capstone.
• Cold Call: define 'register' using its etymology.

M-8-S-WR-17-A Chart

MG-11 anchor with Pass-4 MECHANICS band visible (8 criteria with 4-point scoring). Print-ready 18x24.

MG-11 Chart Physical / non-image

4-pass capstone revision rubric anchor: 4-band card with criteria per pass and conference connection. PASS 1 — STRUCTURE (8 criteria). (1) Audience-aware thesis present in paragraph 1. (2) Audience choice (academic/civic/creative) named and consistent. (3) 5-9 paragraphs with clear organization. (4) Body paragraphs develop sub-claims (not summary). (5) Counter-argument paragraph present and refuted. (6) Conclusion with restated thesis and so-what. (7) Word-count target met (1500-2000 typical; reduced/stretch noted). (8) Title is specific and audience-aware. PASS 2 — CONTENT (8 criteria). (1) Research-driven evidence in each body paragraph. (2) ≥5 sources integrated; ≥10 MLA-cited references. (3) Synthesis moves from G8-fall applied. (4) CEA paragraphs from G7-spring used. (5) Counter-argument is steel-manned (best version of opposition, not strawman). (6) So-what is clear and audience-specific. (7) Tier-2 Set 18 words used (≥5 of 20). (8) Etymology-informed diction visible in ≥3 places. PASS 3 — SENTENCE (10 criteria). (1) Formal register consistent across full piece. (2) Sentence-length variation (short / medium / long across paragraphs). (3) Verbals used deliberately (≥3 places). (4) Active/passive voice chosen deliberately (≥2 each justified). (5) Conditional or subjunctive used purposively (≥1). (6) No unjustified voice/mood shifts. (7) Cohesion within paragraphs (repeated key terms; thread-tracing — Williams). (8) Coherence across paragraphs (thesis-paragraph echoes — Williams). (9) Connotation-precise diction (no thesaurus-mismatches). (10) Sentence rhythm matches register (academic/civic/creative). PASS 4 — MECHANICS (8 criteria). (1) MLA 9th in-text 6-case precision. (2) Works Cited 6-source-type templates correct. (3) Hanging indent; alphabetization. (4) Pause-and-break punctuation (comma/dash/ellipsis) correct. (5) Dash-colon distinction applied deliberately. (6) Ellipsis-for-omission ethical. (7) Spelling verified with reference materials. (8) Title page / header formatted per MLA. CONFERENCE CONNECTION: each pass triggers a teacher conference checkpoint (4 conferences total during the capstone arc, one per pass). Print-ready 18x24.

M-8-S-VOC-17-B Chart

MG-7 anchor with 3 example sets (thrifty/frugal/cheap; curious/inquisitive/nosy; slim/thin/scrawny/gaunt) and capstone-application notes. Print-ready 11x17.

MG-7 Chart

Denotation/connotation precision anchor (CCSS L.8.5.c): 2-column card with definitions, examples, and capstone-application. DEFINITIONS: DENOTATION is the literal/dictionary meaning. CONNOTATION is the emotional, cultural, or evaluative association the word carries. EXAMPLE SETS: SET 1 — 'thrifty' (positive connotation: careful with money), 'frugal' (neutral-positive connotation: simple in habits), 'cheap' (negative connotation: stingy or low-quality), 'penny-pinching' (negative connotation: miserly). All four share denotation (spending little) but differ in connotation. SET 2 — 'curious' (positive), 'inquisitive' (neutral-positive), 'nosy' (negative), 'intrusive' (strongly negative). SET 3 — 'slim' (positive), 'thin' (neutral), 'scrawny' (negative), 'gaunt' (negative-clinical). CAPSTONE APPLICATION: when revising in Pass-3 SENTENCE, audit your diction. Is each word's CONNOTATION serving your meaning? If you describe a research subject as 'cheap' when 'thrifty' was meant, the connotation undermines your argument. Use the thesaurus to find connotation-correct alternatives. Bottom rule: 'Choose words for both denotation AND connotation. The wrong connotation can sabotage the right denotation.' Print-ready 11x17.

• Pass-4 MECHANICS audit. Score 8 criteria. Fix all visible errors.

  scaffold MG-11 Pass-4 rubric; reference materials at desk
• Denotation/connotation diction audit. Identify ≥3 capstone diction choices for review. Replace with connotation-precise alternatives using thesaurus.

  scaffold MG-7 card; thesaurus at desk

• Submit Pass-4 audit with fixes applied.
• Submit your 3 connotation-precise replacements with rationale.

• Restate: Pass-4 fixes surface; connotation precision is a Pass-3 follow-up
• Preview lesson 18: capstone speech rehearsal + Q&A handling

• Polish capstone toward complete-draft milestone. Print 1 clean copy for week 16 milestone. Continue annotated reading log final piece.