Use a thesaurus strategically — choose by connotation, register, and rhythm (CCSS L.7.4.c)

Apply the thesaurus-literacy routine: a thesaurus offers candidates, not equivalents. For each candidate, evaluate (1) CONNOTATION fit with intended meaning, (2) REGISTER fit with essay's formality, (3) RHYTHM fit in the sentence. Verify candidate in dictionary before committing. Recognize that mis-choosing produces wrong-word errors that spell-checkers miss.

Mastery threshold

85%

Min instances

Typical minutes

Spaced intervals (days)

1, 3, 7, 14, 30, 60

Prereqs

Successors

Compose a 5-paragraph analytical essay with CEA body structure and syntactic variety (CCSS W.7.1.a-e; W.7.2.a-f; W.7.4-6)

Common misconceptions

Substitutes thesaurus candidate without checking connotation — produces stilted or wrong-tone prose.
Reaches for thesaurus to AVOID a simple word; the simple word is often the right word.

Exercise pool (2)

Diff	Stem	Type
3	For 'said' the thesaurus gives: declared, whispered, argued, mumbled, asserted, opined, articulated. Choose the BEST fit for each...	thesaurus choice
3	Audit this paragraph (provided). Identify 3 words where a thesaurus substitution would IMPROVE precision or rhythm. For each, propose a...	thesaurus audit