Why is it important to use precise language? Participants explore this question in the fourth activity in a series of 15 on effective instruction. Perfect for all content areas, the activity promotes appropriate language choice through...

A graphic organizer which allows students to document and list the figures of speech they identify in a given piece of literature. These include simile, metaphor, personification, and symbol, and require examples from the text.

This is a two-page PDF of the "Top Twenty Figures of Speech" which provides 20 literary techniques with their definitions from GrammarAbout.com.

This site gives short definitions of the terms denotation and connotation. Also gives definitions for many figures of speech. Finally, includes discussion and study questions for a few poems at the bottom of the page. L.11-12.5b Nuance

Wonderful exercise uses lines from Book II of Vergil's "Aeneid," to test mastery of rhetorical devices that pertain to syntax. Encourages practice of many skills.

Wikipedia provides a detailed definition of figure of speech, and then includes hyperlinks to different types of figures of speech.

A list of figures of speech and their definitions with examples from literature.

A learning module that teaches students about syntax in six mini-lessons: Introduction, What is Syntax?, The Building Blocks of Syntax-Clauses and Phrases, Adding on-Figures of Speech, and Your Turn.

A definition of the term "conceit" as it applies to figures of speech. It further breaks it down into definitions of Petrarchan conceit and metaphysical conceit.

In this lesson plan, students will consider Their Eyes Were Watching God: Folk Speech and Figurative Language. Worksheets and other supporting materials can be found under the Resources tab. This lesson provides students with an...

A comprehensive A-Z index of grammar terms with explanations and examples. Each entry provides links to activities and other resources available on the site for more practice on that aspect of grammar. Suggested activities are often...

Lesson plan which helps students understand the impact of the literary element of style on a piece of writing. Students read and analyze the works of Ernest Hemingway and Nathaniel Hawthorne. L.11-12.3 Language Functions/Style,...

Contains plans for five to seven lessons that teach about figurative language like similes, metaphors, and personification by asking learners to write award acceptance speeches that incorporate them. In addition to objectives and...

This site is a great exercise that helps students practice identifying and translating rhetorical devices in Latin poetry. Uses examples from Book II of Vergil's Aeneid.

A brief organizer in which students can analyze a given selection's writing style. Includes sections on diction, figures of speech, images, and sentence structure.

This lesson focuses on the use of imagery and figurative language in writing to aid understanding and create images in the mind.

This is a summary and analysis of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing including a list of characters, a plot summary and analysis, figures of speech, metaphors of fire, Dogberry's Malaporpisms, animal imagery, and study questions and...

Contains plans for two lessons that explain an inductive method for analyzing poetry. Seamus Heaney's "Blackberry Picking" is analyzed using this model as an example, although the method can be used on a variety of poems. In addition to...

Source: Paradoxes, James Guppy, Flickr Paradox is a type of figurative language that A Handbook to Literature defines as "a statement that while seemingly contradictory or absurd may actually be well-founded or true." You will find...

[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] In this lesson, you will learn to evaluate the role of irony, paradox, and sarcasm in literary nonfiction such as speeches and essays. It includes the definitions and...

This lesson focuses on what descriptive writing including defining it and discussing the characteristics. It includes links to several websites about descriptive writing including the Discovery Education Video: "Literature for Children:...

This slideshow lesson focuses on euphemisms including providing definition and background, lists of common examples, practice determining meaning, information about when to use, and links to more information about them. L.9-10.5a Figures...

This tutorial focuses on the use of hyperbole; it defines the term and explains when it is used. It offers two video clips: the first demonstrates the use of hyperbole in song lyrics as it highlights them, and the second shows the use of...

This site offers a multitude of figurative language quizzes (some by grade level), a PowerPoint presentation and links to much more. It features a 30 question quiz asking students to either read or listen to statements and then select...