Tone Lesson

​Tone Lesson

How the author's attitude changes what you read.

Poll

How well do you feel you understand tone?

• 1

  (I don't know what it is at all)

• 2

• 3

  (I partially understand it. I might get the question right sometimes)

• 4

• 5

  ( I understand it well and can explain it to others)

​What is Tone?

Tone is the author's attitude about the subject that they are writing on.

If something is written in objective tone (objectively), this means that you cannot tell what the author's attitude toward the subject is.

​

They have not included any words that let you know what they think about the subject.​

​

Objective Tone

​

​Objective Tone

Incident with a Car

The car drove quickly down the road. The car hit a wall. All of the passengers made it out alive, and one went to the hospital with minor injuries.​

The writer does not reveal how she feels about the subject through her words. She only includes the facts about what happened.​

Multiple Choice

What does it mean to have "objective tone?"

• The writer uses specific words to explain how they feel about the subject.

• The writer uses tone words.

• The writer does not show their attitude toward the subject.

• The writer includes empirical evidence to support their claim.

A reckless driver barreled down ​the neighborhood streets at excessive speeds, carelessly wrecking into a wall. It was a miracle that everyone survived, but one passenger was unfortunately hospitalized.

Reckless Wreck Hospitalizes Passenger​

The car drove quickly down the road. The car hit a wall. All of the passengers made it out alive, and one went to the hospital with minor injuries.

Incident with a Car

​Tone Comparison

Multiple Choice

The tone of this paragraph can be described as: _______

A reckless driver barreled down ​the neighborhood streets at excessive speeds, carelessly wrecking into a wall. It was a miracle that everyone survived, but one passenger was unfortunately hospitalized.

• Objective

• Celebratory

• Disapproving

• Inspiring

• Sarcastic

Open Ended

Which words in the paragraph give you a clue about the author's tone?

A reckless driver barreled down ​the neighborhood streets at excessive speeds, carelessly wrecking into a wall. It was a miracle that everyone survived, but one passenger was unfortunately hospitalized.

Six gears. Four passengers. One driver. Zero regrets. That's the story of our number four crash this week. The driver cruised down the street at a blistering 90 MPH, living life the best way he could: fast. The end of the road also caught up fast, sending him and his passengers into a wild ride into the wall.​ The driver and all four of his copilots tumbled out with the best story of their lives so far. Rock on, dudes!

Top 5 Epic Crashes This Week: Number 4

The car drove quickly down the road. The car hit a wall. All of the passengers made it out alive, and one went to the hospital with minor injuries.

Incident with a Car

​Tone Comparison

Multiple Choice

The tone of this paragraph can be described as: _______

Six gears. Four passengers. One driver. Zero regrets. That's the story of our number four crash this week. The driver cruised down the street at a blistering 90 MPH, living life the best way he could: fast. The end of the road also caught up fast, sending him and his passengers into a wild ride into the wall.​ The driver and all four of his copilots tumbled out with the best story of their lives so far. Rock on, dudes!

• Objective

• Celebratory

• Disapproving

• Inspiring

• Sarcastic

Open Ended

Which words in the paragraph give you a clue about the author's tone?

Six gears. Four passengers. One driver. Zero regrets. That's the story of our number four crash this week. The driver cruised down the street at a blistering 90 MPH, living life the best way he could: fast. The end of the road also caught up fast, sending him and his passengers into a wild ride into the wall.​ The driver and all four of his copilots tumbled out with the best story of their lives so far. Rock on, dudes!

Multiple Choice

Which tone is represented in the following passage? "Wow! With a top speed of one hundred fifty miles per hour, that car can almost fly!"

• Annoying
• Excited
• Calm
• Scary

Multiple Choice

My annoying brother likes to drive me crazy. There is no other who is that lazy.

He whines to Mom and Dad night and day, until he eventually gets his way.

What is a sister to do, when he screams 'til he's blue?

There is no way to win, for he gets under your skin.

He does his best to kill all joy. Oh, how my brother does annoy!

What is the TONE of the poem?

• frustrated

• humorous

• depressed

• happy

Multiple Choice

What is the tone of the following passage? The alarm buzzed. Jordan smashed her fist down on it--hard. It flew off the nightstand and bounced off her cat, Armstrong. The cat yowled indignantly and rocketed out the room.

• Eerie
• Sarcastic
• Passionate
• Humorous

Multiple Choice

What is the tone of the passage below?

We have come together this afternoon to mourn the deaths of sixteen miners—our friends and neighbors—who were trapped by fire yesterday, deep below the earth. They lived bravely and they died too soon, leaving behind grieving wives and bewildered children. We bid them a final farewell.

• forgiving

• sorrowful

• angry

Multiple Choice

Lana was bursting with excitement.  She paced up and down, and every few minutes headed to the window to check for the mail carrier.  When he finally showed up, she ran down the path and stretched out her hand for the mail.  She took a deep breath and, hands shaking, ripped open the envelope.  

What word would you use to describe the tone of this passage?

• humorous 
• persuasive 
• anxious 
• cheerful 

Multiple Choice

What does it mean to have "objective tone?"

• The writer uses specific words to explain how they feel about the subject.

• The writer uses tone words.

• The writer does not show their attitude toward the subject.

• The writer includes empirical evidence to support their claim.

Poll

How well do you feel you understand tone?

• 1

  (I don't know what it is at all)

• 2

• 3

  (I partially understand it. I might get the question right sometimes)

• 4

• 5

  ( I understand it well and can explain it to others)