Author's tone

Multiple Choice

What is tone?

• the reason why an author writes

• the way a reader feel while reading, listening or viewing a text

• the author's attitude about a topic

• the author's attitude about his/her readers

Multiple Choice

Tone is expressed through an author's _____ and _____.

• words; details

• words; sounds

• thoughts; feelings

• ideas; emotions

Multiple Choice

An objective tone would most likely use what kind of words?

• Personal words (pronouns I, me, my, mine, us, them and we)

• Biased words

• Higher level words

• Informal words

Multiple Select

An objective tone would most likely include what kind of details?

• personal experiences

• senses

• reasonable explanations

• facts

Multiple Select

A subjective tone would most likely use what kind of descriptive words?

• feelings

• judgements

• opinions

• facts

Multiple Choice

When you speak, your tone of voice can convey what you mean. For example, you could say, "What a funny joke. You must be a comedian." Depending on how you say it, you might mean that sarcastically or genuinely. It all depends on your tone. In the same way, the tone in a piece of writing is the author's attitude toward their subject. Authors won't just tell you their tone. You have to "listen" to find it by reading between the lines.

The author's attitude toward a subject they are writing about is called the _____.

• mood

• foreshadowing

• tone

• resolution

Multiple Choice

Read the following passage.

This house isn't perfect, but it's where my babies grew up. I know it all by heart. I know every stain on the carpet, every creaking floorboard and every paint chip on the windowsills. Each corner of this small space is filled with memories that I relive when I walk through the narrow hallways.

What words best describe the author's tone in the passage above?

• hopeless and afraid

• angry and violent

• sentimental and tender

• The author doesn't have a tone.

Multiple Choice

Word choice often gives you clues you can use to infer the author's tone. Words have denotations. That's their definition in the dictionary. They also have a connotation. That's their emotional meaning. For example, a person who is interested in others can be described as "curious" or "nosy." "Curious" has a positive connotation. "Nosy" has a negative connotation. In the same way, a person who likes to take charge could be described as "bossy" or "a leader."

She is a busy body .

Does this phrase have a positive or negative connotation?

• Positive connotation

• Negative connotation

• No ide

Multiple Choice

Read the following passage.

Some people might see my cat George soaking up a sunny spot in my living room or sleeping for 20 hours each day and think, "What a lazy cat!" But "lazy" is the wrong word for George. George the Cat is calm, and he is wise. The other night, for example, there was a terrible storm with crashing thunder and bright flashes of lightning that lasted two hours. Another cat might have darted around the room, frantic and hyper, thumping into walls and diving off countertops. But George just woke up from his perch and quietly analyzed the situation, watching me closely for cues to how to react.

What are the words from the passage that has a positive connotation or tone?

• "frantic" and "hyper"

• "calm" and "wise"

• "crashing" and "thumping"

• "sleeping" and "darted"

Multiple Choice

Read the following passage.

There are a lot of different words to describe positive tones. A writer can have a celebratory attitude, or he/she can have a hopeful, excited or reflective tone. Admiring, lighthearted and sympathetic are positive tones, too. On the other hand, a negative tone could be frantic, selfish, bitter or skeptical. Even if the tone isn't positive or negative, there is still a tone. Every piece of writing has one. Sometimes, the tone can be neutral. You might describe a neutral tone as impartial or objective.

Which of the following passages has the most objective or neutral tone? HINT: Neutral has no opinion.

• Do you know about the brave dogs in Nome, Alaska, who saved the town in 1925?

• The people of Nome, Alaska were in big trouble in 1925. It was up to the dogs to save them.

• The hero dogs in Nome, Alaska, did what no pilot could do: they brought medicine to the town.

• In 1925, people were sick and planes couldn't land in Nome, Alaska. Teams of dogs delivered the medicine.

Multiple Choice

Read the following passage.

Depending on what you're writing, you'll want to have a specific tone. If you were describing your favorite book to a friend, you might have an effusive tone. That means gushing and heartfelt. If you're writing a research paper, you'll want to keep your tone more objective. Textbooks tend to have a neutral tone, sticking to just the facts without showing the author's attitude toward the subject. Tone can be related to purpose. If you want to inform your reader, and not persuade her, an objective tone might be best.

Based on the passage, which of the following most likely has an objective tone?

• an encyclopedia entry

• a letter to a friend

• a movie review

• a political speech

Multiple Choice

Tone isn't only in word choice. You might find clues about an author's tone in figurative language and in syntax. Repetition can emphasize certain words or phrases over others. Using passive voice can take attention away from the person who did the action of a sentence. Verbals can give a piece of writing an exciting tone by adding descriptions of action. Authors make lots of choices when they write, and some of those choices will show their tone.

In which of the following passages does repetition help establish a bitter tone?

• The spoiled child was not easily satisfied, he was not quick to laugh and he did not enjoy simple pleasures.

• There will be peace in our community, peace in our town, peace in our homes, and peace on Earth.

• The brave girl beat the dangerous dragon, got through the dangerous jungle, and survived the dangerous journey.

• My mom told me what happened and I cried until my tears filled up the car and I nearly drowned in them.