Comparing Texts

Comparing Texts and Tones

​Comparison

​We commonly compare two of more things, such as those things that are big, Bigger, and BIGGEST.

​

​Actually, in life, we compare EVERYTHING all day and everyday, constantly. How do you know what food tastes better, what phone performs better, what clothes look better?

​

​We also compare English texts, such as letters, voices of people speaking, or stories.

​Comparing Tones

​Tone is the 'kind' or 'sound' of a voice. For example, if you arrive late to class your teacher may say to you:

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​a) Why are you late? That is VERY rude!

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​b) Ugh, you are late again.

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​c) Ah, you are a little late. Please remember to come on time.

Multiple Choice

Which tone is the politest (polite) response?

• ​a) Why are you late? That is VERY rude!

• ​​b) Ugh, you are late again.

• ​​c) Ah, you are a little late. Please remember to come on time.

Multiple Choice

Which tone is the laziest (lazy) response?

• ​a) Why are you late? That is VERY rude!

• ​​b) Ugh, you are late again.

• ​​c) Ah, you are a little late. Please remember to come on time.

Multiple Choice

Which tone is the angriest response?

• ​a) Why are you late? That is VERY rude!

• ​​b) Ugh, you are late again.

• ​​c) Ah, you are a little late. Please remember to come on time.

Multiple Choice

Which tone is the friendliest response?

• ​a) Why are you late? That is VERY rude!

• ​​b) Ugh, you are late again.

• ​​c) Ah, you are a little late. Please remember to come on time.

​Comparing Tones

​Lets look at another example:

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​a) OH MY GOSH! That's the most amazing phone game ever!

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​b) Yeah, whatever, that game is okay.

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​c) That game is fine, but I doubt you can play it.

Multiple Choice

Which tone is the most lackluster (least energetic)?

• a) OH MY GOSH! That's the most amazing phone game ever!

• ​​b) Yeah, whatever, that game is okay.

• ​c) That game is fine, but I doubt you can play it.

Multiple Choice

Which tone is the meanest?

• a) OH MY GOSH! That's the most amazing phone game ever!

• ​​b) Yeah, whatever, that game is okay.

• ​c) That game is fine, but I doubt you can play it.

Multiple Choice

Which tone is the rudest?

• a) OH MY GOSH! That's the most amazing phone game ever!

• ​​b) Yeah, whatever, that game is okay.

• ​c) That game is fine, but I doubt you can play it.

Multiple Choice

Which tone is the most excited?

• a) OH MY GOSH! That's the most amazing phone game ever!

• ​​b) Yeah, whatever, that game is okay.

• ​c) That game is fine, but I doubt you can play it.

Multiple Choice

Which tone is the least interested?

• a) OH MY GOSH! That's the most amazing phone game ever!

• ​​b) Yeah, whatever, that game is okay.

• ​c) That game is fine, but I doubt you can play it.

Multiple Choice

Which tone is the most supportive?

• a) OH MY GOSH! That's the most amazing phone game ever!

• ​​b) Yeah, whatever, that game is okay.

• ​c) That game is fine, but I doubt you can play it.

​Comparing Texts

​Not only 'voices' have a tone, but all texts have a voice. For instance:

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​More serious, less serious

​More formal, more informal (or less)

​Briefer/shorter, longer

​More boring, more interesting

​Ruder, politer, nicer, angrier, calmer

​etc.

​Look at these two letters.

​Dear SESCO,

​

​I am writing to request that you pay a visit to my house to check my electricity meter. Recently it seems that my bill is higher than usual, but I don't believe I changed my electricity usage.

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Sincerely,​

​

​Wang

​SESCO,

​

​My bill this month is way too high compared to normal. You need to come fix my meter or else I will stop paying. This is the 10th time this happened. If you do not fix it, I will call my lawyer and the local newspaper.

​

​Yuan

Multiple Choice

Which letter is politer?

• Wang

• Yuan

• They are about the same

Multiple Choice

Which letter is ruder?

• Wang

• Yuan

• They are about the same

Multiple Choice

Which letter is more threatening?

• Wang

• Yuan

• They are about the same

Multiple Choice

Which letter is longer?

• Wang

• Yuan

• They are about the same

Multiple Choice

Which letter is more formal?

• Wang

• Yuan

• They are about the same

​Let's look at the letters one by one.

​Dear SESCO,

​

​I am writing to request that you pay a visit to my house to check my electricity meter. Recently it seems that my bill is higher than usual, but I don't believe I changed my electricity usage.

​

Sincerely,​

​

​Wang

This letter is politer and more formal than the Yuan letter.

​

​Which words here are POLITE?

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​Which words here are FORMAL?

​Let's look at the letters one by one.

​Dear SESCO,

​

​I am writing to request that you pay a visit to my house to check my electricity meter. Recently it seems that my bill is higher than usual, but I don't believe I changed my electricity usage.

​

Sincerely,​

​

​Wang

​Which words here are POLITE?

​

​Which words here are FORMAL?

Next letter.

​SESCO,

​

​My bill this month is way too high compared to normal. You need to come fix my meter or else I will stop paying. This is the 10th time this happened. If you do not fix it, I will call my lawyer and the local newspaper.

​

​Yuan

This letter is rude and more threatening than the Yuan letter.

​

​Which words here are RUDE?

​

​Which words here are THREATENING?

Next letter.

​SESCO,

​

​My bill this month is way too high compared to normal. You need to come fix my meter or else I will stop paying. This is the 10th time this happened. If you do not fix it, I will call my lawyer and the local newspaper.

​

​Yuan

This letter is rude and more threatening than the Yuan letter.

​

​Which words here are RUDE?

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​Which words here are THREATENING?

​Another pair of examples.

​Dear Jake,

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​My cat ran away! Please help me find it!

​

​James

​Jane,

​

I have got a bit of a problem. Not only is there a small hole in my fence which may have been cause by your dog, it seems that my cat, Jake, is missing. I don't know where Jake has gone and I'm terribly worried. Also, I found your mail in my mailbox yesterday morning and put it into yours. Hope that's okay.

​

​Yours truly,

​

​Jen

Multiple Choice

James' letter is ___ than Jen's.

• Longer

• Shorter

• Bigger

• Louder

Multiple Choice

James' letter is ___ than Jen's.

• Higher

• More beautiful

• Briefer

• Louder

Multiple Choice

James' letter is ___ than Jen's.

• More to the point

• Wordier

• Ruder

• Faster

Multiple Choice

Jen's letter is ___ than James'.

• More to the point

• Wordier

• Ruder

• Faster

Multiple Choice

Jen's letter is ___ than James'.

• Higher

• More beautiful

• Briefer

• Less focused

Multiple Choice

Jen's letter is ___ than James'.

• Longer

• Shorter

• Bigger

• Louder

​Now you should be better prepared to compare texts.

​

​Good luck!