Tone Word Choice

How does a reader determine author's tone?

• Identify the author and topic

• Read an interview of the source's author

• Analyze author's word choice

• Infer tone using author's word choice

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

What is the tone of these words:

• positive

• negative

• humor/irony/sarcasm

• sorrow/fear/worry

• neutral

Tags

CCSS.L.3.3A

CCSS.L.4.3A

CCSS.L.5.3A

CCSS.L.6.3A

CCSS.L.6.3B

What is tone?

• How the reader feels about a given topic, audience, or character

• The way a source sounds when read aloud

• The way a reader's voice sounds

• How the author feels about a given topic, audience, or character

Tags

CCSS.L.3.3A

CCSS.L.4.3A

CCSS.L.5.3A

CCSS.L.6.3A

CCSS.L.6.3B

How is tone expressed?

• With the word positive, neutral, or negative

• In a word or short phrase

• the author will state it explicitly

• Tone will be expressed in the title of the source

Tags

CCSS.L.3.3A

CCSS.L.4.3A

CCSS.L.5.3A

CCSS.L.6.3A

CCSS.L.6.3B

What is the tone of these words:

• positive

• negative

• humor/irony/sarcasm

• sorrow/fear/worry

• neutral

Tags

CCSS.L.3.3A

CCSS.L.4.3A

CCSS.L.5.3A

CCSS.L.6.3A

CCSS.L.6.3B

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 

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Just when I thought things could  not get more ridiculous, Rebecca's little terrier, all dressed up in its knitted blue winter outfit, poked its head out of the pink polka dot doggy tote!  The outfit was an odd sweater-and-hood combination.  Perhaps Rebecca thought it flattered Fluffy's eyes.  Fluffy looked around blankly, as if to ask what was so amusing.
What word would you use to describe the tone of this passage?

• Bitter

• Respectful 

• Objective

• Humorous 

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

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.

• an encyclopedia entry

• a letter to a friend

• a movie review

• a political speech

Answer explanation

An encyclopedia entry

Accordign othe passage, "if you want to inform your reader and not persuade her, an objective tone might be best." An encyclopedia entry, which is meant to inform, most likely has an objective tone.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.3A

CCSS.L.4.3A

CCSS.L.5.3A

CCSS.L.6.3A

CCSS.L.6.3B

What is the tone of these words:

• positive

• negative

• humor/irony/sarcasm

• sorrow/fear/worry

• neutral

Tags

CCSS.L.3.3A

CCSS.L.4.3A

CCSS.L.5.3A

CCSS.L.6.3A

CCSS.L.6.3B

What is the tone of these words:

• positive

• negative

• humor/irony/sarcasm

• sorrow/fear/worry

• neutral

Tags

CCSS.L.3.3A

CCSS.L.4.3A

CCSS.L.5.3A

CCSS.L.6.3A

CCSS.L.6.3B