Tone is a particular way of expressing feelings or attitudes that will influence how - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Tone

is

a particular way of expressing feelings or attitudes that will influence how the reader feels about the characters, events, and outcomes. Speakers show tone more easily than writers because they can use voice tone, gesture, and facial expressions. A writer must use words alone

.

Slide2

Watch

https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3TZGZn5VwA

What is ‘tone’?

How can you identify it?

Slide3

TONE is simply the author’s attitude toward the subject.

You can

recognise

the tone/attitude by the language/word

choices the author uses. His language will reveal his/her

perspective/opinion (that is, whether it is positive/negative)

about the subject.

Tone

must be inferred

through the use of descriptive words.

Slide4

Look at the following two letters. Both convey essentially the same information, but they have two rather different tones.

Letter A

Dear Client:

Thank you for your letter. We will take your suggestion into consideration. We appreciate your concern.

Letter B

Dear Valued Customer:

Thank you for your recent letter regarding our refund policy and procedure. We are taking your suggestion quite seriously and truly appreciate your concern.

Slide5

Use your observations to answer the following questions.

The tone of letter A is best classified as

a) sincere.

b) complimentary.

c) indifferent.

Slide6

The tone of letter B is best classified as

a) cheerful.

b) sincere.

c) apologetic.

Slide7

Which of these letters has a more positive tone?

Why? Evidence.

Slide8

L

etter B uses key words like "

valued

customer" and "

truly

appreciate."

R

efers to the specific contents of the reader's letter, thus letting the reader know that his or her letter has been read.

Furthermore, letter B tells the reader not just that the company "will take your suggestion into consideration"—which sounds a bit like an empty promise but that the writers are taking the suggestion "quite seriously."

Slide9

You may have also noticed that the sentences in letter B are longer than those in letter A.

What meaning does this construe to the reader?

Slide10

The girls were playing in the pond, splashing each other

and trying to catch fish with their hands. They were

having fun, but kept looking over their shoulders at the

looming forest. The long grass of the field kept moving and

they sort of felt like they were being watched… About a half

hour passed and still the girls kept checking the field for

movements. It seemed like a pair of dark eyes was on them.

They even considered going back inside, but that would

mean homework time. So they continued splashing, but

with caution now. Their eyes hardly left the field.

The

tone

of this passage is

ominous

, suggesting a little bit

Of

fear or foreboding

.

Words like "caution, dark, and

looming“ lead readers to the tone.

Slide11

Identifying the TONE is all about knowing the definitions of many descriptive vocabulary words. Without this large vocabulary, it’s difficult to describe outside of “good” and “bad.”

Slide12

POSITIVE TONE

Admiring

Amicable

Appreciative

Approving

Calm

Conciliatory

Diplomatic

Elated

Enthusiastic

Fervent

Friendly

Lively

Passionate

Reasonable

Respectful

Sympathetic

Slide13

POWERFUL/STRONG TONE

Amazed

Astonished

Authoritative

Carping

Caustic

Confrontational

Conservative

Controlled

Definite

Demanding

Didactic, Instructive

Forceful

Forthright

Hypocritical

Incredulous

Moralising

Outraged

Pessimistic

Sacrilegious

Snide

Strident

Slide14

NEGATIVE TONE

Aggressive

Arrogant

Bitter

Bullying

Cynical

Disillusioned

Disappointed

Disparaging

Dogmatic

Hostile

Irritated

Insincere

Insulting

Officious

Patronising

Scathing

Strident

Superior

Sycophantic

Threatening

Venomous, Vindictive

Slide15

MOCKING TONE

Derisive

Facetious

Flippant

Irreverent

Mocking

Ridiculing

Sarcastic

Scornful

Sardonic

Slide16

OTHER USEFUL TONE WORDS

Nostalgic

Apathetic

Apologetic

Baffled

Benevolent

Bland

Blasé

Businesslike

Clichéd

Deprecating, Belittling, Insulting

Despondent

Formal

Indifferent

Matter of fact, Frank

Measured

Neutral

Puzzled

Reasonable

Regretful

Stoic

Slide17

Donovan and Larry were early for baseball practice.

They decided to run up and down the bleachers to

exercise before the rest of the team arrived.

Larry was first to the top. He whispered to

Donovan, “Look over there.” He pointed to a man

sleeping on the highest, narrow bench of the

bleachers. His pants and shirt were faded, worn, and too

large for his thin frame. One big toe stuck out of a huge

hole in his sock. His scraped-up shoes sat a few feet

away.

Donovan whispered, “We should help him out. Let’s hide

something good in his shoes. Then, when he wakes up, he will

have a nice surprise.”

Slide18

How would you describe the

tone

of

this author?

Angry

Detached

Sympathetic

Evidence?

Slide19

About three million people have to look for a place

to sleep at night. Some homeless people have jobs

but do not earn nearly enough money for both food

and shelter. Some become homeless because they

have an unfortunate accident or lose their job. They

do not have any back-up resources to make it

through the hard times.

The homeless face terrible problems. Many become

victims of violence. Serious health problems may begin

because they are exposed to bad weather and unclean

conditions. Homeless children may miss the chance to go

to school. Worst of all, some cities pass laws that make it

even harder on the homeless.

Slide20

How would you describe the

tone

of

this author?

Disgruntled

Nonchalant

Serious

Evidence?

Slide21

Style

is the way the author uses words, phrases, and sentences.

Slide22

Formal

Vocabulary: high-level; business-like

Organization of text: very structured; perhaps with subtopics

Audience – usually

written in the third person

Sentences: structure

varies

Slide23

Informal

Vocabulary – low-level; perhaps slang; dialogue

Organization of text – more so narrative or note-like

Audience – usually

written in the first person

Sentences – don’t vary as much in structure; mostly simple or compound sentences

Slide24

About three million people have to look for a place to sleep at night. Some homeless people have jobs but do not earn nearly enough money for both food and shelter. Some become homeless because they have an unfortunate accident or lose their job. They do not have any back-up resources to make it through the hard times.

The

homeless face terrible problems. Many become victims of violence. Serious health problems may begin because they are exposed to bad weather and unclean conditions. Homeless children may miss the chance to go to school. Worst of all, some cities pass laws that make it even harder on the homeless.

Slide25

How would you describe the writing style of this author?

Formal

Conversational

Colourful

Evidence?

Slide26

Style Words

Amusing

Balanced

Chatty

Clear

Colloquial

Colourful

Controlled

Conversational

Convoluted

Direct

Dramatic

Flowery

Vivid

Witty

Focused

Formal

Fragmented

Incisive

Informal

Learned

Lucid

Measured

Mellifluous

Melodramatic

Polished

Sophisticated