Word Choice Impacts Meaning and Tone

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

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

What is the tone of these words:

• positive

• negative

• humor/irony/sarcasm

• sorrow/fear/worry

• neutral

What is the tone of these words:

• positive

• negative

• humor/irony/sarcasm

• sorrow/fear/worry

• neutral

What is the tone of these words:

nervous, upset, confused, anxious

• positive

• negative

• humor/irony/sarcasm

• sorrow/fear/worry

• neutral

What is the tone of these words:

• positive

• negative

• humor/irony/sarcasm

• sorrow/fear/worry

• neutral

What is the tone of these words:

• positive

• negative

• humor/irony/sarcasm

• sorrow/fear/worry

• neutral

Why is tone important?

• Readers can't interpret their own feelings without knowing how the author feels

• Because my teacher said so

• Critical readers need to be aware about the author's attitude towards the topic

• Readers should know how authors feel about the topic, so that they can feel the same thing.

Tone may be hidden, because authors rarely state their feelings directly.

• true

• false

Which of the following sentences best demonstrates the impact of word choice on tone?

• The sun was shining brightly in the clear blue sky.

• The sun blazed mercilessly in the cloudless sky.

• The sun was visible in the sky.

• The sun was in the sky.