Word Choice Impacts Meaning and Tone

Authors set a TONE or MOOD in writing by conveying emotion through ________.

• pictures

• height

• word choice

• funny faces

_{What is TONE?}

• A person, place or thing

• Action words

• The author's attitude towards something

• The setting of a story

Technical language impacts the tone of a text by making it sound serious or formal.

• True

• False

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 

What is the "tone" of a story?

• The feeling the passage evokes from the reader.

• The author, narrator, or speaker's attitude toward a subject.

• The time and place of the story.

• The summary of events in the story.

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 

How does the author's choice of words impact the tone of the story?

• The author's choice of words impacts the tone of the story by shaping the reader's emotional response and interpretation.

• The author's choice of words has no impact on the tone of the story

• The author's choice of words only impacts the font style of the story

• The author's choice of words impacts the tone of the story by changing the setting

Define the word 'ominous' as used in the text.

• Something that suggests something good is going to happen

• Something that is funny

• Something that is colorful

• Something that suggests something bad is going to happen

The newspaper report of the fire was succinct; that is, it included only the most important information.

What is the meaning of the word succinct in the sentence above?

• interesting

• to the point

• difficult to understand

• detailed and involved

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 up in the sky.

• The sun was visible.