What is tone

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What is tone?

• The writers or speakers attitude toward the
  subject and the audience.

2
Speaking Tone

• With speaking, tone is easy to hear in a persons
  voice.
• Say aloud, Ill be looking for you after
  school, as the following speakers would. Then,
  discuss the tone.
• Best friend
• Bully who wants to beat you up

3
Writing Tone

• With writing, tone is determined by DIDLS
• Diction
• Imagery
• Details
• Language
• Sentence Structure

4
Diction

• Connotation of word choice
• Example
• The girls in the corner laughed.
• (snickered, cackled, chuckled, giggled, cracked
  up, etc.)

5
Imagery

• Vivid details that appeal to senses
• Example
• With an agonized gasp, the soldier collapsed on
  the battle field.
• Mrs. Bitz beamed at her kindergartners with a
  soothing smile and sparkling eyes.

6
Details

• The details the author does/does not choose to
  include
• Example
• How would the details of a fight at you witnessed
  at school vary as told to another student, the
  principal, or your parents?

7
Language

• The overall style of the language
• Slang He laid him out cold.
• Informal He socked him in the jaw.
• Formal In a sudden rage, he thrust his fist
  into his opponents face.

8
Sentence Structure

• Short sentences show urgency or a casual attitude
• We need it now!
• Yeah, whatever you say.
• Long sentences show significance, seriousness, or
  politeness
• I would like you to try to finish this assignment
  today.

9
Identifying tone

• Read the following passages.
• Discuss the elements of tone in each sentence
  with a partner
• Diction
• Imagery
• Details
• Language
• Sentence Structure

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Example 1

• As discussed in our meeting today, each staff
  member should plan to attend a special training
  on the appropriate way to remove snacks from the
  vending machines. Please be prompt.

11
Example 2

• C.J., you are so fine. You know I gotta get wit
  yo fine self sometime and get to know you betta.
  You is on my mind 24/7.

12
Example 3

• My grandmother was not one of those soft, warm
  grandmothers that made cookies and read bedtime
  stories. But she knew the best places to fish,
  taught me everything I know about poker, and
  played a mean saxophone.

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Example 4

• Millie slinked down the steps, purposely ignoring
  her mothers questions. Wheres your hat? When
  will you be home? Who are you going out with?
  She left the constant nagging echoing behind her
  as she pulled the door shut with a quiet click.

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Example 5

• You have been selected as a grand prize winner of
  4000 or a trip for two to intoxicating Las
  Vegas! Just call our toll-free number any time
  between 8 AM 5 PM central standard time for an
  important message about the fabulous prizes
  awaiting you!

15
Trying out tone

• One of the best examples of tone is a greeting
  card (anniversary card, birthday card, etc.)
  Sometimes those cards have a serious tone (a
  thank you card or Im sorry card), humorous (40th
  birthday card), sad (loss of a loved one card),
  and happy (Congratulations, You Graduated From
  High School).
• Today, you are going to design your own greeting
  card.

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Making a greeting card

• What kind of card are you going to create?
  Brainstorm some ideas. Try thinking of something
  original or off-beat.
• Decide on the tone of your card. Will it be
  humorous? Serious? Sad? Look at the list of
  tone words that you received earlier. Pick a
  word.
• What words, phrases, images, etc. can you use to
  express the tone of the word you chose? Write
  the word, phrases, and describe the images of
  your card.
• Use a sheet of paper, markers, colored pencils
  and crayons to draw and color your card.