Tone and Purpose Objective: To evaluate how an author’s purpose is reflected through tone and word choice. CC RL

Read Read the following passage: Read the following passage: “The Schoolboy” “The Schoolboy” I love to rise in a summer morn, When the birds sing on every tree; The distant huntsman winds his horn, And the sky-lark sings to me. O! what sweet company But to go to school in a summer morn, O! it drives all joy away: Under a cruel eve outworn, The little ones spend the day, In sighing and dismay.

Discuss What is the poet saying? What is the poet saying? Why does the poet write this, do you suppose? Why does the poet write this, do you suppose? What is the purpose? What is the purpose? Writers generally write to inform, persuade, and/or entertain. Sometimes a writer’s purpose is quite clear and other times it can be ambiguous. At the same time that a poem like “The Schoolboy” entertains the reader, it also gets the reader to think again about what it’s like to be a child and how sweet summer mornings are from a child’s perspective. Writers generally write to inform, persuade, and/or entertain. Sometimes a writer’s purpose is quite clear and other times it can be ambiguous. At the same time that a poem like “The Schoolboy” entertains the reader, it also gets the reader to think again about what it’s like to be a child and how sweet summer mornings are from a child’s perspective.

Tone An author’s purpose will often affect the tone of a work. Consider the diction, or choice of words, that the author is using. An author’s purpose will often affect the tone of a work. Consider the diction, or choice of words, that the author is using. The author will use phrases and words with strong connotations to capture the reader’s attention. The author will use phrases and words with strong connotations to capture the reader’s attention. What is the poem’s tone as it describes a summer morning? What is the poem’s tone as it describes a summer morning? What words does the poet use to give the summer morning a joyous or harmonious tone? What words does the poet use to give the summer morning a joyous or harmonious tone?

Tone Look at the second stanza of the poem. Look at the second stanza of the poem. What is the tone of the 2 nd stanza? What is the tone of the 2 nd stanza? What diction does the poet use to express a melancholic tone? What diction does the poet use to express a melancholic tone? Why does the tone shift in this way? Why does the tone shift in this way? Do the words in the stanza and the tone they create seem like they match the gravity of the situation? Do the words in the stanza and the tone they create seem like they match the gravity of the situation? By sympathizing with the child’s perspective on the cruelty of going to school on a summer morning, the reader is also given the opportunity to remember and feel more deeply the child’s perspective on how wonderful summer mornings can be. By sympathizing with the child’s perspective on the cruelty of going to school on a summer morning, the reader is also given the opportunity to remember and feel more deeply the child’s perspective on how wonderful summer mornings can be.

Tone It is important to pay attention to the words and phrases an author uses to capture the reader’s attention and to convey his or her feelings on the subject. It is important to pay attention to the words and phrases an author uses to capture the reader’s attention and to convey his or her feelings on the subject. Identifying these words can help you understand the purpose and tone in the books you are currently reading. Identifying these words can help you understand the purpose and tone in the books you are currently reading.

Activity Generate a list of words that describe your favorite time of year. Generate a list of words that describe your favorite time of year. Write a poem or paragraph on the subject using words from your list. Write a poem or paragraph on the subject using words from your list.

Apply the Skill 1. Dear Editor: I am writing to express my concern about possible city budget cuts. I fear these changes would have a negative impact on the community center. I manage the community center pool. Without proper funds, we cannot maintain children’s swimming classes. Our weekend classes surely would be eliminated. Please support the pool’s budget and help us keep up the quality of this great community service. -- Justus Stokes Mr. Stokes wants to persuade citizens to support the pool. How does this affect his tone? A. His tone is light in order to put the audience at ease. B. He is authoritative and demands that people respond. C. He is earnest and communicates a sense of urgency.

Apply the Skill How hard is it to learn to play the bagpipes, you ask? I once knew a rocket scientist who was trying to learn to play them. She said it sure was a good thing she was a rocket scientist because the bagpipes were hard! How hard is it to learn to play the bagpipes, you ask? I once knew a rocket scientist who was trying to learn to play them. She said it sure was a good thing she was a rocket scientist because the bagpipes were hard! How does the purpose of the passage affect the author’s tone? How does the purpose of the passage affect the author’s tone? A.The author takes a light tone as part of trying to entertain. B.The author uses formal tone to give information on the subject. C.The author is sarcastic to persuade readers to not play the bagpipes.