Tone, Mood & Word Choice Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Tone & Mood – What’s the difference? Introduction to Tone and Mood

Practice! Often you feel you’ve done nothing when you’ve actually done a lot. That’s because what you did do seemed beneath notice—it was so small that it didn’t “count.” But it did—just as each stitch counts toward a finished dress, each brick or nail toward a house you can live in, each mistake toward knowing how to do things right. How would you describe the tone in this passage? a. hesitant b. encouraging c. amused

Practice! A vaccine is a preparation of killed or weakened germs that is injected under the skin and causes the blood to produce antibodies against the disease. Effective vaccines, for instance, have been developed for small pox, rabies, and polio. How would you describe the tone in this passage? a. objective b. arrogant c. regretful

Practice! We have come together this afternoon to mourn the deaths of sixteen miners—our friends and neighbors—who were trapped by fire yesterday, deep below the earth. They lived bravely and they died too soon, leaving behind grieving wives and bewildered children. We bid them a final farewell. How would you describe the tone in this passage? a. forgiving b. sorrowful c. angry

Practice! Why do these things always happen to me?, Brad wondered. First I forget an important meeting, and nobody reminds me until it’s over. Then my boss dumps a big project on my desk and wants it done by yesterday. And to top everything off, I leave my wallet on the bus. How would you describe the tone in this passage? a. comical b. self-pitying c. optimistic

Practice! What’s the matter with those idiots in the city council? First they pass new parking regulations saying we can’t park our cars in front of our own houses without a special permit. Now they’ve gone and slapped another tax on gas purchase—just to widen a road that’s already wide enough. Anyway, nobody enjoys the traffic delays resulting from road construction. The sooner we vote those incompetents out, the better off we’ll all be. How would you describe the tone in this passage? a. objective b. angry c. surprised

Practice! The wind howled like a banshee, the thunder rolled, and the lightning drew zigzag lines across the sky. With the sights and sounds of the thunderstorm cloaking his room, Charlie awoke from his night’s sleep. As he peeked out from under the covers, a dark, shifting shadow appeared on the wall of his room. For the reader, the selection creates a mood of ____________. a. peace b. fear c. safety d. humor

Practice! The pioneer family members piled into the wagon and left behind the safety and security in the East. They had cut the lifeline that connected them to all the things that were near and dear. As they traveled to the new land out west, Grandfather held the family together. He hunted when they were hungry, found water when they were thirst, and protected them against the dangers that lurked all around them. Everyone in the family agreed. Grandfather was a rock. For the reader, the selection creates a mood of ____________. a. confidence b. insecurity c. failure d. distrust

Practice! One of the ways we can improve life on planet Earth is to use more solar energy. The sun’s solar power is a cleaner form of energy than fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum. If our sights are firmly fixed on using solar energy, Earth’s pollution will decrease. The atmosphere will be clearer, global warming will slow down, and fewer animals will lose their habitats as people search for new oil supplies. Definitely, solar energy is a ray of sunshine for our planet. For the reader, the selection creates a mood of ____________. a. destruction b. negativity c. failure d. optimism

Remember: Tone is not what you say but how you say it! State Farm Commercial