Mini Lesson:Tone & Diction

8th Grade Language Arts

TONETone is the AUTHOR’S attitude towards the audience, the subject, or the character.

*Tone is shown through

1. Dialogue - talking2. Descriptions – author’s

DICTION [word choice]

Words that describe TONE

Amused Angry Cheerful Critical Clear Formal Gloomy Humorous Informal

Ironic Light Matter-of-

fact Mocking Resigned Optimistic Pessimistic Playful

Pompous Sad Serious Sincere Suspicious Quizzical Witty

TONE FOR EXAMPLE:

He approached the task with sheer determination. He had studied his plans carefully, spent hours preparing and was sure of his approach. The hours he spent practicing were grueling and exhausting but he was ready. This was the year he

would win the pie eating contest at school.

According to the author’s descriptions, what is the tone?

Serious, Intense, Formal, Focused

DICTION An author’s CHOICE OF WORDS, especially

with regard to correctness, clearness, or effectiveness Levels of Diction:

1. Formal2. Neutral 3. Informal

o Maybe correct in a particular context but incorrect in another or when mixed unintentionally.

Here’s Some Help:Most ideas have a number of alternate words

that the writer can select to suit his or her purposes. “Children,” “kids,” “youngsters,” “youths,” and “brats,” for example, all have

different suggestive values.

When assessing diction, first consider: LEVEL OF FORMALITY High or formal diction:

dignified, elevated, with elaborate or sophisticated vocabulary.

Middle or neutral diction: grammatically accurate language using common, unexceptional vocabulary; easy to understand.

Low or informal diction: plain, everyday language, possibly including slang.

Considerations for Analyzing Diction:

1. Does the author choose concrete or abstract expression?

2. Do the words have clearly negative, positive, or other definitions?

3. Is the wording formal or slang?

4. What can the reader gather about the speaker or the speaker’s attitude from the word choice?

5. Is the language intended to sound pleasing, or harsh?

Diction as a means of establishing Tone:• Remember that tone refers to the author’s

rather than the speaker’s attitude—however, assessing the speaker’s attitude is a first step in drawing conclusions about the author’s.

1. What seems to be the speaker’s attitude in the passage?

2. Does the passage have a noticeable emotional mood or atmosphere?

Let’s Try!On the following slide identify the author’s tone and explain how you

knew.

Remember: Tone is determined by

DESCRIPTION or DIALOGUE

The TONE of the passage is _________The author’s ______________ relays the tone.

My annoying brother likes to drive me crazy.

There is no other who is that lazy.He whines to Mom and Dad night and

dayUntil he eventually gets his way.

What is a sister to doWhen he screams 'til he's blue?

There is no way to win,For he gets under your skin.

He does his best to kill all joy.Oh, how my brother does annoy!

The TONE of the passage is FRUSTRATEDThe author’s DESCRIPTIONS relay the tone.

My annoying brother likes to drive me crazy.

There is no other who is that lazy.He whines to Mom and Dad night and

dayUntil he eventually gets his way.

What is a sister to doWhen he screams 'til he's blue?

There is no way to win,For he gets under your skin.

He does his best to kill all joy.Oh, how my brother does annoy!

YOU Try!On the following slide identify the author’s tone and explain how you

knew.

Remember: Tone is determined by

DESCRIPTION or DIALOGUE

The TONE of the passage is _____________The author’s _______________ relays the tone.

There is no oneThat can be better

Because you are brilliant.There is nothing

That you cannot you doBecause you are unbeatable.

There is no placeThat you cannot go

Because you are always welcomed.There is no person

That can hold you backBecause you are unstoppable

The TONE of the passage is INSPIRINGThe author’s DESCRIPTIONS relay the tone.

There is no oneThat can be better

Because you are brilliant.There is nothing

That you cannot you doBecause you are unbeatable.

There is no placeThat you cannot go

Because you are always welcomed.There is no person

That can hold you backBecause you are unstoppable

How to assess Diction & Tone1. Always use an adjective when describing both diction and tone.

2. Remember that the adjective you apply to the tone needs to be a word that can describe an attitude.

3. When in doubt, use a formula such as this one:

“___ diction contributes to the ___ tone.”

Or, in somewhat greater detail:

“In [name of work], [author] writes in a [level of formality] style. Their use of [description] and [level of formality] language [achieves this specific purpose].”

ON YOUR OWN:Lightning Thief Chapter 17

• Using Chapter 17, write 3 specific statements about the Diction & Tone of the chapter.

• Use this formula:– “In [name of work], [author] writes in a [level of

formality – Formal, Informal, Neutral?] style. Their use of [select an adjective from the passage] and [recopy level of formality] language creates a [what kind of TONE] tone.”

HOMEWORK

Finish Reading Chapter 17 in Lightning Thief