Tone and Tone and PurposePurpose

The Indirect Ways That The Indirect Ways That Writers CommunicateWriters Communicate

Understanding the Understanding the Author’s PurposeAuthor’s PurposeIn many textbooks, the In many textbooks, the writer’s purpose is fairly clear.writer’s purpose is fairly clear.However, sometimes a writer However, sometimes a writer will express an opinion will express an opinion indirectly.indirectly.Writers use tone, style and Writers use tone, style and other features of language to other features of language to achieve the results they want.achieve the results they want.

Understanding ToneUnderstanding ToneExamplesExamples InstructiveInstructive

SympatheticSympatheticPersuasivePersuasiveNostalgicNostalgicHumorousHumorous

AngryAngryInsensitiveInsensitive

NaiveNaive

Refers to the author’s attitude toward his/her subject.

Think of how you interpret the tone of a speaker’s voice

Pay attention to word choice, types and length of sentences, description

Tone is important in determining the author’s purpose.

Style and Intended Style and Intended AudienceAudience

Style may be defined as the Style may be defined as the characteristics that make a characteristics that make a writer unique.writer unique.Depending upon whom the Depending upon whom the writer is addressing, he will writer is addressing, he will change the level of language, change the level of language, method of presentation, and method of presentation, and word choice. word choice. Writing may be academic, Writing may be academic, technical, formal, or informal.technical, formal, or informal.

LanguageLanguageObjectiveObjective

factualfactual

Subjective Express attitudes,

feelings & opinions

Authors use language in special ways to help the reader understand and create a picture of a situation.

Create Descriptions Making comparisons

Using symbols

Word ChoiceWord ChoiceConnotative

Meanings– Opposite of

Denotation– Implied Meaning– A Word’s Nuance—

ideas associated with the word’s usage

– May be positive or negative

Denotative Meanings

– Literal Meaningfound in the dictionary

– Factual, exact– No added meanings

ConnotationConnotationpositive vs. negativepositive vs. negative

• Crowd, mob, gang, audience, class, congregation

• Slim, skinny, slender, slight, wiry, scrawny

• Intelligent, brainy, nerdy, smart, gifted

• Particular, picky, fussy, meticulous, precise, exacting

• Request, demand, command, appeal, plead, claim, ask

• Gaudy, showy, flashy, tawdry, glitzy, jazzy

• Glance, stare, look, glimpse, peek, peer, examine, gaze, scan

• Take, snatch, grasp, filch, pocket, steal

Figurative LanguageFigurative Language• Describes

something that makes sense on an imaginative level but not on a factual or literal level.

• Example:– Sam eats like a

horse.– The wilted plants

begged for water.

Making ComparisonsMaking Comparisons• Similes and metaphors• Compare one object or living thing

with another• Questions to ask yourself

– What two things is the author comparing?

– Why did the author choose that comparison? What do they have in common?

Figurative Language-Figurative Language-ComparisonComparison

A h orse ea ts la rg e am ou n ts o f food . S am ea ts la rg e am ou n ts o f food .

S am ea ts like a h orse(s im ile )

• The purpose of figurative language is to paint a word picture—to help the reader visualize how something looks, feels, or smells• The red sun was pasted in the sky like a wafer.

• I will speak daggers to her, but use none.

• Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

Using SymbolsUsing Symbols

• Symbols can be either pictures or objects that stand for ideas, people, concepts, or anything else the author decides.

• Symbols are a communication shortcut—make ideas more understandable by connecting them with things the reader can see.

• Common symbols: U.S. Flag (loyalty to country), Statue of Liberty (freedom), dove (peace), “golden arches” (McDonald’s), scales (law/justice)

Typical Stem ItemsTypical Stem Items• Conclusions, generalizations,

summary, comparisons, cause-effect, time relationships, author’s tone– Which of the following conclusions

about X is supported by the passage?– Which word would the author most

likely use to describe his subject?– The author implies that X and Y differ

in what ways?– The author’s opinion about X is that

…?

Typical Stem ItemsTypical Stem Items

• Application of one or more ideas– Based on the author’s description of

X, how would a teacher using this plan arrange the student’s activities?

– Based on the examples provided in the passage, how could the government best deter illegal immigration?

Typical Stem ItemsTypical Stem Items

• Figurative language– By the phrase, “a breath of fresh air”

in lines 6-7, the author means that …– The use of the phrase “alien from

another planet” to describe the sister is an example of what type of figurative language?

– By saying “the room was like a sauna,” the author is indicating that …

Review/RecallReview/Recall• What are inferences and why are they

important for reading?• What do you do with inferences once you

have made them?• Explain why the conclusions you draw

about a reading selection can be tentative—why you can change you mind about how you understand them.

• What are some things that might influence a change in how you understand a reading selection?