How to find the author's tone and the reader's mood within a piece of writing.

1. How the author’s choice of wordsHow the author’s choice of words
can effect the reader.can effect the reader.
Tone & MoodTone & Mood

2. What’s the Difference?What’s the Difference?
 Entrance Ticket:Entrance Ticket:
– What is the difference betweenWhat is the difference between
TONE and MOOD in a piece ofTONE and MOOD in a piece of
writing?writing?

3. TONETONE
TONE is simply the author’s attitudeTONE is simply the author’s attitude
toward the subject.toward the subject.
You can recognize the tone/attitude by theYou can recognize the tone/attitude by the
language/word choices the author uses.language/word choices the author uses.
His language will reveal hisHis language will reveal his
perspective/opinion (that is, whether it isperspective/opinion (that is, whether it is
positive/negative) about the subject.positive/negative) about the subject.
ToneTone must be inferredmust be inferred through the use ofthrough the use of
descriptive words.descriptive words.

4. Tone ExampleTone Example
The girls were playing in the pond, splashing each otherThe girls were playing in the pond, splashing each other
and trying to catch fish with their hands. They were havingand trying to catch fish with their hands. They were having
fun, but kept looking over their shoulders at the loomingfun, but kept looking over their shoulders at the looming
forest. The long grass of the field kept moving and they sortforest. The long grass of the field kept moving and they sort
of felt like they were being watched… About a half hourof felt like they were being watched… About a half hour
passed and still the girls kept checking the field forpassed and still the girls kept checking the field for
movements. It seemed like a pair of dark eyes was on them.movements. It seemed like a pair of dark eyes was on them.
They even considered going back inside, but that wouldThey even considered going back inside, but that would
mean homework time. So they continued splashing, but withmean homework time. So they continued splashing, but with
caution now. Their eyes hardly left the field.caution now. Their eyes hardly left the field.
TheThe tonetone of this passage isof this passage is ominousominous, suggesting a little bit of, suggesting a little bit of
fear or forebodingfear or foreboding .. Words like "caution, dark, andWords like "caution, dark, and
looming“ lead readers to the tone.looming“ lead readers to the tone.

5. TONE EXAMPLETONE EXAMPLE
Finally, one of the girls pointed to the grass andFinally, one of the girls pointed to the grass and
giggled. "Meow!" A cat sat on the edge of thegiggled. "Meow!" A cat sat on the edge of the
field and licked its paw. They did indeed havefield and licked its paw. They did indeed have
company. The girls ran over to the cat and pet hiscompany. The girls ran over to the cat and pet his
belly. They laughed and the cat sauntered backbelly. They laughed and the cat sauntered back
to the field.to the field.
TheThe tonetone of this passage is happy/contentment asof this passage is happy/contentment as
there was a successful, happy resolution to thethere was a successful, happy resolution to the
problem.problem.

6. TONETONE
Identifying the TONE is all about knowingIdentifying the TONE is all about knowing
the definitions of many descriptivethe definitions of many descriptive
vocabulary words. Without this largevocabulary words. Without this large
vocabulary, it’s difficult to describe outsidevocabulary, it’s difficult to describe outside
of “good” and “bad.”of “good” and “bad.”

7. TONETONE
So, let’sSo, let’s TONETONE our brain muscles withour brain muscles with
descriptive vocabulary exercises!!descriptive vocabulary exercises!!
 BitterBitter
 SeriousSerious
 WittyWitty
 PlayfulPlayful
 TenderTender
 SympatheticSympathetic
 HauntingHaunting
 MysteriousMysterious
 SuspensefulSuspenseful
 Tasteful/distastefulTasteful/distasteful
 NonchalantNonchalant
 AngryAngry
 Attached/DetachedAttached/Detached
 InnocentInnocent
 PoignantPoignant
 CompassionateCompassionate
 HumorousHumorous
 Gore-yGore-y

8. Tone: “A Gift in His Shoes”Tone: “A Gift in His Shoes”
Donovan and Larry were early for baseballDonovan and Larry were early for baseball
practice. They decided to run up and down thepractice. They decided to run up and down the
bleachers to exercise before the rest of the teambleachers to exercise before the rest of the team
arrived.arrived.
Larry was first to the top. He whispered toLarry was first to the top. He whispered to
Donovan, “Look over there.” He pointed to a manDonovan, “Look over there.” He pointed to a man
sleeping on the highest, narrow bench of thesleeping on the highest, narrow bench of the
bleachers. His pants and shirt were faded, worn,bleachers. His pants and shirt were faded, worn,
and too large for his thin frame. One big toe stuckand too large for his thin frame. One big toe stuck
out of a huge hole in his sock. His scraped-upout of a huge hole in his sock. His scraped-up
shoes sat a few feet away.shoes sat a few feet away.
Donovan whispered, “We should help him out.Donovan whispered, “We should help him out.
Let’s hide something good in his shoes. Then,Let’s hide something good in his shoes. Then,
when he wakes up, he will have a nice surprise.”when he wakes up, he will have a nice surprise.”

9. Tone: “A Gift in His Shoes”Tone: “A Gift in His Shoes”
How would you describe the tone [attitude]How would you describe the tone [attitude]
of this author?of this author?
a.a. AngryAngry
b.b. DetachedDetached
c.c. SympatheticSympathetic
Evidence?Evidence?

10. Tone: “Where Can They Stay?”Tone: “Where Can They Stay?”
About three million people have to look for aAbout three million people have to look for a
place to sleep at night. Some homeless peopleplace to sleep at night. Some homeless people
have jobs but do not earn nearly enough moneyhave jobs but do not earn nearly enough money
for both food and shelter. Some becomefor both food and shelter. Some become
homeless because they have an unfortunatehomeless because they have an unfortunate
accident or lose their job. They do not have anyaccident or lose their job. They do not have any
back-up resources to make it through the hardback-up resources to make it through the hard
times.times.
The homeless face terrible problems. ManyThe homeless face terrible problems. Many
become victims of violence. Serious healthbecome victims of violence. Serious health
problems may begin because they are exposed toproblems may begin because they are exposed to
bad weather and unclean conditions. Homelessbad weather and unclean conditions. Homeless
children may miss the chance to go to school.children may miss the chance to go to school.
Worst of all, some cities pass laws that make itWorst of all, some cities pass laws that make it
even harder on the homeless.even harder on the homeless.

11. Tone: “Where Can They Stay”Tone: “Where Can They Stay”
How would you describe the tone [attitude]How would you describe the tone [attitude]
of this author?of this author?
a.a. DisgruntledDisgruntled
b.b. NonchalantNonchalant
c.c. SeriousSerious
Evidence?Evidence?

12. MOODMOOD
MOOD is the overall feelings or emotionsMOOD is the overall feelings or emotions
that are created IN THE READER.that are created IN THE READER.
The “power of the pen” can moveThe “power of the pen” can move
mountains.mountains.
Authors “move” their readers’ moodsAuthors “move” their readers’ moods
through their choice of words and level ofthrough their choice of words and level of
detail.detail.

13. MOOD EXAMPLEMOOD EXAMPLE
During the holidays, my mother's house glittered withDuring the holidays, my mother's house glittered with
decorations and hummed with preparations. We atedecorations and hummed with preparations. We ate
cookies and drank cider while we helped her wrapcookies and drank cider while we helped her wrap
bright packages and trim the tree. We felt warm andbright packages and trim the tree. We felt warm and
excited, listening to Christmas carols and even singingexcited, listening to Christmas carols and even singing
along sometimes. We would tease each other aboutalong sometimes. We would tease each other about
our terrible voices and then sing even louder.our terrible voices and then sing even louder.
Mood:Mood: Content, happy. How do we know? Words likeContent, happy. How do we know? Words like
"warm, excited, glittered” are used by the author."warm, excited, glittered” are used by the author.

14. MOOD EXAMPLEMOOD EXAMPLE
After New Year's the time came to put all the decorationsAfter New Year's the time came to put all the decorations
away and settle in for the long, cold winter. The houseaway and settle in for the long, cold winter. The house
seemed to sigh as we boxed up its finery. The treeseemed to sigh as we boxed up its finery. The tree
was dry and brittle, and now waited forlornly by thewas dry and brittle, and now waited forlornly by the
side of the road to be picked up.side of the road to be picked up.
Mood:Mood: Dreary, depressed. How do we know? "cold,Dreary, depressed. How do we know? "cold,
sigh, brittle, forlornly"sigh, brittle, forlornly"

15. MOODMOOD
Again, identifying the mood of a piece ofAgain, identifying the mood of a piece of
writing will depend on the number ofwriting will depend on the number of
descriptive words you know to answer thedescriptive words you know to answer the
question: How did this paragraph, thisquestion: How did this paragraph, this
passage, this story make the character orpassage, this story make the character or
make you feel?make you feel?

16. MOODMOOD
Brain Muscle Work-out, Volume II!Brain Muscle Work-out, Volume II!
 CheerfulCheerful
 RelievedRelieved
 GloomyGloomy
 BleakBleak
 UncertainUncertain
 BittersweetBittersweet
 RelaxedRelaxed
 LazyLazy
 HopelessHopeless
 TenseTense
 FuriousFurious
 DisappointedDisappointed
 Dreamy, foggyDreamy, foggy
 ContentContent
 SatisfiedSatisfied
 AngryAngry
 MotivatedMotivated
 InspiredInspired
 ConfidentConfident
 EerieEerie

17. Mood: “A Gift in His Shoes”Mood: “A Gift in His Shoes”
Donovan and Larry were early for baseballDonovan and Larry were early for baseball
practice. They decided to run up and down thepractice. They decided to run up and down the
bleachers to exercise before the rest of the teambleachers to exercise before the rest of the team
arrived.arrived.
Larry was first to the top. He whispered toLarry was first to the top. He whispered to
Donovan, “Look over there.” He pointed to a manDonovan, “Look over there.” He pointed to a man
sleeping on the highest, narrow bench of thesleeping on the highest, narrow bench of the
bleachers. His pants and shirt were faded, worn,bleachers. His pants and shirt were faded, worn,
and too large for his thin frame. One big toe stuckand too large for his thin frame. One big toe stuck
out of a huge hole in his sock. His scraped-upout of a huge hole in his sock. His scraped-up
shoes sat a few feet away.shoes sat a few feet away.
Donovan whispered, “We should help him out.Donovan whispered, “We should help him out.
Let’s hide something good in his shoes. Then,Let’s hide something good in his shoes. Then,
when he wakes up, he will have a nice surprise.”when he wakes up, he will have a nice surprise.”

18. Mood: “A Gift in His Shoes”Mood: “A Gift in His Shoes”
How would you describe the mood of thisHow would you describe the mood of this
passage?passage?
a.a. AngryAngry
b.b. DetachedDetached
c.c. SympatheticSympathetic
Evidence?Evidence?

19. Mood: “Where Can They Stay?”Mood: “Where Can They Stay?”
About three million people have to look for aAbout three million people have to look for a
place to sleep at night. Some homeless peopleplace to sleep at night. Some homeless people
have jobs but do not earn nearly enough moneyhave jobs but do not earn nearly enough money
for both food and shelter. Some becomefor both food and shelter. Some become
homeless because they have an unfortunatehomeless because they have an unfortunate
accident or lose their job. They do not have anyaccident or lose their job. They do not have any
back-up resources to make it through the hardback-up resources to make it through the hard
times.times.
The homeless face terrible problems. ManyThe homeless face terrible problems. Many
become victims of violence. Serious healthbecome victims of violence. Serious health
problems may begin because they are exposed toproblems may begin because they are exposed to
bad weather and unclean conditions. Homelessbad weather and unclean conditions. Homeless
children may miss the chance to go to school.children may miss the chance to go to school.
Worst of all, some cities pass laws that make itWorst of all, some cities pass laws that make it
even harder on the homeless.even harder on the homeless.

20. Mood: “Where Can They Stay?”Mood: “Where Can They Stay?”
How would you describe the mood of thisHow would you describe the mood of this
passage? CAN you describe the moodpassage? CAN you describe the mood
of this passage?of this passage?
In non-fiction, expository (report-like) piecesIn non-fiction, expository (report-like) pieces
of writing, there is usually not enoughof writing, there is usually not enough
‘hints’ to produce a mood for the reader.‘hints’ to produce a mood for the reader.
It’s just factual information.It’s just factual information. (Of course, this(Of course, this
doesn’t mean it inhibits you to think about it! Again, “the power ofdoesn’t mean it inhibits you to think about it! Again, “the power of
pen has moved mountains.”)pen has moved mountains.”)