Useful site:
http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Jefferson_HS/lessons/shayes/ap.html
Tone Words
A list of tone words is one practical solution for providing a basic tone vocabulary. An
enriched vocabulary enables students to use more specific and subtle descriptions of an
attitude they discover in a text. Include such words as:
angry
sharp
upset
silly
boring
afraid
happy
hollow
joyful
allusive
sweet
vexed
tired
bitter
dreamy
restrained
proud
dramatic
sad
cold
urgent
joking
poignant
detached
confused
childish
peaceful
mocking
objective
vibrant
frivolous
audacious
shocking
somber
giddy
provocative
sentimental
fanciful
complimentary
condescending
sympathetic
contemptuous
apologetic
humorous
horrific
sarcastic
nostalgic
zealous
irreverent
benevolent
seductive
candid
pitiful
didactic
Tone Vocabulary Words
satiric
whimsical
dramatic
learned
informative
somber
urgent
confident
mock-heroic
objective
diffident
pedantic
indignant
bantering
flippant
condescending
patronizing
facetious
clinical
mock-serious
inflammatory
benevolent
colloquial
compassionate
impartial
insipid
pretentious
vibrant
irreverent
sentimental
moralistic
complimentary
sympathetic
ironic
didactic
petty
factual
restrained
elegiac
disdainful
lugubrious
laudatory
burlesque
fanciful
detached
cynical
incisive
allusive
effusive
scornful
reverential
taunting
concerned
angry
turgid
sardonic
contentious
insolent
candid
ambivalent
Tone/Attitude Vocabulary
The nuances of these words are important!
Anger
accusatory
belligerent
bitter
disappointed
disgusted
furious
grouchy
incredulous
indignant
inflammatory
insulting
irritated
outraged
petulant
querulous
savage
sullen
threatening
wrathful
Happiness
amiable
amused
cheery
contented
ecstatic
elated
enthusiastic
exuberant
hopeful
jovial
joyful
jubilant
lighthearted
optimistic
positive
sanguine
Humor/Sarcasm
(Satire)
belittling
caustic
comical
cynical
facetious
flippant
haughty
insulting
ironic
irreverent
malicious
mock-heroic
mocking
obsequious
ribald
ridiculing
sarcastic
scornful
taunting
Arrogance
authoritative
boastful
bold
condescending
contemptuous
critical
disdainful
haughty
insolent
judgmental
mordant
patronizing
pompous
pretentious
supercilious
Words That Describe Language
Sadness/Fear
apprehensive
concerned
despairing
elegiac
foreboding
gloomy
hopeless
melancholy
morose
mournful
pessimistic
regretful
serious
sober
solemn
somber
tragic
Neutral
Apathetic
Authoritative
Candid
Cautionary
Ceremonial
Clinical
Detached
Didactic
Distant
Erudite
Factual
Forman
Forthright
Informative
Instructive
Matter-of-fact
Objective
Restrained
Tranquility
calm
hopeful
meditative
nostalgic
optimistic
peaceful
relaxed
reminiscent
sentimental
serene
soothing
spiritual
staid
Romance
affectionate
amorous
compassionate
erotic
fanciful
ideal
intimate
loving
lustful
lyrical
reflective
sensual
tender
whimsical
Logic
argumentative
didactic
doubtful
explanatory
informative
persuasive
rational
thoughtful
Students often need to develop a vocabulary that describes language. different from tone, these words
describe the force or quality of the diction, images, and details. These words qualify how the work is
written, not the attitude or tone.
jargon
vulgar
scholarly
insipid
precise
esoteric
connotative
plain
literal
colloquial
artificial
detached
emotional
pedantic
euphemistic
pretentious
sensuous
exact
learned
symbolic
simple
figurative
bombastic
abstruse
grotesque
concrete
poetic
moralistic
slang
idiomatic
concrete
cultured
picturesque
homespun
provincial
trite
obscure
precise
exact