TONE: THE WRITER/SPEAKER’S ATTITUDE TOWARD A SUBJECT.
WHY DO WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND TONE?
YOUR BEHAVIOR WHILE ATTENDING CHURCH is different from your behavior while hanging
out in the back yard with friends, or at least we hope it is. And part of that difference is the
difference in language, a difference not just in the words we use but in what we call tone. We
also recall being told, when we were very young, not to "use that tone of voice with me, Mister
(or Missy, as the case may be)!" Just as the pitch and volume of one's voice carry a difference in
tone from street to church, the choice of words and the way we put our sentences together
convey a sense of tone in our writing. The tone, in turn, conveys our attitude toward our audience
and our subject matter. Are we being frivolous or serious, casual or formal, sweet or stuffy? The
choice of a single word can change the tone of a paragraph, even an entire essay. In the first
sentence of this paragraph, for example, the phrasal verb "hanging out" is considerably more
casual than others we might have chosen: gathering, congregating, assembling.
One difficulty in writing for a course is that it's hard to think of the reader of our essays as
an audience. Our instructor might, in fact, be our sole reader, somebody who will pack a pile of
papers into a briefcase or backpack and take them home to read on the kitchen table, correcting
pen in hand. (Or nowadays, he or she may read them online or take home a stack of floppy discs
and read the papers on a computer monitor.) In fact, that person has to read those essays, whether
they're good or bad; he or she is even paid to do so.
This is a very limited audience, indeed, and if we aim our essay at that one individual, we
have severely limited its appeal. We would be much better off if we could conceive of our essays
as being aimed toward a community of readers, the readership, say, of a small-town or
neighborhood newspaper. These readers are interested in what we have to say — curious, in fact
— but they're easily distracted; they expect — demand, even — something that is fresh, honest,
imaginative, energetic, without being too zany or offbeat. We don't know exactly who is going to
pick up this newspaper, so we need to be on our best behavior; our tone must aim toward being
friendly and helpful without being overly casual (and never slangy); if we can maintain this tone
of slight formality without being stuffy, we've hit it just right.
According to Heidi Cool, “To be serious, or not, is but one measure of tone. Plenty of
people stop there, but I think there is much more to it. Humorous writing may be sarcastic,
flippant, silly or ironic (among others). Complaints can be angry, bitter, sad, cautious, polite,
intense, etc. Tone comes in a wide range of attitudes, some of which may overlap. This is where
things get tricky. It's easy to write something that sounds serious and professional. But have you
struck the right mood? In taking a straightforward approach to the topic, am I sounding
condescending or collegial? Have I so bored you that you're now asleep—dreaming that your
lobster ice-cream franchise failed because you just couldn't compete with your rival's spicy crab
cones?
These are the questions I must ask myself. When I re-read something, I'll question the mood.
Is it too dry? Too goofy? Too dark? Does it suit the topic? Will it engage the reader? I'll need to
keep tweaking things. I'll replace sentences like:"Writers are often confounded by such nuances."
(Man, that sounds pompous.) with "This is where things get tricky."
Then I'll make sure that I've used contractions and added a few quirky ideas—such as the bit
about the lobster ice-cream. Vocabulary, perspective and punctuation can all color the tone of the
text. It also helps to let someone else read your work. They may notice an attitude that you didn't.
When they suggest a change to a word or phrase, take it under consideration. As writers we're
often protective of our work, but if we're writing to be read, then we need to listen to our readers.
They won't always be right, but they won't always be wrong either. Viewing your work through
their eyes, will give you a new perspective, and often some very good ideas. Also remember, you
don't always have to sound serious to be taken seriously.”
But how does tone influence an argument?
To write a persuasive essay, you must do two things:
1. Convince your reader to adopt your point of view
2. Acknowledge and refute the other side
Persuasive essays go beyond who, what, where, and when. They ask the how and why questions
to make a bigger point!
Your job is to do just that!
Assignment:
Teacher Selected: _____________________________________________________________
Goal: To persuade our class towards a common opinion utilizing a specific tone.
On Thursday 9/19/2012, you will obtain a quote from your selected teacher/principal.
Through the tone in which the quote is delivered and the quote itself, you must interpret the
teacher/principal’s argument. Your task is then to write an essay that convinces your readers
(our class) of the quote giver’s point utilizing their tone.
Your paper should be typed, double spaced, using 12 point Times New Roman Font.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Checks and Balances:
1. A peer will attend your teacher meeting with you to merely observe their tone to make
sure you are writing with the correct tone and creating the meaningful argument.
a. _________________________________________________________________
2. Once your essay is complete, the conclusion will be returned to the quote giver to see if
you “got it.”