CLOSE READING How to answer questions on Tone

CLOSE READING: How to answer questions on Tone. What is TONE? Tone in close reading is how a passage would sound if it was read aloud. Tone refers to the writer’s attitude to the subject

Language to use Some examples of Tone: Humorous/Lighthearted Irony Tongue-in-cheek Sarcasm/mocking Flippant Emotive Enthusiastic Mocking Angry Disgusted

Tone 1) 2) 3) There is a step-by-step process to answering tone questions Tone – Write down the tone e. g. angry Quote – Quote the words or phrase Explain how his creates tone. e. G The tone is light hearted, optimistic – “ lively”, ”jaunty”. This word choice has connotations of cheerfulness and optimism and suggests the writer is feeling this way too.

Identify the tone and say how it is created – (2) “Out of the blackness, the first thing Jack (Matthew Fox, Party of Five) senses is pain. Then burning sun. A Bamboo forest. Smoke. Screams. With a rush comes the horrible awareness that the plane he was on tore apart in mid-air and crashed on a Pacific island. From there it's a blur, as his doctor's instinct kicks in: people need his help. ”

Identify the tone and say how it is created – (2) There’s no more trouble in Sarajevo. But there is in other parts of B-H (Bosnia-Herzegovena): Brosanki Brod, Berventa, Modrica. Terrible reports and pictures are coming in from all over. Mummy and Daddy won’t let me watch TV when the news is on but you can’t hide all the bad things that are happening from us children. People are worried and sad again. The blue helmets have arrived in Sarajevo. We’re safer now. And the ‘kids’ have retreated from the scene.

Identify the tone and say how it is created – (2) I am fed up listening to scaremongers talking about the Ecoli virus, telling me my child should never visit a farm or come into contact with animals. I am very weary of organisations dedicated to promulgating the idea that threats and dangers to children lurk everywhere. I am sick of charities who, on the one hand have attacked over-protective parents and at the same time say that children should never be left unsupervised in public places.

Question: Identify the TONE of the paragraphs and explain how this tone is created. Firstly, you should notice that this question is in two parts. • Identify the tone • Explain how the tone is created. (reference examples) Identifying the tone is not difficult. The writer feels hostile and upset towards the companies and overprotective parents so the tone is anger, annoyance, frustration or contempt. 3 marks

TONE But how is this tone created? In this example the answer lies in word choice. Expressions such as : ” I am weary. . ”, “I am sick” all suggest , not weariness and boredom, but frustration at the organisations giving her advice. Examples to comment on are: “Scaremongers” suggesting people who are out to threaten and that angers her. “ Lurk” which continues the idea of threat “attack” and “army” suggesting organisation “abetted” suggesting conspiracy.

SAMPLE ANSWER The tone is angry and hostile, suggested by “ I am sick. . ”; “ I am fed up. . ”The word choice creates this tone. The writer is obviously feeling hostile towards these organisations. She exaggerates her reactions – “ I am weary”; “ I am sick” to show her anger and strong feelings against those who give such advice. 3 marks