What is “Tone:”

In writing, the term “Tone” refers to the author’s attitude towards his/her subject. In effect, it’s how the author wants the writing to come across to the reader.  Understanding the tone of voice an author is using is often critical to understanding the author’s meaning. Tones may vary but usually have an emotional quality to them. For example, tones might be dramatic, suspenseful, sarcastic, absurd, humorous, cautionary, academic, bitter, celebratory, ironic, sympathetic, etc.

 

Assignment: Write an outline for a proof paragraph in which you analyze the overall tone of Gary Soto’s short story, “Seventh Grade.”  Use passages from the story as evidence of the tone and be sure to explain how that evidence demonstrates it. The assignment will be either typed or neatly written in ink. Include parenthetical citation after each example [ex: (Soto 117)].  The page numbers for these citations will accord with the hardback version of the Prentice Hall Literature anthology. Include a works cited at the end.

 

The following is the format for the outline:

 

I.                    Introduction and topic sentence

A.     First example (cite author and page number)

1.      Explanation of how example demonstrates tone

B.     Second example (cite author and page number)

1.      Explanation of how example demonstrates tone

C.     Third example (cite author and page number)

1.      Explanation of how example demonstrates tone

D.     Concluding statement

The works cited will be as follows:

Soto, Gary. “Seventh Grade.” Prentice Hall Literature Bronze Level. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Education, Inc. 2002. 116-121. Print.

 

This assignment will be due Tuesday, September 4. It will be worth 25 points.