What is “tone”?: Difference between revisions

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Tone expresses emotion through word choice and sentence structure. For a paper to have good tone it must have an effective mmanner of expression in writing. A writer must consider their audience and what words to choose to effectively express their point of view.  An essay’s tone suggests the writer’s emotional involvement in the essay’s subject by projecting anger, enthusiasm, disinterest, outrage, and so on. Tone helps to develop and maintain your assertion throughout your essay and is integral in the writing process. Consider the following examples:  
Tone expresses emotion through word choice, denotative and connotative meanings of words, sentence structure and the usage of tone. For a paper to have good tone it must have an effective manner of expression. When trying to set the tone, a writer must consider their audience and what words to choose to express their point of view.  An essay’s tone suggests the writer’s emotional involvement in the essay’s subject by projecting:


Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly delivered a verdict that favored Microsoft’s position in the Justice Department’s anti-trust case.
* Anger
* Enthusiasm
* Disinterest
* Outrage


Judge Kollar-Kotelly’s verdict amounts to little more than a slap on the wrist for the monopolist Microsoft.
Tone helps to develop and maintain your assertion throughout your essay and is important in the writing process.<ref>Macon State OWL Writers Laboratory. Feb 28.2005 [http://tutorials.maconstate.edu/owl/wp/wp05.asp]</ref> Consider the following examples:


The former example maintains an objective, dispassionate view of a judge’s verdict by presenting only the information in a neutral way. The second example shows displeasure with the verdict by offering an opinion and choosing the word “monopolist” to underscore the writer’s feelings toward the verdict and Microsoft. (Hacker S6-app101)
:Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly delivered a verdict that favored Microsoft’s position in the Justice Department’s anti-trust case.  


'''Word Choice'''
:Judge Kollar-Kotelly’s verdict amounts to little more than a slap on the wrist for the monopolist Microsoft.


(Hacker W3 pp 128) Word choice can also have great effects on a papers tone. A writer can also use active verbs to express what they are trying to say more vigorously and emphatically. Instead of using weaker forms of verbs like the verb be, use verbs that have subjects that receive the action.  To effectively have tone a writer should stand firm on their position and emphasize their points by expressing them to the fullest. It may help to elaborate on these points more with districiptive phases and examples. Also a writer should avoid using the same word to many times. It can make a paper seem monotonous and loose the reader’s attention. A thesaurus is recommended to use in times of confusion. Also a dictionary can help in the decision of what words to use to accurately illustrate the writers point.
The first example maintains an objective point of view by presenting the information in a neutral way.  This may prove as a weak approach. To effectively illustrate a point of view a writer should be assertive rather than neutral. The second example is more effective writing because it uses an opinion, and the word “monopolist” which clearly illustrates the writer’s feelings toward the verdict.  


Words have both denotative and connotative meanings. The denotative meaning is a neutral dictionary definition that has a strict meaning. A connotative meaning contains the emotional value or illustrations that often come to mind when thinking of a word. For example the denotative meaning of water is a combination of two hydrogen’s and one oxygen, but the connotative meaning may imply something that is cool, wet and refreshing. Some times the denotative meaning can give the writer merit and a firm base for their opinion.


Denotatively, “monopolist” is a critique of Microsoft that delivers the writer’s negative position toward the company and the judge’s verdict. Exact language can paint a clear picture for the reader. This gives the reader a definite position that the writer is taking, and gives a definite tone to the paper. Sentences become more effective when taken into a more aggressive voice being rewritten with words that gives denotative meaning that clearly illustrates the writers’ point of view.


'''Sentence structure'''
==Word Choice==


Lunsford 24c pp195) In order for a paper to maintain tone it must not deviate from tense or from mood.  In order for a writer to effectively illustrate their point they need to have a firm position and not waver. Consistency is important to maintain a papers tone and limits shifts in a papers voice. Consistency will illustrate a writers point more effectively to his or her readers. Consistency in numbering, grammatical person and tense will improve the tone of a paper.


(hackerS7-bpp107) For a paper to have adequate tone it must not contain too many choppy sentences or too many complex sentences there should be a happy medium so that the writer can get their point across while still illustrating their point effectively. A paper must have a consistent flow of ideas that illustrate the writers point without becoming too simple or too hard to read. A suggestion may be to use different ways to write and create sentences; catchy phrases are nice but stay clear of slang.
As Diana Hacker States in her book ''The Bedford Handbook'',word choice can also have great effects on a paper's tone.<ref>Hacker, Diana. A Writer's Reference. New York, Boston: Bedford/St.Martin’s, 2003, p. 128 [http://books.google.com/books?id=g489u9j0XAMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Hacker,+Diana.+A+Writer%E2%80%99s+Reference&hl=en&sa=X&ei=U_1GU4yDO6vnsASEoIHQDw&ved=0CEQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Hacker%2C%20Diana.%20A%20Writer%E2%80%99s%20Reference&f=false]</ref> Here are a few pointers a writer should keep in mind:


Tone is important when writing a paper. When used correctly, tone will illustrate a writer’s attitude about the subject to the reader effectively. If a writer uses phases, verbs and illustrates there point of view clearly than the tone of a paper will be correct.
* A writer should use verbs that have subjects that receive action to give a better picture to the reader.
* A writer should not use weaker forms of verbs.  
* A writer should stand firm on their position and emphasize their points by expressing them to the fullest.  
* A good writer should elaborate on points with descriptive phases and examples.
* A writer should avoid using the same word too many times.  It can make a paper seem monotonous and lose the reader’s attention.  
* A good writer always keeps a dictionary and thesaurus.


'''Works Cited'''
==Denotative and Connotative Meanings==


*1. Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference. New York, Boston: Bedford/St.Martin’s, 2003
Words have both '''denotative''' and '''connotative''' meanings. The ''denotative'' meaning is a ''neutral dictionary definition'' that has a strict meaning. A ''connotative'' meaning contains the ''emotional value or illustrations'' that often comes to mind when thinking of a word. For example:
*2. Lunsford, Andrea A.The Everyday Writer. New York, Boston: Bedford/St.Martin’s, 2005
 
*3. Macon State OWL Writters labatory . Feb 28. http://tutorials.maconstate.edu/owl/wp/wp05.asp
 
*'''''Denotative'''''
 
1. Water is a combination of two hydrogen's and one oxygen.
 
*'''''Connotative'''''
 
2. The thought of water brings to mind coolness and refreshment.
 
In the first sentence, there was little imagination and the definition of "water" was simply stated. Sometimes the denotative meaning can give the writer merit and a firm base for their opinion.
With the second sentence, there is a visual painted of water that makes the reader feel what the writer is trying to express.
 
 
==Sentence Structure==
 
Andrea Lunsford states in her book ''The Everyday Writer'' that in order for a paper to maintain tone, it must not deviate from tense or from mood. In order for a writer to effectively illustrate their point, they need to have a firm position and not waiver.<ref>Lunsford, Andrea A. The Everyday Writer. New York, Boston: Bedford/St.Martin’s, 2005, p. 195 [http://books.google.com/books?id=EsVpuQAACAAJ&dq=Lunsford,+Andrea+A.The+Everyday+Writer&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2P1GU8fiAYjUsATO7oDIBQ&ved=0CEMQ6AEwAQ]
</ref> ''Consistency'' is important to maintain a paper's tone and limits shifts in a paper's voice. Consistency will illustrate a writer's point effectively to his or her readers. Here are a few things that will help a writer maintain Consistency:
 
* Numbering
* Grammatical person
* Tense
 
 
Hacker claims that in order for a paper to have adequate tone, it must not contain too many choppy sentences or too many complex sentences. There should be a happy medium so that the writer can get their point across while still illustrating their point effectively. A paper must have:
 
* A consistent flow of ideas that illustrate the writer's point.
* Simplify without becoming too simple or too hard to read.
* Use different ways to write and create sentences; catchy phrases are nice but stay clear of slang.
 
 
==Usage of Tone==
 
The term tone was first used as a means to describe music and it is now widely used in the discussion of literature. The tone of a piece of literature, or an official document, sets the stage for how that piece of work should be read by the reader. Authors create the tone of a work through the use of ''word choice'', ''syntax'',''imagery'',''details'', and ''figurative language''. While the author can set the tone of an official document or a piece of literature it should still be made clear that the author's views and opinions are not those of the reader. In many pieces of literature the author may use a variety of different tones to tell a story. An official document is different from a piece of literature because there is only one tone throughout and that is a very formal tone. Whether its an informal or formal tone, every piece of writing makes usage of tone.
 
Tone is important when writing a paper. When used correctly, tone will illustrate a writer’s attitude about the subject to the reader effectively.
 
==External Links==
 
* [http://www.nl.edu/centers/cad/resources/resources_003.cfm Academic Tone Guidelines]
* [http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/tone.htm Tone: A Matter of Attitude]
* [http://web.uvic.ca/wguide/Pages/EssayWritingAud.html The UVic Writer's Guide]
* [http://www.umuc.edu/prog/ugp/ewp_writingcenter/writinggde/chapter3/chapter3-21.shtml Online Guide to Writing and Research]
* [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_paper/write.shtmlWriting: Considering Structure & Organization]
* [http://alpha.furman.edu/~moakes/Powerwrite/audience.htmDetermining Audience and Tone]
* [http://www.wikihow.com/Analyze-Tone-in-Literature How to Analyze Tone in Literature]
 
== References ==
<references/>

Latest revision as of 22:10, 10 April 2014

Tone expresses emotion through word choice, denotative and connotative meanings of words, sentence structure and the usage of tone. For a paper to have good tone it must have an effective manner of expression. When trying to set the tone, a writer must consider their audience and what words to choose to express their point of view. An essay’s tone suggests the writer’s emotional involvement in the essay’s subject by projecting:

  • Anger
  • Enthusiasm
  • Disinterest
  • Outrage

Tone helps to develop and maintain your assertion throughout your essay and is important in the writing process.[1] Consider the following examples:

Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly delivered a verdict that favored Microsoft’s position in the Justice Department’s anti-trust case.
Judge Kollar-Kotelly’s verdict amounts to little more than a slap on the wrist for the monopolist Microsoft.

The first example maintains an objective point of view by presenting the information in a neutral way. This may prove as a weak approach. To effectively illustrate a point of view a writer should be assertive rather than neutral. The second example is more effective writing because it uses an opinion, and the word “monopolist” which clearly illustrates the writer’s feelings toward the verdict.


Word Choice

As Diana Hacker States in her book The Bedford Handbook,word choice can also have great effects on a paper's tone.[2] Here are a few pointers a writer should keep in mind:

  • A writer should use verbs that have subjects that receive action to give a better picture to the reader.
  • A writer should not use weaker forms of verbs.
  • A writer should stand firm on their position and emphasize their points by expressing them to the fullest.
  • A good writer should elaborate on points with descriptive phases and examples.
  • A writer should avoid using the same word too many times. It can make a paper seem monotonous and lose the reader’s attention.
  • A good writer always keeps a dictionary and thesaurus.

Denotative and Connotative Meanings

Words have both denotative and connotative meanings. The denotative meaning is a neutral dictionary definition that has a strict meaning. A connotative meaning contains the emotional value or illustrations that often comes to mind when thinking of a word. For example:


  • Denotative

1. Water is a combination of two hydrogen's and one oxygen.

  • Connotative

2. The thought of water brings to mind coolness and refreshment.

In the first sentence, there was little imagination and the definition of "water" was simply stated. Sometimes the denotative meaning can give the writer merit and a firm base for their opinion. With the second sentence, there is a visual painted of water that makes the reader feel what the writer is trying to express.


Sentence Structure

Andrea Lunsford states in her book The Everyday Writer that in order for a paper to maintain tone, it must not deviate from tense or from mood. In order for a writer to effectively illustrate their point, they need to have a firm position and not waiver.[3] Consistency is important to maintain a paper's tone and limits shifts in a paper's voice. Consistency will illustrate a writer's point effectively to his or her readers. Here are a few things that will help a writer maintain Consistency:

  • Numbering
  • Grammatical person
  • Tense


Hacker claims that in order for a paper to have adequate tone, it must not contain too many choppy sentences or too many complex sentences. There should be a happy medium so that the writer can get their point across while still illustrating their point effectively. A paper must have:

  • A consistent flow of ideas that illustrate the writer's point.
  • Simplify without becoming too simple or too hard to read.
  • Use different ways to write and create sentences; catchy phrases are nice but stay clear of slang.


Usage of Tone

The term tone was first used as a means to describe music and it is now widely used in the discussion of literature. The tone of a piece of literature, or an official document, sets the stage for how that piece of work should be read by the reader. Authors create the tone of a work through the use of word choice, syntax,imagery,details, and figurative language. While the author can set the tone of an official document or a piece of literature it should still be made clear that the author's views and opinions are not those of the reader. In many pieces of literature the author may use a variety of different tones to tell a story. An official document is different from a piece of literature because there is only one tone throughout and that is a very formal tone. Whether its an informal or formal tone, every piece of writing makes usage of tone.


Tone is important when writing a paper. When used correctly, tone will illustrate a writer’s attitude about the subject to the reader effectively.

External Links

References

  1. ↑ Macon State OWL Writers Laboratory. Feb 28.2005 [1]
  2. ↑ Hacker, Diana. A Writer's Reference. New York, Boston: Bedford/St.Martin’s, 2003, p. 128 [2]
  3. ↑ Lunsford, Andrea A. The Everyday Writer. New York, Boston: Bedford/St.Martin’s, 2005, p. 195 [3]
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