4. c. The writer is clearly comfortable in making a
definitive statement. There is no hesitation in
the tone here. Instead of suggesting, the writer
declares: “Without a doubt…”
5. a. Because of the opening question and because
the next sentences are so vague, a reader can
assume that the writer either hasn’t read the
essay or didn’t like it. Also, “really” indicates
that the writer is afraid the reader won’t be
convinced by the statement, so he tries to
emphasize it. Furthermore, “I’ve never
seen anything like it” isn’t necessarily a
compliment—it could really mean many
different things, not all of them good.
6. a. Unlike question 5, this paragraph really is
complimentary. The writer specifies three
things that make the reader’s essay excep-
tional: It’s “clear, concise and convincing.”
The use of more specific adjectives makes this
writer’s praise seem sincere.
7. b. Irony is the mood created when things hap-
pen in a manner that is opposite of what was
expected to happen. Here, Bill had prepared
diligently for the big meeting and had every-
thing ready. But contrary to his expectations
of having a very successful presentation, he
had no presentation at all because he left his
materials in the taxi cab. The irony is height-
ened by his confidence.
S u m m a r y An ability to determine tone is an essential compo-
nent of reading comprehension. Often, writers will let
their tone convey their meaning, so you need to look
carefully for clues in the writer’s language and style to
determine how writers want their words to sound.
– H O W T H E Y S AY I T, PA R T T W O : T O N E – 1 1 0 ■
Listen carefully to people today and notice how much you depend on tone to determine exactly what
people mean when they speak to you. Notice also how you use tone to convey meaning when you speak
to other people.
■
Go back to the practice exercise where you identified the tone of those five passages. Try changing the
tone of some of those passages.
