L5 Advanced Writing Course - Tone and Voice

Welcome to Advanced Writing

Tone and Voice!

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Understand Voice and Tone in Writing
• Write Your Own Paragraph Using Intentional Voice and Tone
• Use the Pop-Up Pointers to Edit and Polish Your Work

Be sure to complete the lesson by following the roadmap:

1. Play the Warm-Up Game
2. Learn About Tone and Voice in Writing
3. Choose Your Topic and Complete the Quick-Write

1. Complete the Writing Activity
2. Explore the Pop-Up Pointer
3. Edit Your Work
4. Discuss Your Homework

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Warm Up

Rewrite the following sentences in three different tones. What changes do you notice?

Rewrite this sentence:

"I can't believe it's Monday again."

Show the following tones!

Pop-Up:Consider This...

Funny

Angry

Excited

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Let'sLearn

Let's Learn about Tone and Voice in Writing.

Tone Words are adjectives that describe attitude (sarcastic, joyful, frustrated).

Tone and Voice

Tone in writing is the writer's attitude toward the topic or the reader. It can be formal, playful, sad, serious... Voice is the writer's personality. How do they "sound" on the page? What can you tell from their word choice and style?

Voice Consistency means keeping the same personality throughout the piece.

Word Choice and Syntax refer to the vocabulary and sentence structure.

Purpose and Emotion: How do you want the reader to feel? How do you achieve that?

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ExampleText

Read the passage below out loud. What tone do you feel in this paragraph?

Pop-Up:Tone Detective

The rain started again, tapping against my window like an annoying reminder. I pulled the blanket tighter around my shoulders and stared at my untouched homework. Another Monday. Another pile of essays. Somewhere out there, people were jogging and smiling and living their best lives. Meanwhile, I was mastering the fine art of procrastination.

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QuickWrite

Choose a Writing Topic. Spend 5 minutes writing!

Option 1:I Missed the Bus...

Write about missing the bus in a funny tone and then in a serious tone. Remember to consider word choice, sentence structure (syntax), your purpose, and emotion.

Option 2:Best Weekend Ever

Describe your favorite weekend activity in your own voice. Think about your own writing style and make it sound like you! Remember to consider word choice, sentence structure (syntax), your purpose, and emotion.

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Edit YourWork

Ready to make your writing shine?

Mood Switch

Let's switch it up! Think of a tone that is opposite of your writing. Change a few keywords and punctuation to switch the tone.

Tone Transformer

Take a dull part of your work and rewrite it to be exciting, dramatic, or angry. Think about the key elements that change tone.

Voice Match

Find adjectives or tone words in your work that go together and help create the tone. (Ex. sad, melancholy, blue, tired).

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Feedback

Share Your Thoughts!

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Homework

Homework

Option 2:Voice Journal

Write a journal entry about your day that sounds completely like you! At the end, highlight the words or phrases that make it uniquely your voice.

Option 1:Tone Swap

Find a piece of writing that you enjoy (it can be your own or from a book). Choose a section to rewrite with a different tone!

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Funny Tone

"I can't believe it's Monday again... and didn't we just have one last week??"

Example:

In a motivational essay, your tone might be inspiring and confident. In a sad story, your tone might be somber or upset.

• The tone of this passage feels sarcastic. The writer mocks their own laziness and uses exaggeration to make a point.
• The author's voice is tired and unmotivated. Words like "blanket tighter" and "untouched homework" make them sound tired.
• The passage is also slightly self-deprecating, where the author pokes fun at themselves. The phrase, "mastering the fine art of procrastination," adds some humor.

Example Answers

Example:

"Could you please pass me the salt?" (Polite) "Hey, hand me the salt already!" (Impatient) "Salt me up, captain!" (Playful)

Example:

"I strolled through the park!” V. "I dragged myself through the park."

Tip from author, Maya Angelou:

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou Maya Angelou was a celebrated poet and author known for her powerful stories about identity, strength, and hope. She often used emotion and rhythm in her writing.

Excited Tone

“I can’t believe it’s Monday again — a fresh start and new coffee to conquer the week!”

Example:

"She smiled through the tears, trying to be brave." = Bittersweet Tone

Angry Tone

“I can’t believe it’s Monday again! Didn’t we just suffer through this?”

Example:

Think of a funny writer who still uses jokes even when talking about something serious.