Identifying Author’s

Mood, Tone and

Intention
(Please view in presentation mode)
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Instructions for use

To help better understand a passage, a reader should try to identify
the author's attitude, or tone. This refers to the author’s point of
view (tone) as well as the overall emotions and feelings the author
is trying to evoke (mood).

Evaluating tone gives readers a better understanding of the

author’s argument and purpose for writing. The author's tone is
closely associated with the writer's purpose. The writer will use a
certain voice to convey the main idea and purpose of a passage.
That voice often reveals the author's attitude toward the subject.
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Mood is the feeling you get while reading the text. This
would cover a multitude of emotions ranging from
happiness to depression. The mood is the atmosphere of
the story.

To describe mood, look at the setting and the language

used by the author. The author will use specific words to
suit specific settings. E.g. the author could use words like
‘pitch black’, ‘eerie’ and ‘dilapidated house’ to describe a
haunting scene.
Therefore, to understand the
author’s mood and tone, pay
attention to the words used in the
text.
To help you do this, be familiar
with the vocabulary used for
different settings as well as words
used to express tone.
Practice 1
How would you describe this author's attitude
towards the treadmill? Note down which words
helped you?
The treadmill began to whir, and I gripped its handlebars as
the belt started moving me backwards. All I could do now
was run -- or begrudgingly barrel forward -- toward an
outdated screen that showed me the terrain I was supposed
to be running on. It was made of red squares stacked up,
one on top of another: the higher stacks were supposed to
be steep hills, and the lower ones, valleys. I tried to picture
them as burning coals to see if that would make me speed
up or at least feel like this exercise was somehow connected
to nature -- even one of its cruel parts.

https://www.brainfuse.com/jsp/alc/resource.jsp?s=gre&c=37217&cc=108841
 Is the author happy about being on the treadmill?
What does ‘grip’ imply?

The treadmill began to whir, and I gripped its handlebars as

He didn’t want to run?
the belt started moving me backwards. All I could do nowNo choice
was run -- or reluctantly/resentfully
begrudginglyMovebarrel forward -- toward an
forward uncontrollably

outdated screen that showed me the terrain I wasAssume

old-fashioned supposed
to be but not necassarily

to be running on. It was made of red squares stacked up,

one on top of another: the higher stacks were supposed to
be steep hills, and the lower ones, valleys. I tried to picture
them asSomethingburning
painful? coals to see if that would make me speed
Forced to
up or at least feel like this exercise wasTrying
The bare minimum
somehow connected
to find a connection
to nature -- even one of its cruel parts.
Negative connotation

https://www.brainfuse.com/jsp/alc/resource.jsp?s=gre&c=37217&cc=108841
Compare that text with this version.

The treadmill began to whir, and my heart sped up faster than

the belt could go. Instead of pressing "select" on my remote
control to escape into a TV show, I had just selected "Power
Run." A sleek screen with a simple set of red lines showed me
the terrain on which I was running. Those red lines looked like
a pulse, and they got me to run farther and faster than I could
ever run when I'm outside, worried about weather, cars, or
other people. It may not have looked like I was going
anywhere that night, but I had just broken out of a ten-year
slump.
https://www.brainfuse.com/jsp/alc/resource.jsp?s=gre&c=37217&cc=108841
 Is the author happy about being on the treadmill?
excitement?

The treadmill began to whir, and my heart sped up faster than

the belt could go. Instead of pressing "select" on my remote
Positive connotation
control to modern-looking
escape into a TVClean show, I had just selected "Power
layout/ fuss-free

Run." A sleek screen with a simple set of red lines showed me

Believed/imagined to be on
the terrain on which
Connotes a heart
I was running. Those
willingness/acceptance
red lines looked like
Idea of excitem,ent repeated
a pulse, and they got me to run farther and faster than I could
Enforces idea running indoors is better than outdoors
ever run when I'm outside, worried about weather, cars, or
other people. It may not have looked like I was going
A goal achieved/ a positive outcome
anywhere that night, but I had just broken out of a ten-year
slump.
https://www.brainfuse.com/jsp/alc/resource.jsp?s=gre&c=37217&cc=108841
 10

Distinguishing facts
from opinion
Most often when we read, we are presented
with information where we need to be able to
distinguish whether they are facts or opinions.
How do YOU do this? How do you tell the
difference?
 Michael Owen joined Newcastle from
Real Madrid for £16m in 2005 and
Fact or Opinion? scored 30 goals in 79 appearances in
an injury-hit four years on Tyneside.

How did you make the

distinction? Owen said: "When I meet Newcastle
or Liverpool fans they all respect
what I've done for their clubs. In
stadiums it changes, one boo and the
rest follow.

http://teach.files.bbci.co.uk/skillswise/en06opin-e3-f-fact-or-opinion.pdf
All these can be checked and
proven in records - facts
These are opinions (clear-cut
evidence is “Owen said”). Also,
we can question the use of “they
all” and “one boo and the rest
follow.” Really?
Michael Owen joined Newcastle from
Real Madrid for £16m in 2005 and
scored 30 goals in 79 appearances in
an injury-hit four years on Tyneside.
Owen said: "When I meet Newcastle
or Liverpool fans they all respect
what I've done for their clubs. In
stadiums it changes, one boo and the
rest follow.
http://teach.files.bbci.co.uk/skillswise/en06opin-e3-f-fact-or-opinion.pdf
The Language of Fact and Opinion
One way how we can distinguish between a fact and an opinion is to focus on
the language used in the sentence. The vocabulary used can help us decide
whether the statement can be backed up with evidence and/or verified.
Alternately, it can help to show whether the statement is someone’s
judgement, point of view or belief.

What do you think these words

are? Can you think of some?
Take some time to jot them
down.
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Examples of words to
express facts
This case study has demonstrated …
According to the results shown …
The latest research confirmed …
The panel has recently discovered …
It has been proven that …
It’s a fact that …
Experts verified that …
They had enough findings to substantiate ...
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Examples of words to
express opinions
The minister claimed that …
They argued that …
In Professor Amal’s view …
Experts worldwide suspect that …
It is believed that …
The speculation was that …
Few people would deny that…
It is generally assumed that ...
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