Grade 6 · Reading · Lesson 4

Analyze word choice and tone

Every word a writer chooses sends a signal. Two sentences can describe the same event but feel completely different depending on the words selected. \u201cShe said she was tired\u201d sounds flat. \u201cShe groaned, slumping into her chair\u201d feels exhausted. The emotional quality the reader picks up is called the tone, and word choice is the primary tool for creating it.

What this lesson teaches

1Identify the tone an author creates through specific word choices
2Match action verbs and adjectives to the emotional tone they convey
3Classify words and phrases as formal, informal, or neutral register
4Apply understanding of word choice and tone when reading and writing texts

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