Advanced Placement of the College Board Tone Word List Good authors are rarely monotone. A speaker's attitude can shift on a topic, or an author might have one Tone Shift: attitude toward the audience and another toward the subject. The following are some clues to watch for shifts in tone: Key words (but, yet, nevertheless, however, although) Changes in sentence length • • Punctuation (dashes, periods, colons) Sharp contrasts in diction • • Paragraph divisions • Positive amiable confident exuberant passionate sympathetic appreciative consoling fanciful peaceful vibrant authoritative ecstatic impassioned relaxed whimsical benevolent encouraging jubilant reverent energetic lighthearted romantic compassionate enthusiastic optimistic soothing Negative accusing belligerent contradictory furious outraged admonitory callous critical indignant passive agitated childish desperate inflammatory quarrelsome apathetic choleric disappointed insulting shameful arrogant coarse disgruntled irritated surly artificial condemnatory disgusted manipulative testy audacious condescending facetious obnoxious wrathful Sorrow/Fear/Worry aggravated dejected lugubrious paranoid remorseful agitated foreboding miserable pessimistic resigned anxious grave morose pitiful solemn apologetic hollow mournful poignant somber apprehensive hopeless ominous regretful staid amused cynical ironic pompous scornful bantering disdainful irreverent quizzical sharp bitter joking ribald caustic facetious malicious ridiculing taunting comical flippant mock-heroic sad teasing condescending giddy mocking sarcastic whimsical contemptuous humorous mock-serious sardonic wry critical insolent patronizing satiric Miscellaneous allusive disinterested informative obsequious sentimental apathetic dramatic inquisitive patriotic serious authoritative earnest instructive persuasive shocking baffled expectant intimate pleading sincere candid factual judgmental pretentious smooth ceremonial fervent learned provocative unemotional clinical formal loud questioning urgent contemplative forthright lyrical reflective vexed conventional frivolous matter-of-fact reminiscent wistful detached histrionic meditative resigned zealous didactic humble nostalgic restrained disbelieving incredulous objective seductive
Advanced Placement of the College Board Tone Word List Tone Shift: Good authors are rarely monotone. A speaker's attitude can shift on a topic, or an author might have one attitude toward the audience and another toward the subject. The following are some clues to watch for shifts in tone: • Key words (but, yet, nevertheless, however, although) • Changes in sentence length • Punctuation (dashes, periods, colons) • Sharp contrasts in diction • Paragraph divisions Positive amiable appreciative authoritative benevolent compassionate confident consoling ecstatic encouraging energetic enthusiastic exuberant fanciful impassioned jubilant lighthearted optimistic passionate peaceful relaxed reverent romantic soothing sympathetic vibrant whimsical Negative accusing admonitory agitated apathetic arrogant artificial audacious belligerent callous childish choleric coarse condemnatory condescending contradictory critical desperate disappointed disgruntled disgusted facetious furious indignant inflammatory insulting irritated manipulative obnoxious outraged passive quarrelsome shameful surly testy wrathful Sorrow/Fear/Worry aggravated agitated anxious apologetic apprehensive dejected foreboding grave hollow hopeless lugubrious miserable morose mournful ominous paranoid pessimistic pitiful poignant regretful remorseful resigned solemn somber staid amused bantering bitter caustic comical condescending contemptuous critical cynical disdainful facetious flippant giddy humorous insolent ironic irreverent joking malicious mock-heroic mocking mock-serious patronizing pompous quizzical ribald ridiculing sad sarcastic sardonic satiric scornful sharp taunting teasing whimsical wry Miscellaneous allusive apathetic authoritative baffled candid ceremonial clinical contemplative conventional detached didactic disbelieving disinterested dramatic earnest expectant factual fervent formal forthright frivolous histrionic humble incredulous informative inquisitive instructive intimate judgmental learned loud lyrical matter-of-fact meditative nostalgic objective obsequious patriotic persuasive pleading pretentious provocative questioning reflective reminiscent resigned restrained seductive sentimental serious shocking sincere smooth unemotional urgent vexed wistful zealous
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