E27: FTCE | GK Reading | Identifying the Author's Tone in a Text

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Welcome to episode 27 of FTCE seminar, a teacher certification podcast. I'm your host, Mercedes Musto. In today's episode, I'll be talking about the FTCE general knowledge reading subtest. This is part six of a multi-series review of what you need to know to pass the reading section of the GK.

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Today, we're gonna talk about tone. This has to do with analyzing specific word choices in a way that reveals the author's attitude. Yeah, that's right, I said attitude. And what I mean by that is like the writer's mood and feelings are conveyed through the types of words they use in their writing. Today I will teach you how to become a tone detective when you're reading a text or passage. So let's get started.

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Concept number one, author's tone. Thoughtco.com defines tone as the author or writer's attitude towards the topic they've written about. For example, tone can be comical, playful, angry, informative, persuasive, sarcastic, or tone can even be serious, lighthearted, or morbid. Ew. So like, so Edgar Allan Poe-ish. It can also be candid and so on.

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Like me, for example, my attitude towards writing tends to be informative, instructional, and well, well, I mean, admittedly goofy. I mean, is that a thing? It is now. Writers.com agrees that tone is the author's attitude conveyed in their writing. So what does this look like or sound like for that matter? And how does it help me pass the test? Well, I'm glad you asked. Let's visit some real life examples.

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Hey now, while you're listening, think about the word selection and how that relates to the author's attitude. Example number one, a loud bang outside the coffee shop startled Sarah. She rapidly scrolled through Instagram while shaking her foot under the table. Cappuccino for Sarah!

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The barista belted from the counter. Panicked! Sarah looked at her phone again. It isn't what she ordered. In this first example, the author selected words like startled, rapidly, shaking, and panicked. These words let us know that Sarah is nervous and anxious. But you got that right.

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Let's hear another example. Example number two. Cappuccino for Sarah, said the barista. Sarah sighed and flung her phone inside her bag. This isn't what I ordered, she sneered at the barista. Expresso! Every day I get an espresso, she barked, indicate that Sarah is clearly agitated or angry. Hey, you're doing great! Let's try another example. Example number three. Sarah admired the coffee shop music. She's always enjoyed the sounds of cello. Cappuccino for Sarah with a triple shot of espresso. The barista winked and Sarah smiled. Thank you, Chris. Did you know that the legend of the cappuccino dates back to the 17th century? The legend is that Marco de' Avogno, an Italian friar, invented this fine espresso shot with

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steamed milk. Delicioso! Okay, so the author selected words like a painted picture of a calmer, more likable Sarah. The author indicated in this description nice music and a winking barista. But then Sarah starts giving an informative or educational speech about cappuccinos. We know this because she references a date

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like 17th century, follows this all up with facts about cappuccinos, and then even gives a definition of the unique coffee itself. That's how we know the tone here is educational or informative. Example number four. Sarah fixed her hair and picked up the cappuccino at the counter. The steamed milk was frothed with a beautiful heart design in the center. She blushed and looked up at the barista who was smiling. Maybe come back tomorrow for another cappuccino,

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love? Sarah nodded yes and dreamt immediately of tomorrow. Ooh la la. In example number four, and hooray for Sarah, can you figure out the tone in this one? Yeah, you're so correct. The tone is hopeful, flirtatious, and maybe even a little bit loving. We can tell because the author used words like beautiful, blushed, smiling, love, and mood about the topic they're writing about. We can decipher the tone like the good little tone detectives that we are by playing really close attention to the word choice in each sentence. Remember tone can be conveyed as nervous, anxious, agitated, angry, hopeful, loving, or even educational, and so much more. Being able to identify tone within the text

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will help you understand the craft and structure of the passages on the reading portion of the general knowledge test. In fact, being able to use all these reading skills will help you improve with every portion of the exam because reading's involved. I mean, how cool is that? For more practice with reading strategies,

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visit ftceseminar.com to study for the test. The most important thing is to start studying and start studying today so you can pass the teacher certification exam. Well, what are you waiting for? Check us out on YouTube at FTCE seminar and start studying today. This podcast was recorded at Pickens Multimedia Studio at the University of West Florida. This podcast is listener supported. Contributions can be made via the listener support link on Spotify. This is your host Mercedes Musto. Join me again on FTCE Seminar, a teacher certification podcast so you can pass the FTCE.

Transcribed with Cockatoo