Tone
Little Johnny dashed out of the house. His backpack hung open and he didn't have time to ask his mom for ice cream money. Up ahead he saw the school bus coming around the corner. He sprinted as fast as he could--the bus stop was still a block away!
Which words or phrases create a tone of urgency?
dashed, didn't have time, sprinted, fast as he could
Little Red Riding Hood meets a wolf on her way to her grandmother's house, she runs into danger, but is ultimately rescued and lives happily ever after.
Plot
Studying a second language during your school years is important. Learning a second language can help students gain a better understanding of the English language. Since many of our English words have origins in other languages, studying a second language can increase one’s English vocabulary.
Cause and Effect
Decline: After Gears of Pain 6 came out, the amount of people playing Gears of Pain 5 declined.
To go down
A theme should be a statement, not just one word.
True or False
True
The alley was quiet. Too quiet. Especially for a big city like Gotham. Something was definitely wrong. Batman stood hidden by the shadows, waiting for the criminals to strike.
Which words or phrases create a tone of suspense?
too quiet, something was definitely wrong, hidden by the shadows, waiting
Once upon a time, the woods, grandmother's house
Setting
If you are in a car that gets a flat tire while driving, these simple steps will help the driver resolve the problem quickly and safely. First, it is important to find a safe place to pull off the road. Be sure there is room to walk around the car without having to walk into traffic. Turn on the hazard lights on the car, to alert other drivers, and step to the back to retrieve the jack from the trunk.
Sequence
Yearn: Even though John had a good job and a nice family, he yearned for more.
To want badly
Which of the following is an example of THEME?
a. Carry your laptops with two hands at all times.
b. Cereal is the healthiest food you can eat.
c. Life is short; make the most of it.
d. How much wood could a wood chuck chuck?
C
Ashley couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her dad had actually gotten them tickets to the Super Bowl! Her heart raced with excitement and she felt like she was walking on air.
Which words and phrases create a tone of joy?
couldn't believe, tickets to the Super Bowl, heart raced, walking on air
Little Red Riding Hood, the Wolf, Grandmother, the Woodsman
Characters
An iPodTM touch has a 4” screen, uses Wi-Fi, and is Bluetooth activated. It does not include phone service, nor does it have GPS capability. An iPhoneTM 5 also has a 4” screen and operates on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. However, the iPhoneTM 5 also uses cellular networks, making it capable of making and receiving phone calls.
Compare and Contrast
Vague: She does not communicate with me so I only have a vague idea as to how I can help.
Not clear, confusing
Which of the following is NOT an example of a theme?
a. Treat others the way you want to be treated.
b. A little boy lied to his mother.
c. With hard work, you can accomplish anything.
d. You shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
B
"It's time to focus!" Ms. Williams snapped at the class. "My hand is in the air--that's your signal to stop, look, and listen! Y'all know better than to come in here being so loud!"
Which words or phrases create a tone of anger?
snapped, y'all know better, being so loud
Little Red Riding Hood is tricked and eaten by a wolf.
Conflict
Things went wrong for Scott from the beginning. The sledges broke down and had to be abandoned. Scott and his men soon met up with the drivers, who were traveling on foot. Blizzards then struck and lasted several weeks into December.
Chronological/Sequence
Earnest: Jeremiah joked around so much that when he told the others about the accident that had occurred, they didn’t believe that he was being earnest.
Honest, truthful
The theme is the subject of the story, such as baseball, friendship, or individuality.
True or False
False
Robin beamed at the trophy in their hand. They had worked so hard and it had finally paid off--first place in the city-wide science fair was definetly something they would never forget.
Which words and phrases create a tone of pride?
beamed, trophy, worked so hard, paid off, first place, never forget
Don't talk to strangers, don't wander off.
Theme
When students move to a new community and a new school, it can be difficult for them to make friends—especially if they move in the middle of the year. Wilson Middle School has developed a Community Club that reaches out to new students for their first year at school. The Community Club invites new students to events where they can meet other students outside of the classroom. The club also provides every new student with a “buddy” who helps the student navigate the school.
Problem and Solution
Inquiry: When the other moms heard about how Charlene had won the baking contest, her email box was flooded with inquiries for her award winning muffin recipe.
Question
Which of the following is an example of a theme?
a. Friendship
b. Being prepared often leads to success.
c. How to bake chocolate chip cookies
d. Helping others
B