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8.9.F

Description: Analyze how the author's use of language contributes to the mood, voice, and tone.
Maps to Reading Plus skills: 6C, 6C

Exemplars

6C: Recognizing Mood/Tone

6C: Recognizing Mood/Tone

Description: Recognizing Mood and Tone

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: H-30

H-30

Grade level: 8
Word count: 1737 words
Author: Tuck Danbridge
Synopsis: Jim Thorpe's tribal name, meaning "bright path," reflected his journey to fame.
Excerpt: Eventually Thorpe convinced his coach to let him give the pigskin a shot. Warner figured that as soon as Thorpe took a strong hit, he would just give up and return to contact-free track. But Jim was far too good at football for that to hold true. He "ran around past and through them not once, but twice," and proved that his athletic skills could translate to any sport. He walked over to his coach, tossed him the ball, and said "nobody is going to tackle Jim."

Question: In this excerpt, Thorpe's comment to his coach was probably spoken in a tone of
  1. confidence.
  2. appreciation.
  3. uncertainty.
  4. sympathy.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: What kinds of language or other text structure elements (tone) are used to create an excited or adventurous mood? Use details from a selection you have read to illustrate and explain your answer.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

6C: Recognizing Mood/Tone

6C: Recognizing Mood/Tone

Description: Recognizing Mood and Tone

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: H-32

H-32

Grade level: 8
Word count: 2030 words
Author: Anna Fisher
Synopsis: Many people escaped from East Germany through tunnels under the Berlin Wall, but some did not make it.
Excerpt: "I will always have a place for him in my heart," Gram revealed, and then she wept deeply. After a few minutes, she regained her composure and turned to Maggie, saying, "I can now put this sad time in my life behind me and finally rest in peace."

Question: In this excerpt at the end of the selection, the author creates a mood that could be described as
  1. calm and appreciative.
  2. gloomy and hopeless.
  3. confused and anxious.
  4. lively and patriotic.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Compare the mood and tone of two stories. Provide details. Explain which of the two stories you prefer, and how mood and tone influenced your decision.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions