Final answer:
The tone of a piece of writing or speech reflects the writer's or speaker's attitude and mood, conveyed through choice of words and phrasing. Determining tone involves examining language, context, and emotional reactions to the text to understand the writer's viewpoint and purpose. Tonal descriptors help identify whether the writing is excited, informative, indifferent, or defensive.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'Which best describes the tone?' relates to identifying the attitude or mood conveyed by a piece of writing or speech. Tone is reflected through the writer's choice of words, sentence structure, and the imagery used within the text. For example, an excited tone might be evident through vibrant, energetic language, whereas an informative tone is characterized by factual, straightforward language meant to educate the reader. An indifferent tone could be portrayed through lackadaisical or impartial phrasing, while a defensive tone often includes language that justifies or protects a stance against anticipated criticisms or questions.
Poems, stories, or persuasive essays may each have distinct tones. When analyzing tone, it's important to consider emotional reactions, the narrative style, and specific descriptors that might apply, such as serious, humorous, or meditative. For instance, if a sentence from a story reads, 'Without warning, the smaller dog launched itself from its owner's lap, snarling and snapping at the guide dog,' the use of vivid, action-oriented words suggests an excited or intense tone.
Determining tone is essential in understanding the underlying message and the writer or speaker's attitude towards the subject or audience. It varies greatly depending on the context, purpose, and audience of the text. When analyzing tone, it can be helpful to look for tonal descriptors and consider the emotional impact the text has on you as a reader.