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Tone Worksheets

This page features worksheets and resources that help teach tone. Students are often tested on their ability to interpret a narrator's tone. They need practice to get it right. Get your practice work here!

What Is Tone?

Tone is the narrator's attitude toward his or her subject. It is like tone of voice. People describe both types of tone using the same words. For example, if the narrator were mocking the characters, we might say the tone is sarcastic. But unlike tone of voice, which uses sound to help convey feeling, readers can only infer the narrator's tone from the text. So readers have to pay extra close attention.

How Does One Identify Tone?
Perceiving the narrator's tone is a basic reading skill, but it requires critical thinking. Readers must comprehend the text, consider the narrator's sincerity, and make a judgement. The reader must decide whether the narrator is overreacting, pouting, or just playing around.
This is a photo of a young woman who is screaming. She appears very distressed.
Sometimes one's tone says more than one's words.

Tone Worksheets and Resources

Here are some worksheets and resources to give students practice with identifying tone. Each worksheet has four poems. The speaker in each poem expresses a certain tone. Students must read the poems, determine the speakers' tones, and explain their answer using text. Though I have included answer keys, please bear in mind that these are suggestions. Student answers will vary.

Tone Lesson 1
Here is an animated PowerPoint slideshow teaching students about TONE. It gives students definitions, examples, and helpful tips about how to interpret and describe the speaker's tone. Also, there is a five question practice activity after the lesson. This is a great way to start a unit on tone.
This is a preview image of Tone Lesson 1. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Tone Worksheet 1
This worksheet has four poems, each with a different tone. Students identify the speaker's tone in each poem and explain their answers using text. This will give students some great practice with tone. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.
This is a preview image of Tone Worksheet 1. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Tone Worksheet 2
Here is another tone worksheet with four poems and eight problems. Students interpret the speaker's tone and support their answers with text. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.
This is a preview image of Tone Worksheet 2. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Tone Worksheet 3
Here is yet another worksheet to help students master tone. Students read the short poems. Then they interpret the speaker's tone and support their answers using textual evidence. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.
This is a preview image of Tone Worksheet 3. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Tone Worksheet 4
This tone worksheet is a little more challenging than some of the other tone worksheets. The poems are a bit more challenging, but students still must interpret the speaker's tone and support their answers. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.
This is a preview image of Tone Worksheet 4. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Tone Worksheet 5
This tone worksheet features 4 short poems. Student read the poems and analyze each speakers' tone. They explain their answers and also answer comprehension questions about each poem. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.
This is a preview image of Tone Worksheet 5. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.

Theme
Common Core State Standards

Tone Anchor Standard
R.4 - Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.

RL.1.4 - Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.
RL.6.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.
RL.7.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama.
RL.8.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
RL.9-10.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).
RL.11-12.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)
Click to VIEW Grade Level Standards for R.4
Related Content
Mood Worksheets
Characterization Worksheets
Figurative Language Worksheets
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18 Comments

  1. Marva Grant delancey

     /  January 3, 2023

    Thanks for this site. It very helpful.

    Reply

  2. sadia

     /  November 21, 2022

    Awesome and very helping..Its been quite a long time I have been using this site and it was fruitful I must say.
    Thank you!

    Reply

  3. Angela Araújo

     /  June 21, 2021

    Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful work!

    Reply

  4. Laurie Frazier

     /  October 17, 2019

    Really enjoy using this site, and I appreciate the time and dedication you put into the site and the fact that it is absolutely free!! I have recommended it to a good deal of teachers!!

    Reply

  5. keelahrose

     /  October 17, 2018

    What happened to the other tone worksheets? These used to be short stories, now they’re all poems.

    Reply

  6. Judith

     /  May 9, 2018

    Love these worksheets to review and reinforce skills in my junior and senior classes. They are excellent for individual and group work. You have provided an amazing resource that saves me lots of time. Your time and effort used to set this up is greatly appreciated.

    Thanks

    Reply

  7. Manisha Bakshi

     /  January 29, 2018

    Great Resources. Really useful.

    Reply

  8. Nadine

     /  September 12, 2017

    Thank you! This sure makes teaching a little easier and I know it will help my students!

    Reply

  9. Tiffany Wall

     /  September 11, 2017

    I love this site. Thank you so much for being a resource to my classroom!!

    Reply

  10. Lili

     /  January 18, 2017

    You are the best! Thank you for everything! 🙂

    Reply

  11. alsan divinagracia

     /  August 16, 2016

    these are very helpful instructional materials. thank you for your love to teaching. God bless.

    Reply

  12. Ma. Fatima M. Solis

     /  July 25, 2016

    Thank you for this . It is very helpful. God bless

    Reply

  13. Ms. Garcia

     /  June 16, 2016

    Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. These are very helpful.

    Reply

  14. Betina

     /  October 7, 2015

    Excellent site.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  15. Irving Echevarria

     /  August 31, 2015

    Excellent site. Very useful for my ESL students. Love it.

    Reply

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