Chapter 2. Thinking Critically: Varying Tone (Chapter 6)

Thinking Critically: Varying Tone

Sylvan Barnet, Hugo Bedau, John O’Hara

Activity Objective: For each kind of tone listed, you will review a passage from Abraham Lincoln. Then, you will rewrite Lincoln’s statement in wording that reflects qualities of the specified tone for the tab.

Tone: Abraham Lincoln

Qualities of the Tone: Invokes biblical rhetoric in an appeal to national unity

Example of Abraham Lincoln’s writing: Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now, rewrite Lincoln’s passage using a more academic tone, one that incorporates specific factual information and connects to overarching ideas.

Question Your rewrite of Lincoln’s passage in a more academic tone:

Tone: Abraham Lincoln

Qualities of the Tone: Invokes biblical rhetoric in an appeal to national unity

Example of Abraham Lincoln’s writing: Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now, rewrite Lincoln’s passage using a more informal tone, one that is accurate but simplified, forgoing much detail.

Question Your rewrite of Lincoln’s passage in a more informal tone:

Tone: Abraham Lincoln

Qualities of the Tone: Invokes biblical rhetoric in an appeal to national unity

Example of Abraham Lincoln’s writing: Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now, rewrite Lincoln’s passage using a tone that is too informal for most academic writing, one that mischaracterizes or oversimplifies the thought process.

Question Your rewrite of Lincoln’s passage in a tone that is too informal for most academic writing: