Explain how the tone of two pieces is alike and different.

Explain how the tone of two pieces is alike and different.

• A. Discuss how the tone differs between the two pieces
• B. Explain how the mood compares across the texts
• C. Identify the author’s purpose
• D. Compare and contrast the tone of the two pieces

Answer: (D)

The task is asking you to compare the tone across two pieces by looking at how the authors’ attitudes come through in each text and noting both similarities and differences. Tone is revealed through word choice, details, and sentence style, which show whether the voice is formal or casual, serious or humorous, ironic or sincere, and so on. When you’re asked to explain how the tone is alike and different, you should identify where the two pieces express a similar attitude and where they diverge in mood or voice. This is exactly what the option does: it asks you to compare and contrast the tone of the two pieces, covering both shared and contrasting tonal elements. The other choices miss part of that task: discussing only how tones differ, focusing on mood instead of tone, or shifting to the author’s purpose.

The task is asking you to compare the tone across two pieces by looking at how the authors’ attitudes come through in each text and noting both similarities and differences. Tone is revealed through word choice, details, and sentence style, which show whether the voice is formal or casual, serious or humorous, ironic or sincere, and so on. When you’re asked to explain how the tone is alike and different, you should identify where the two pieces express a similar attitude and where they diverge in mood or voice. This is exactly what the option does: it asks you to compare and contrast the tone of the two pieces, covering both shared and contrasting tonal elements. The other choices miss part of that task: discussing only how tones differ, focusing on mood instead of tone, or shifting to the author’s purpose.