Question

analyzing word choice: tutorial
in this activity, youll create a table to plan your analysis of an excerpt from fierce and write a paragraph arguing
you can view the entire excerpt here
fierce
by aly raisman (excerpt)
watching tv with my mom was our special time together, and i cherished it. raising four young children didn’t leave a lot of time for kicking back, but whenever she wasn’t too busy, we would sit down on the couch and pick out a tape to watch.
our choice usually involved our favorite sport—you guessed it: gymnastics. gymnastics wasn’t broadcast as often as the endless stream of football and basketball games, but on the rare occasions gymnastics competitions were televised, we made sure to tape them. i would watch those tapes over and over until i knew all the routines by heart.
my mom would eventually get tired of yet another screening of a us championships or an invitational, but i couldn’t get enough. when i wasn’t doing homework or at gymnastics practice, i was parked in front of the tv, watching one of those tapes.
one day i want to be just like them, i thought, enchanted by the figures flying across the screen. i had already decided that i would be a gymnast when i grew up. well, either that or a pop star, like britney spears, my favorite singer. that sounded good, too.
as they lined up, the faces of the seven us team members—amanda borden, amy chow, dominique dawes, shannon miller, dominique moceanu, jaycie phelps, and kerri strug—projected concentration, confidence, and strength. in their american flag leotards, they were my supergirls. all they were missing were capes.
part a
identify the voice, tone, mood, and meaning of the excerpt from fierce. then find examples of the author’s word

Explanation:

Voice:

The voice is personal and nostalgic, coming from a reflective, younger perspective looking back on childhood. It uses conversational, intimate language to share a formative personal experience.

• Example: "Watching TV with my mom was our special time together, and I cherished it."

Tone:

The tone is warm, admiring, and earnest. The writer expresses fondness for time with her mom and deep admiration for the gymnasts.

• Example: "In their American flag leotards, they were my Supergirls."

Mood:

The mood is nostalgic, warm, and inspiring. The text evokes a sense of cherished childhood memories and youthful aspiration.

• Example: "I had already decided that I would be a gymnast when I grew up."

Meaning:

The core meaning is that shared, small childhood rituals (like watching gymnastics with her mom) shape personal aspirations and create lasting, meaningful connections. The excerpt shows how media and family time can foster inspiration and identity.

• Example: "I would watch those tapes over and over until I knew all the routines by heart. [...] I had already decided that I would be a gymnast when I grew up."

Answer:

Voice:

Personal, nostalgic first-person voice. Example: "Watching TV with my mom was our special time together, and I cherished it."

Tone:

Warm, admiring, earnest. Example: "In their American flag leotards, they were my Supergirls."

Mood:

Nostalgic, warm, inspiring. Example: "I had already decided that I would be a gymnast when I grew up."

Meaning:

Childhood shared rituals and media can foster aspiration and connection. Example: "I would watch those tapes over and over until I knew all the routines by heart. [...] I had already decided that I would be a gymnast when I grew up."