Lesson 12 Controlling tone with modals

 Lesson 12 

Controlling tone with modals

Certain words can help control the tone of your arguments


Modals can change the tone of a sentence. Models such as must and had better make a verb stronger. Other modals such as may, might, should, can, and could make a verb softer. Remember to use modals to strengthen or soften your verbs. 


Asserting  a point

Strong modals such as must and had better help writers to assert their main points. When you use these words, readers know where you stand on an issue. 

Examples:

The fact clearly shows that researchers must stop unethical animal testing. 

People who value their health had better stop smoking now. 


Acknowledging an opposing point

Weaker modals such as may, might, could, can, and would help writers make an opposing opinion sound weak. You acknowledge an opposing point when you use may, for example, but this weak modal shows that the statement is not strong and can be refuted more easily. In short, the use of may and might is crucial to constructing a proper refutation and then counterargument. 

Examples:

Some parents might disagree and claim that only academic subjects should be taught in school. Then again, most parents do not have the time or the resources to see to it that their children are getting enough exercise. 


While it may be true that people have eaten meat for a long time, the number one killer of Americans now is heart disease, caused in part by the consumption of large amounts of animal fat. 

Some citizens may be against mandatory military service, but those who do serve in the military often have a strong sense of pride and personal satisfaction. 

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