1. Read your tone handout. Explain three tone shifts in JK Rowling's speech "The Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination". Where does the shift occur? Why is it important?

One tone shift in Rowling’s speech is at the beginning, when she starts off with a couple of jokes to get the audience’s attention; to hook them into forwarding all their attention to her. Her tone shifts when she begins to acknowledge the audience about failure, and how it has influenced her life dramatically. This shift is important because it draws the listeners in, and makes them pay attention to what Rowling is truly saying. Another shift occurs when she begins speaking about imagination. She begins speaking about it, after talking about her life and failures, and simply draw imagination into the speech because it is something that has helped her rebuild from her failure; hopeful and optimistic. One last change in her speech is at the end. After all of the serious and important information she had shared with her audience, and keeping their attention, Rowling simply ends with a joke, that enlightens the audience, to make them laugh. 

2. JK Rowling uses an impressive vocabulary throughout her speech. Choose three words that are unfamiliar or challenging and include the definition.

Extol- to highly praise

Paradoxical- seemingly absurd or self-contradictory

Vicissitudes- a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant