This learning resource focuses on analyzing tone and word choice within the context of the novel '96 Miles.' Students are tasked with writing a RACE response that examines how the specific word 'stifling' contributes to creating a tense atmosphere in the characters' journey through the Nevada desert. The document includes activities that prompt students to define tone, answer multiple-choice questions about the word's connotation, and articulate their understanding through the RACE writing format, specifically Restating the question, Answering it, Citing evidence, and Explaining their analysis. Additionally, there is a gifted extension task that encourages deeper engagement by replacing 'stifling' with synonyms and predicting the impact on tone.