Lesson 10: Author’s Lesson 10: Author’s Purpose and InfluencePurpose and Influence

Competency Goal 2.01, 3.01, Competency Goal 2.01, 3.01, and 4.01and 4.01

EOG VocabularyEOG Vocabulary

AnalyzeAnalyze ArgumentArgument AttitudeAttitude Author’s purposeAuthor’s purpose BiasBias ConclusionConclusion ConsequenceConsequence Counter-argumentCounter-argument

EffectivenessEffectiveness Fact/OpinionFact/Opinion IssueIssue Mood/ToneMood/Tone NegativeNegative NeutralNeutral PositivePositive PropagandaPropaganda Underlying Underlying

assumptionassumption

The writer behind the writing:The writer behind the writing:

Everything ever written was written Everything ever written was written by a person. To understand a piece by a person. To understand a piece of writing, a reader must understand of writing, a reader must understand some things about the person who some things about the person who wrote it. wrote it. To do this, a reader must be able to spot To do this, a reader must be able to spot

clues about this mysterious someone, clues about this mysterious someone, this “author” person behind the writing.this “author” person behind the writing.

Tip #1: An author’s tone can be Tip #1: An author’s tone can be positive, negative, or neutral.positive, negative, or neutral.

Positive tonePositive tone: shows good feelings : shows good feelings about the topic. It might show about the topic. It might show happiness, pride, delight, happiness, pride, delight, enthusiasm, humor, love, romance, enthusiasm, humor, love, romance, joy, or a number of other positive joy, or a number of other positive emotions. emotions. The tone could be extremely positive or The tone could be extremely positive or

only slight positive, depending on the only slight positive, depending on the diction (word choice).diction (word choice).

Negative toneNegative tone: communicates bad : communicates bad feelings about the topic. It might feelings about the topic. It might show sadness, anger, cynicism, show sadness, anger, cynicism, bitterness, weariness, hate, disgust, bitterness, weariness, hate, disgust, or a number of other negative or a number of other negative emotions. emotions. Diction determines this.Diction determines this.

Neutral toneNeutral tone: is neither positive nor : is neither positive nor negative. If an author has no opinion negative. If an author has no opinion (or doesn’t want to show one), he or (or doesn’t want to show one), he or she will avoid choosing words that she will avoid choosing words that express any feeling at all. express any feeling at all. Words used to describe this tone include Words used to describe this tone include

fair, straightforward, neutral, impartial, fair, straightforward, neutral, impartial, detached, and noncommittal.detached, and noncommittal.

Read Selections 1, 2, &3Read Selections 1, 2, &3

What is the tone of each selection:What is the tone of each selection: PositivePositive NegativeNegative NeutralNeutral Slightly positiveSlightly positive Slightly negativeSlightly negative

Tip #2: Tone is a hint about the Tip #2: Tone is a hint about the author’s attitude.author’s attitude.

Attitude and tone (just like mood) are Attitude and tone (just like mood) are closely related.closely related. Author’s tone hints at the attitude Author’s tone hints at the attitude

toward the subject being dealt with in a toward the subject being dealt with in a selection [either approval or selection [either approval or disapproval].disapproval].

Attitude: Slightly bored, somewhat opposed, Attitude: Slightly bored, somewhat opposed, somewhat approving, very approving, and somewhat approving, very approving, and any other adjective that could describe an any other adjective that could describe an attitude.attitude.

Tip #3: Pay close attention to the Tip #3: Pay close attention to the mood the author creates.mood the author creates.

Mood is the general atmosphere the Mood is the general atmosphere the author creates. author creates. Think of mood as the feeling the writer Think of mood as the feeling the writer

leaves with you. These can be cheerful, leaves with you. These can be cheerful, spooky, suspicious, serious, etc.spooky, suspicious, serious, etc.

Tip #4: Put it all together to Tip #4: Put it all together to determine the author’s purpose.determine the author’s purpose.

Writing to Writing to InformInform: this involves the : this involves the sharing of information without sharing of information without offering their opinions. They may offering their opinions. They may explain, describe, give facts, or explain, describe, give facts, or otherwise inform you about a topic.otherwise inform you about a topic. If there are two sides to an issue, If there are two sides to an issue,

authors represent both sides equally.authors represent both sides equally. Examples: newspaper and nonfiction Examples: newspaper and nonfiction

articles in magazinesarticles in magazines

Writing to Writing to EntertainEntertain: this occurs : this occurs when the author is seeking to amuse when the author is seeking to amuse you with a funny story or essay, or you with a funny story or essay, or frighten you with a scary tale. frighten you with a scary tale. Example: short stories, novels, Example: short stories, novels,

humorous essays, or poems.humorous essays, or poems.

Writing to Writing to TeachTeach: writing that is : writing that is designed to teach or instruct.designed to teach or instruct. Examples: school textbooks, workbooks, Examples: school textbooks, workbooks,

“how-to” books and magazines, recipes, “how-to” books and magazines, recipes, and instructionsand instructions

Writing to Writing to PersuadePersuade: when an : when an author wants to persuade you or try author wants to persuade you or try to convince you of something.to convince you of something. Examples: Editorials, letters to the Examples: Editorials, letters to the

editor, and movie, book, and music editor, and movie, book, and music reviews.reviews.

Writing to Writing to ExpressExpress: when an author : when an author wants to express their thoughts and wants to express their thoughts and feelings onto paper.feelings onto paper. Example: journal entriesExample: journal entries

Tip #5: Consider the social context Tip #5: Consider the social context and personal history of the author.and personal history of the author.

Every piece of writing is influenced Every piece of writing is influenced by our society.by our society.

Because of this, Because of this, BiasBias, having a , having a prejudice, or a tendency to see prejudice, or a tendency to see certain issues from only one certain issues from only one perspective, can play a huge role in perspective, can play a huge role in an author’s purpose.an author’s purpose.

Tip #6: Know the difference Tip #6: Know the difference between facts and opinions.between facts and opinions.

FactsFacts are statements that can be are statements that can be checked in other sources to find out checked in other sources to find out whether they are accurate.whether they are accurate.

Opinions Opinions tell someone’s feelings or tell someone’s feelings or views about a topic.views about a topic.

Practice!!Practice!! NC’s state vegetable is the NC’s state vegetable is the

sweet potato.sweet potato. NC harvested more than 4 NC harvested more than 4

billion pounds of sweet billion pounds of sweet potatoes in 1989.potatoes in 1989.

Now, that’s a lot of sweet Now, that’s a lot of sweet potato pie!potato pie!

UNC Chapel Hill is the oldest UNC Chapel Hill is the oldest state university in the US.state university in the US.

NC’s Outer Banks has some NC’s Outer Banks has some of the most beautiful of the most beautiful beaches in the countrybeaches in the country

Tip #7: Propaganda appeals to Tip #7: Propaganda appeals to your emotions, not logic.your emotions, not logic.

PropagandaPropaganda is communication that is communication that tries to persuade by appealing tries to persuade by appealing mainly to emotions.mainly to emotions. Celebrity endorsements are a form of Celebrity endorsements are a form of

propaganda; so are messages that cite propaganda; so are messages that cite “scientific facts” without providing “scientific facts” without providing anything to back them up.anything to back them up.

When reading a nonfiction selection, look for ways a writer When reading a nonfiction selection, look for ways a writer tries to sway your opinion. Note the following techniques:tries to sway your opinion. Note the following techniques:

Bandwagon effectBandwagon effect: “everybody’s : “everybody’s doing it, so should you!”doing it, so should you!”

Name-callingName-calling: “Mayor _________ is a : “Mayor _________ is a dirty crook!”dirty crook!”

StereotypingStereotyping: “The younger : “The younger generation is lazy, self-centered, and generation is lazy, self-centered, and disrespectful.” (This came out of the disrespectful.” (This came out of the book—I don’t believe this!!! book—I don’t believe this!!! ))

SnobberySnobbery: “Enjoy the finer things in : “Enjoy the finer things in life—Drive a Lexus”life—Drive a Lexus”

““Ordinary folks”:Ordinary folks”: “We’re good ole “We’re good ole country folk . . . we don’t need no country folk . . . we don’t need no city folk tellin us how to run things.”city folk tellin us how to run things.”

Glittering generalitiesGlittering generalities: “Try new : “Try new Glow toothpaste for a razzle-dazzle Glow toothpaste for a razzle-dazzle smile!”smile!”

TestimonialTestimonial: “If Miss NC uses Shine : “If Miss NC uses Shine Shampoo, you should too!”Shampoo, you should too!”

Guilt by associationGuilt by association: “I saw : “I saw Jackson hanging out with those Jackson hanging out with those Carter boys who are always causing Carter boys who are always causing trouble. He’s probably a trouble. He’s probably a troublemaker, too.”troublemaker, too.”