The Effective Reader

(Updated Edition)

by D.J. Henry
Chapter 10: Purpose and Tone
PowerPoint Presentation by Gretchen Starks-Martin St. Cloud State University, MN

2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Purpose and Tone

Tone is the emotion or mood of the authors written voice. It is the authors attitude toward the topic. Purpose is the reason the author writes about a topic.

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Characteristics of Tone Words

Objective (impartial)

Subjective (personal)

Unbiased Neutral Formal

Biased Emotional Informal

Check your textbook for an extensive list of tone words.

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Choose the tone:

1. Mom, please, she said as she rolled
her eyes, I would rather do it myself.
b. neutral a. emotional

2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Choose the tone:

1. Mom, please, she said as she rolled
her eyes, I would rather do it myself.
b. neutral a. emotional

2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Choose the tone:

2. Mother, I would like to introduce you to my professor, Dr. Henry! a. formal b. informal

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Choose the tone:

2. Mother, I would like to introduce you to my professor, Dr. Henry! a. formal b. informal

2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Choose the tone:

3. Mom, Im having a terrible time; could you please, please come over? a. details of facts b. details of experience

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Choose the tone:

3. Mom, Im having a terrible time; could you please, please come over? a. details of facts b. details of experience

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Choose the tone:

4. My mothers name is Gerta Powell, and she was born in 1933. a. objective b. subjective

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Choose the tone:

4. My mothers name is Gerta Powell, and she was born in 1933. a. objective b. subjective

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Three Categories of Purpose

To inform the reader about a topic.

A healthy diet includes several daily servings from each of the major food groups.

2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Three Categories of Purpose

To persuade the reader to agree with his/her view on the topic.

Required physical education classes should be a part of public school education from elementary through high school.

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Three Categories of Purpose

To entertain by amusing or engaging the reader.

If clothes say much about a person, a woman risking life and limb to wear 6-inchhigh heels to the office must be screaming something about herself.

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Inform, Persuade, or Entertain?

__The National Hurricane Center predicts a record number of hurricanes in the upcoming months. __Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you dont mind, it doesnt matter. __Rely on Denta-Fresh toothpaste to stop bad breath just as millions of others have.

2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Inform, Persuade, or Entertain?

I The National Hurricane Center predicts a record number of hurricanes in the upcoming months. E Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you dont mind, it doesnt matter. P Rely on Denta-Fresh toothpaste to stop bad breath just as millions of others have.

2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Figure Out the Primary Purpose

The primary purpose is the authors main reason for writing the passage. Ask, What is the authors main idea? and that will reveal the primary purpose.
Check your textbook for a list of examples of general and specific purposes.
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What is the primary purpose?

Think of long-term memory as a data bank for all of your feelings and ideas. Information you heard hours, days, weeks, even years ago is stored in long-term memory. Long term memory can handle large amounts of information; short-term memory has less space for storage. Putting information in and getting it out again is a slow process in longterm memory. On the other hand, short-term memory is a rapid process.
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The main purpose of the paragraph is:

a. To argue against poor memory skills.
b. To amuse the reader with humorous
details about long-term memory.

c. To inform the reader about the

differences between long-term and short-term memory.

2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

The main purpose of the paragraph is:

a. To argue against poor memory skills.
b. To amuse the reader with humorous
details about long-term memory.

c. To inform the reader about the

differences between long-term and short-term memory.

2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Recognizing Irony
Verbal irony occurs when the authors words state one thing, but imply the opposite. Example: At the finish line of a marathon, a tired runner says, Oh, yeah, Im ready to run another 24 miles.

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Irony
Situational irony occurs when the events of a situation differ from what is expected. Example: A high school dropout eventually becomes a medical doctor.

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Chapter Review
The tone is the authors attitude toward the topic. The objective tone words usually present facts and reasonable explanations. The subjective tone words describe feelings, judgments, or opinions. The purpose is the authors reason for writing about a topic. An authors purpose in using facts to teach or explain a main idea is to inform.

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Chapter Review
Authors combine facts with emotional appeals to sway readers to their point of view when their purpose is to persuade. A writer whose purpose is to entertain sets out to amuse or interest the audience. The main reason the author writes the passage is his or her primary purpose. Verbal irony occurs when the authors words state one thing but imply the opposite. Situational irony occurs when the events of a situation differ from what is expected.
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Practice
Complete the Chapter Reviews, Applications, and Mastery Tests for Chapter 10.
Remember to complete your scorecard for the Review Tests in this chapter.

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