TEN STEPS to ADVANCED READING SECOND EDITION Use the tab key, space bar, arrow keys, or page up/down to move through the slides. [Go to “Slide Show” pulldown

TEN STEPS toADVANCED READING

SECOND EDITION

Use the tab key, space bar, arrow keys, or page up/down to move through the slides.

[Go to “Slide Show” pulldown menu and click on “Play from Start.”]This presentation should be viewed in “Slide Show” view to display properly.

These slides are optimized for PowerPoint versions 12 (2007/2008) and 14 (2010/2011). If viewed in earlier versions of PowerPoint, some slides may not display properly.

TEN STEPS to

ADVANCEDREADING

SECOND EDITION

John Langan

© 2013 Townsend Press

PURPOSE AND TONE

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7 Purpose and Tone

News photos often have a purpose and tone.


Here, the purpose is to inform us of the return of Americansoldiers killed in the service of their country.

The tone is one of solemnity, reverence, and respect.


Purpose

The author’s reason for writing

the purpose of a selection

is called


Purpose

Here are three common purposes in writing:

To inform

To persuade

To entertain

—to give information about a subject.

—to convince the reader to agree with the author’s point of view on a subject. —to amuse and delight; to appeal to

the reader’s senses and imagination.

l

l

l


Purpose

Often, the cover and the title of a book or article will suggest the author’s main purpose.


Purpose

A. to inform

B. to persuade

C. to entertain

Primary purpose:

What would you say is the primary purpose of each of these books?

A. to inform

B. to persuade

C. to entertain

Primary purpose:

A. to inform

B. to persuade

C. to entertain

Primary purpose:


Purpose

A. to inform

B. to persuade

C. to entertain

Primary purpose:


A. to inform

B. to persuade

C. to entertain

Primary purpose:

A. to inform

B. to persuade

C. to entertain

Primary purpose:

3


Purpose

A. to inform

B. to persuade

C. to entertain

Primary purpose:


A. to inform

B. to persuade

C. to entertain

Primary purpose:

A. to inform

B. to persuade

C. to entertain

Primary purpose:

3

3


Purpose

A. to inform

B. to persuade

C. to entertain

Primary purpose:


A. to inform

B. to persuade

C. to entertain

Primary purpose:

A. to inform

B. to persuade

C. to entertain

Primary purpose:

3

3

3


Purpose

The typical American gobbles three burgers and four orders of fries every week. Toss in the pizzas, the popcorn, the sugary breakfast cereals, the sodas, the snack cakes, candy bars, ice cream and everything else we eat in lieu of real food in this society, and your body is like an eighteen-wheeler roaring down a high-fat highway straight to obesity and an early grave. Fast food is bad food. It’s loaded with bad stuff like fat and sugar and sodium. It’s packed with chemicals that are in there to make it taste and smell and feel like it’s real food. What it lacks is vitamins, minerals, fiber, all the stuff you really need.

A. to inform B. to persuade C. to entertain

Read this paragraph and decide what the author’s purpose is.

Primary purpose:


Purpose

The typical American gobbles three burgers and four orders of fries every week. Toss in the pizzas, the popcorn, the sugary breakfast cereals, the sodas, the snack cakes, candy bars, ice cream and everything else we eat in lieu of real food in this society, and your body is like an eighteen-wheeler roaring down a high-fat highway straight to obesity and an early grave. Fast food is bad food. It’s loaded with bad stuff like fat and sugar and sodium. It’s packed with chemicals that are in there to make it taste and smell and feel like it’s real food. What it lacks is vitamins, minerals, fiber, all the stuff you really need.


Primary purpose:

3

The writer tells us the things that are wrong with fast food in order to persuade us that we shouldn’t eat it.


Purpose

I don’t know which is harder, taking my body to the doctor or my car to the garage. Both worry me. I’m always afraid they’ll find something I didn’t know about. The only advantage of taking my body to the doctor over taking my car to the garage is that the doctor never asks me to leave it overnight.


Now try this paragraph.

Primary purpose:


Purpose

I don’t know which is harder, taking my body to the doctor or my car to the garage. Both worry me. I’m always afraid they’ll find something I didn’t know about. The only advantage of taking my body to the doctor over taking my car to the garage is that the doctor never asks me to leave it overnight.


Primary purpose:

The writer uses playful and exaggerated details to entertain the reader. Clearly, the doctor is not going to ask the writer to leave his body overnight.

3


Purpose


What is the author’s purpose in this paragraph? Personal contact is necessary for common cold viruses to spread. The viruses must get into the nose, where they can infect the nasal membranes. Inhaling contaminated droplets produced when someone else coughs or sneezes may be one way to catch a cold. Cold viruses can remain infective even if they are outside the body for a few hours. Therefore, you can also catch a cold if you handle something that is contaminated with a cold virus—for example, the doorknob of a classroom or a restroom door—and then scratch your nose or rub your eyes with your contaminated fingers. The cold viruses can reach your nose when you rub your eyes because the virus can be passed down the tear ducts that go from the eyes into the nasal cavities.

Primary purpose:


Purpose


Personal contact is necessary for common cold viruses to spread. The viruses must get into the nose, where they can infect the nasal membranes. Inhaling contaminated droplets produced when someone else coughs or sneezes may be one way to catch a cold. Cold viruses can remain infective even if they are outside the body for a few hours. Therefore, you can also catch a cold if you handle something that is contaminated with a cold virus—for example, the doorknob of a classroom or a restroom door—and then scratch your nose or rub your eyes with your contaminated fingers. The cold viruses can reach your nose when you rub your eyes because the virus can be passed down the tear ducts that go from the eyes into the nasal cavities.

Primary purpose:

3

The purpose is to inform us about how cold viruses spread. To do this, the author describes two specific ways they spread.

1

2


More than one purpose

Purpose

Sometimes, writing may blend two or even three purposes.


Inform

Persuade

Entertain

Purpose

For example, a persuasive article on the importance of avoiding junk food

might include a number of facts

and even some comic touches.

But remember to focus on the author’s primary purpose.

More than one purpose


Tone

a writer’s attitude toward his or her

subject

Tone

is


Tone

Tone is expressed through the words and details the writer selects.

A writer’s voice can project one or more tones, or feelings, such as


Tone

AngerCheerfulness

RespectAnger


Tone

She hates students, that’s all there is to it. I can’t wait until I’m out of her class.

l

Three examples of tone: Statements made by students of a demanding teacher.

(Tone: Bitter, angry)

l

(Tone: Fair, objective)

I might as well just stop going to class now. I’m never going to understand the material. It’s hopeless.

l

(Tone: Pessimistic)

She’s tough, but she’s also really good. I’ve learned more from her than I’ve learned from any other teacher.


Tone

ashameddoubtfulpraisingworriedplayfuldisapprovingrespectfulacceptingconceitedforgivingfearfulcheerfullovingjoyousaffectionate

scornfulambivalentironicinstructivelightheartedobjectiveinformalschemingbewilderedforgivingindignantarrogantimpassionedbittercaring

seriousalarmedcuriousregretfulsympatheticcriticalgratefulencouragingthreateningwarminsultinghumorouscalmingconcernedamused

compassionatesarcasticsuperiormatter-of-factreverenttolerantstraightforwardpridefuldespairingoptimisticsolemnhypocriticaldisbelievingsentimentalappreciative

For a list of more than eighty tone words see pages 271–273 in the textbook.

admiringself-criticalexciteddefensivetragicapologeticfrightenedapprovingself-pityingsorrowfulalarmedcrueldeterminednostalgicsuggestive


Tone

Wal-Mart may create an economic underclass in our town. Its employees aren’t paid enough to live on, and they have very poor benefits.

l

A. encouraging B. worried C. determined

What is tone in this statement?


Tone


l

A. encouraging B. worried C. determined3

The writer suggests that Wal-Mart’s low wages and benefits may have a negative economic effect on the town. This reveals a worried tone.


Tone


l


l Wal-Mart is a fact of life. It’s going to hurt some people, but at least we’ll be able to buy a lot of things at lower prices.

A. accepting B. regretful C. cynical



Tone

l Wal-Mart is a fact of life. It’s going to hurt some people, but at least we’ll be able to buy a lot of things at lower prices.

A. accepting B. regretful C. cynical3


l


The statement “Wal-Mart is a fact of life” indicates the writer’s acceptance, as does her effort to balance the negative aspects of Wal-Mart with the benefit of lower prices.


Tone

l Wal-Mart is a fact of life. It’s going to hurt some people, but at least we’ll be able to buy a lot of things at lower prices.A. accepting B. regretful C. cynical3

l

A. cheerful B. cynical C. threatening


l



Our local government says Wal-Mart will benefit everyone. That’s a joke. Wal-Mart is mainly going to benefit itself and our local politicians.


Tone

Our local government says Wal-Mart will benefit everyone. That’s a joke. Wal-Mart is mainly going to benefit itself and our local politicians.

l

A. cheerful B. cynical C. threatening3


l


l Wal-Mart is a fact of life. It’s going to hurt some people, but at least we’ll be able to buy a lot of things at lower prices.A. accepting B. regretful C. cynical3

This writer clearly does not believe claim that Wal-Mart will benefit everyone. Her comment “That’s a joke” gives the item a cynical tone.


Tone

A Note on Irony

One commonly used tone is irony.


Tone

Irony involves a contrast

Expectations Reality»«

between expectations and reality.

/ A Note on Irony


Tone

Verbal Irony Irony of Situation

/ A Note on Irony

Both language and situations can be ironic.


Tone

What is saidWhat is meant»«

What is said contrasts with what is meant.

Verbal Irony

/ A Note on Irony

“I’m so glad you’ve called. I hate eating dinner while it’s still hot.”


Tone

Verbal Irony

For example, if a telemarketer calls you in the middle of dinner and you say:

you are using verbal irony.

/ A Note on Irony

“I’m so glad you’ve called. I hate eating dinner while it’s still hot.” “I’m so glad you’ve called. I hate eating dinner while it’s still hot.”


Tone

“I’m very annoyed you’ve called. I enjoy eating dinner while it’s still hot.”

What is said

What is meant

»«

Verbal Irony

The words you have saidare the opposite

of what you really mean.

/ A Note on Irony


Tone

What is expected

Whatactually happens

»«

Irony of Situation

What is expected or intended contrasts with what actually happens.

/ A Note on Irony

Verbal Irony


Tone

What is expected

Whatactually happens

»«

Irony of Situation

Example:

A city fire fighter an arsonist responsible for a string of fires.

turns out to be

/ A Note on Irony


Tone

Can you explain the irony in this cartoon?

/ A Note on Irony


Tone

The irony is that the sign advertising the communication workshop communicates very poorly. It fails to communicate just when and where the workshop will be.

/ A Note on IronyCHAPTER 7 Purpose and Tone


Documents

TEN STEPS to ADVANCED READING SECOND EDITION Use the tab key, space bar, arrow keys, or page up/down to move through the slides. [Go to “Slide Show” pulldown