Author's Purpose and Tone

Author's Purpose

Easy as PIE

What is author's purpose?

• It is the reason why an author writes something

• Typically falls under 3 categories (think of PIE)

• Persuade

• Inform

• Entertain

To Persuade

• When an author wants to convince the reader/audience of something, their purpose is to persuade

To Inform

• When an author wants to give information to the reader/audience, their purpose is to inform

To Entertain

• When an author tells a story or share their feelings, their purpose is to entertain

Multiple Choice

I asked my boss for a raise, so he moved my office from the basement to the second floor. 

• Inform
• Persuade
• Instruct
• Entertain

Multiple Choice

By selling candy and other junk food in the lunchroom, public schools are teaching poor nutrition; such “lessons” should not be allowed. 

• Inform
• Persuade
• Entertain
• Instruct

Multiple Choice

Indicate whether the primary purpose of each sentence is to inform, to instruct, to persuade, or to entertain.

If you spend a dollar every minute, it will take you about twenty centuries to spend a billion dollars.

• Persuade

• Inform

• Entertain

• Instruct

Tone

Watch your Tone

Tone

• Tone is the author's attitude toward a subject

• Tone can be positive, negative, or neutral

Tone

• Tone is expressed through the words and details the author selects. To determine the author’s tone, you must notice how these words and details are used within the writing.

• Textbooks are usually written with an objective tone which includes facts and reasonable explanations. The objective tone is matter-of-fact and neutral. The details are mostly facts. On the other hand, fiction and personal essays are usually written with a subjective tone. A subjective tone uses words that describe feelings, judgments, or opinions. The details are likely to include experiences, senses, feelings, and thoughts.

Multiple Choice

What is the tone of the text? “ . . . the next minute, Winn-Dixie looked like a furry bullet, shooting across the building, chasing that mouse. He was barking and his feet were skidding all over the polished Pick-It-Quick floor, and people were clapping and hollering and pointing. They really went wild when Winn-Dixie actually caught the mouse.”

• enthusiastic

• sad

• scared

• anxious

Tone

• Objective tone is impartial. It does not show any feelings for or against a topic; therefore, it is unbiased or neutral. Often objective tone uses higher level words and avoids pronouns such as I and you, creating a formal tone.

• Subjective tone is personal, biased, emotional, and often informal. 

Multiple Choice

"A writer's reason for crafting a particular work" is the definition for which term:

• Author's Perspective

• Author's Tone

• Author's Purpose

• Author's Style

Multiple Choice

"We have some important news for you Mr. President.  We have discovered a terrorist plot against the United States" said the CIA agent.  The President closed the book, set it on the desk, and leaned forward, his eyes fixed straight ahead.  "Tell me everything you know." 
What is the tone of the dialogue?

• Informal
• Happy
• Serious
• Optimistic

Multiple Choice

What is the "tone" of a story?

• The feeling the passage evokes from the reader

• The author, narrator, or speaker's attitude toward a subject

• The time and place of the story

• The summary of events in the story