Purpose, Tone, Bias

Purpose, Tone, Bias

By Elizabeth Dovrat

How the author FEELS

(purpose, tone, bias)

Emotional, implicit message

What the author’s words say

(main idea and argument)

Concrete, explicit message​

Two Messages in a Text

Purpose

The REASON why the text was written

To find the purpose ask:

"Why did the author write this text?"​

Tone

The author’s ATTITUDE and FEELINGS towards the topic

To find the tone ask:

“How does the author feel about the topic?”

Look a word choice (adjectives)

Unexpectedly…

It is difficult to believe that

Without a doubt

There seems to be little hope of…

​

Multiple Choice

Over the last three decades, fast food has infiltrated every part of American society. An industry that began with a small number of modest hot dog and hamburger stands in southern California has spread to every corner of our nation, selling a broad range of foods wherever paying customers may be found. Fast food is now served at restaurants and drive-throughs, at stadiums, airports, zoos, high schools, elementary school, and universities, on cruise ships, trains, and airplanes, at K-Marts, Wal-Marts, gas stations, and even hospital cafeterias.

What is the purpose of this text?

• To inform about the growth of fast food in the USA

• To criticize the rapid growth of fast food in the USA

• To enterain readers with history of fast food

• To support the continuing growth of fast food

Multiple Choice

Over the last three decades, fast food has infiltrated every part of American society. An industry that began with a small number of modest hot dog and hamburger stands in southern California has spread to every corner of our nation, selling a broad range of foods wherever paying customers may be found. Fast food is now served at restaurants and drive-throughs, at stadiums, airports, zoos, high schools, elementary school, and universities, on cruise ships, trains, and airplanes, at K-Marts, Wal-Marts, gas stations, and even hospital cafeterias.

What is the TONE of this text?

• Excited

• Critical

• S

• Informative

Bias

The author’s inclination toward a particular viewpoint or prejudice.

Everyone has one!

​

Examples:

right wing/left wing, feminist, environmentalist, business

How to identify bias

States opinions, not fact

Third-grade boys are chronically disruptive, while the girls are always eager to please

​

In Clooney's (2008) study of Kansas City third graders, 35% of the boys and 68% of the girls were able to complete instructions for a tedious assignment without showing signs of agitation.

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

On August 17, 1896, forty-four-year-old Bridget Driscoll became the first woman to be killed by a car; the car was traveling four miles per hour and the impact proved fatal.

• Opinion

• Fact

Multiple Choice

The traffic death of forty-four-year-old Bridget Driscoll in August of 1896 was the first sign that the auto, called an industrial triumph, was to become a weapon of mass destruction.

• Opinion

• Fact

Multiple Choice

Humans should be concerned about the use of pesticides that kill insects at the bottom of the food chain.

• Opinion

• Fact

Multiple Choice

Use of pesticides has increase by 50% in the last decade.

• Opinion

• Fact

How to identify bias

•Word Choice  - especially emotional word choice or stereotypes

*Thin – slender- skinny

*Strong willed – stubborn

Civil rights activist – national traitor/terrorist​

•Faulty Reasoning

•Only provides one side of an argument

•Coming up with crazy reasons for things

​

•Job/Sponsor of the writer

•Research sponsored by Coke or other Unilever!

Multiple Select

Which of the words have a POSITIVE meaning?

(there is more than one correct answers)

• Employ

• Exploit

• Unique

• Pecuilar/Odd

Multiple Select

Which of the words have a POSITIVE meaning?

(there is more than one correct answers)

• Cheap

• Economical

• Confident

• Pushy