1. Identifying Mood/Tone and Author’s Bias
The most fun you’ll ever have…

2. Consider the Connotations
Denotation = dictionary definition, literal meaning
Connotation = another meaning it suggests, positive or negative
Positive or Negative??
Word
Positive/Negative
savage
exquisite
sappy
painstakingly
romantic
isolated

3. Group work
With a partner, finish the rest of “Consider the Connotations” and complete the back of the worksheet - A “Remoat” Vacation

4. Let us review
Mood – the atmosphere a story brings to the mind of a reader – how it makes you feel
How does an author create mood?
Setting
Word choice – think about connotation
Figurative language
Imagery

5. What is the mood of this painting? How does it make you feel?

7. Model
It was December – a bright frozen day in the early morning. Far out in the country there was an old Negro woman with her head tied in a red rag, coming along the path through the pinewoods. Her name was Phoenix Jackson. She was very old and small and she walked slowly in the dark pine shadows, moving a little from side to side in her steps, with the balanced heaviness and lightness of a pendulum in a grandfather clock. She carried a thin, small cane made from an umbrella, and with this she kept tapping the frozen earth in front of her. How would you describe the atmosphere of this scene?

8. On your own
Complete the reading passage and questions in Part A: Analyze Setting and Mood

9. Let us review
Tone – the attitude a writer takes toward a subject or character
Can often be described in one word – playful, sarcastic, humorous, sentimental, angry
How does word connotation play a part in determining tone?

10. Model
Over the last three decades, fast food has infiltrated every nook and cranny of American society. An industry that began with a handful 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. How would you describe the tone of this passage?

11. Practice
Complete part A on your own
GAME TIME – Name that tone

12. Fact, Inference, and Opinion
Fact – a statement that has been or can be proved to be true
Miss Lovell is 22 years old.
Inference (assumption) - a logical conclusion made from verifiable facts
Miss Lovell’s hair is straight today, so she must have woken up early this morning.
Opinion (value statement) – a statement that is believed but cannot be proved, “should” and “ought” are often included in these statements.
Miss Lovell should dye her hair purple.

13. So how do you tell which is which?
It’s hard!!
People often say things as if they were facts or inferences when they are really just opinions.
** Helpful hint – When someone will not explain what facts they used to come up with their conclusion, they are often just giving their opinion.

14. Activity “Beleve” It or Not – Letter to the Editor
Complete parts A, B, and C of the Exercises for

15. Author’s Purpose: Why do authors write?
Inform
Persuade
Entertain

16. 1. To inform
explain, give directions, illustrate, or present information

17. Inform
Making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is really easy. First, gather your ingredients (bread, peanut butter, jelly) and two knives. Spread the peanut butter on one slice of bread and your jelly on the other. Put the bread together and enjoy!

18. 2. To persuade
by expressing an opinion to convince readers to think/feel/act a certain way

19. Persuade
Art class should be longer than all other specials. There never seems to be enough time to get our pictures done. If we had more time in art class everyone would do a better job on their pictures and we would learn more. Art is very important and we should have the time we need to finish a project.

20. 3. To entertain
is to illustrate a theme, event or story that conveys a mood.

21. Entertain
Once upon a time there was a little boy who loved to play soccer. He would run as fast as he could to the ball, but every time he got there and tried to kick it he would miss. He started to think he wasn't very good at soccer, but he didn't give up. His hard work paid off and one day he scored the winning goal for his team.

22. Purpose?
If the author is telling a story, his purpose is probably to _____________.
If the author is giving opinions, his purpose is probably to _____________.
If the author is telling facts, his purpose is probably to _____________.
If the author is giving sensory details, his purpose is probably to __________.
Entertain
Persuade
Inform
Describe

23. Name that purpose!
Jim was unable to get to sleep.  When he went to bed he cried.  Tomorrow is his birthday party and it is going to be ruined. How can we go sledding with no snow? The next morning, when Jim got out of bed and ran to the window, he shouted with glee, "The snow has fallen and we can go sledding!"  Jim was happy because now he can have his birthday sledding party.

24. Name that purpose!
There are three lights on a traffic light.  The top light is red and that means stop.  The middle light is yellow and that means caution.  The bottom light is green and that means go.

25. Name that purpose!
If you want to become a better reader you need to read often.  Research supports that children need to read frequently to be able to read fluently and to be able read high frequency words. All students will benefit by reading at least minutes per day.  Make it a point and read more often!

26. Author’s Bias
Author’s bias is a personal and largely unreasoned judgment either for or against a particular person, position, or thing; a prejudice.
BIAS IS USED TO SWAY AN AUDIENCE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

27. Types of Bias Neutral Negative Positive
When an author reports the facts, no opinions at all.
Negative
When an author attempts to convince you that something is BAD
Positive
When an author attempts to convince you that something is GOOD

28. Clues that an author is using Bias
States Opinions
Word Choice
Uses Loaded Words
Words that express emotions
Creates images (lots of juicy words)
Faulty Reasoning
Coming up with crazy reasons for things
Making things up

29. Where do we see bias most often?
Commercials
Columns in the newspaper or on the internet
Opinion Blogs

30. Reliable vs. Unreliable Sources30

31. What are sources?
Sources are references and evidence a writer uses in his or her research that influence and support their work.
Examples of Sources:
Books – Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin
Articles – The LA Times, Time Magazine
Journals
Interviews
Pictures 31

32. Why Cite? To provide authenticity/credibility to research
To provide compelling support for one’s topic or argument
Organized citing allows one’s sources to be verified by the readers
Citation limits plagiarism
Proper citation saves the writer lots of academic and legal problems 32

33. Where do we find sources?
Libraries
Online Scholarly Journals
Internet Websites
Newspapers
Video Collections (ex. Documentaries)
The Community (ex. Local government offices like city hall) 33

34. What makes a source reliable?
Known author
Part of a respected academic community
Ex. Associated with Universities
Rely on research
Printed by established publishing companies
Objective
Part of information centers 34

35. What Can make a source unreliable?
Are extremely biased
No author
Independent blogs (not all of the time)
Though convenient, .com and .org websites can often be unreliable but there are exceptions (ex. Time Magazine)
Lack evidence and are purely opinion based
Do not cite their own sources
Anyone can add information to it – Wikipedia 35