1. 8
Purpose and Tone

2. That point of view is reflected in
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
There is an author—a person with thoughts, feelings, and opinions—behind everything you read.
That point of view is reflected in
Authors write from a personal point of view.
the purpose of a piece of writing—to inform,
to persuade, or to entertain—
See page 319 in textbook.
and
its tone—the expression of attitude and feeling.

3. The purpose of this cartoon, like all cartoons, is to entertain.
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
REAL LIFE ADVENTURES © 2006 GarLanco. Reprinted with
permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK. All rights reserved.
See page 319 in textbook.
The purpose of this cartoon, like all cartoons, is to entertain.

4. CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
REAL LIFE ADVENTURES © 2006 GarLanco. Reprinted with
permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK. All rights reserved.
See page 319 in textbook.
Answer: Boss – insincere; Worker – sincere
The next slides show and explain the answers.
Can you tell what the tone of each speaker is? Which one is sincere in what he says? Which is insincere?

5. If he decided to fire the worker, he most likely
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
The boss is insincere.
If he decided to fire the worker, he most likely
is not sorry. He doesn’t know if the worker will “land on his feet” and find another job.
REAL LIFE ADVENTURES © 2006 GarLanco. Reprinted with
permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK. All rights reserved.
See pages 319–320 in textbook.

6. CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
The boss is insincere.
The worker, on the other hand, is sincere in his anger at being fired and his wish that he could stomp on his ex-boss’s chest.
REAL LIFE ADVENTURES © 2006 GarLanco. Reprinted with
permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK. All rights reserved.
See pages 319–320 in textbook.

7. the purpose of a selection
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Purpose
The author’s
reason for writing
is called
the purpose of a selection
See page 320 in textbook.

8. Here are three common purposes in writing:
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Purpose
Here are three common purposes in writing:
To inform
—to give information about a subject.
To persuade
—to convince the reader to agree with the author’s point of view on a subject.
See page 320 in textbook.
To entertain
—to amuse and delight; to appeal to the reader’s senses and imagination.

9. Read this paragraph and decide what the author’s purpose is.
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Purpose
Read this paragraph and decide what the author’s purpose is.
Each Saturday morning, TV commercials advertise fast foods and high-calorie cereals directly to children. These ads teach children unhealthy eating habits and have been linked to childhood obesity. Parents must realize how harmful such commercials are and should pressure companies to stop marketing unhealthy products to children.
Primary purpose:
See pages 321–322 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide shows and explains the answer.
A. to inform
B. to persuade
C. to entertain

10. Primary purpose: A. to inform B. to persuade C. to entertain
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Purpose
Each Saturday morning, TV commercials advertise fast foods and high-calorie cereals directly to children. These ads teach children unhealthy eating habits and have been linked to childhood obesity. Parents must realize how harmful such commercials are and should pressure companies to stop marketing unhealthy products to children.
Primary purpose:
See pages 321–322 in textbook.
A. to inform
B. to persuade
C. to entertain
The writer’s purpose is to persuade the audience that parents should protest the marketing of unhealthy products to children. Words such as must and should are meant to convince us rather than to inform us.

11. What is the author’s purpose in this paragraph?
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Purpose
What is the author’s purpose in this paragraph?
About 113 billion people have lived and died in the history of our planet, according to scientific estimates. Of all these people, the names of about 7 billion, or approximately 6 percent, are recorded in some way—on monuments or in books, manuscripts, and public records. The other 106 billion people are gone without a trace.
Primary purpose:
See pages 321–322 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide shows and explains the answer.
A. to inform
B. to persuade
C. to entertain

12. Primary purpose: A. to inform B. to persuade C. to entertain
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Purpose
About 113 billion people have lived and died in the history of our planet, according to scientific estimates. Of all these people, the names of about 7 billion, or approximately 6 percent, are recorded in some way—on monuments or in books, manuscripts, and public records. The other 106 billion people are gone without a trace.
Primary purpose:
See pages 321–322 in textbook.
A. to inform
B. to persuade
C. to entertain
The purpose is to inform. The author is simply providing readers with information about the people who have lived and died on Earth.

13. What is the author’s purpose in this paragraph?
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Purpose
What is the author’s purpose in this paragraph?
Because of the war between his medium-size shirts and pants and his extra- large-size body, my brother has made a commitment to only three meals a day. His definition of a meal, however, is as broad as his belly. If we spot a pretzel salesman or a hot-dog stand on our way to a restaurant, for example, he is not beyond suggesting that we stop. “It’ll make a good appetizer,” he says.
Primary purpose:
See pages 321–322 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide shows and explains the answer.
A. to inform
B. to persuade
C. to entertain

14. Primary purpose: A. to inform B. to persuade C. to entertain
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Purpose
Because of the war between his medium-size shirts and pants and his extra- large-size body, my brother has made a commitment to only three meals a day. His definition of a meal, however, is as broad as his belly. If we spot a pretzel salesman or a hot-dog stand on our way to a restaurant, for example, he is not beyond suggesting that we stop. “It’ll make a good appetizer,” he says.
Primary purpose:
See pages 321–322 in textbook.
A. to inform
B. to persuade
C. to entertain
The playful and exaggerated details tell us the author’s main goal is to entertain with humor.

15. Sometimes, writing may blend two or even three purposes.
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Purpose
A Note about Writing with More Than One Purpose
Sometimes, writing may blend two or even three purposes.
See page 322 in textbook.

16. a writer’s attitude toward his or her subject
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Tone
Tone is
See page 325 in textbook.
a writer’s attitude toward his or her subject

17. Tone is expressed through the words and details the writer selects.
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
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
See page 325 in textbook.

18. Anger Anger Respect Cheerfulness Tone CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
See page 325 in textbook.

19. “I just shot my husband five times in the chest with
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Tone
Three examples of tone: Statements made by a person confessing to murder.
“I just shot my husband five times in the chest with
this .357 Magnum.”
(Tone: matter-of-fact, objective)
“How could I ever have killed him? I just can’t believe
I did that!”
(Tone: shocked, disbelieving)
See page 325 in textbook.
“That dirty rat. He’s had it coming for years. I’m glad I finally had the nerve to do it.”
(Tone: revengeful, self-satisfied)

20. One commonly used tone is irony.
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Tone
A Note on Irony
One commonly used tone is irony.
See page 329 in textbook.

21. When writing has an ironic tone,
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Tone
/ A Note on Irony
When writing has an ironic tone,
it says one thing but means the opposite.
What is
meant
What is said
See page 329 in textbook.
This is known as verbal irony.

22. “I feel terrific today.”
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Tone
/ A Note on Irony
Verbal Irony
For example, if you’re suffering from the flu and someone asks how you feel, and you say:
“I feel terrific today.”
See page 329 in textbook.
you are using verbal irony.

23. “I feel terrific today.”
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Tone
/ A Note on Irony
Verbal Irony
The words you have said
are the opposite
of what you really mean.
What is said
“I feel terrific today.”
See page 329 in textbook.
What is
meant
“I feel lousy today.”

24. Here are two more examples of verbal irony:
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Tone
/ A Note on Irony
Verbal Irony
Here are two more examples of verbal irony:
While standing in a long, slow line at a supermarket
or bank, you might say to people in line with you,
“My, this is exciting.”
If a friend arrives at your place two hours late, you might say, “Well, thanks for showing up on time.”
See page 329 in textbook.
Verbal irony is also known as sarcasm.

25. This is known as irony of situation.
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Tone
/ A Note on Irony
Irony also refers to situations in which what happens is the opposite of what we might expect.
What
actually
happens
What is expected
See page 329 in textbook.
This is known as irony of situation.

26. Security cameras installed were stolen during a robbery.
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Tone
/ A Note on Irony
Irony of Situation
Example:
Security cameras installed
were
stolen during a robbery.
installed to stop crime
See page 329 in textbook.
What
actually
happens
What is expected

27. Here are two more examples of irony of situation:
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Tone
/ A Note on Irony
Irony of Situation
Here are two more examples of irony of situation:
Albert Einstein, one of the century’s most brilliant scientists, did poorly in school.
An instructor at a health club smokes a cigarette during lunch break.
See page 329 in textbook.

28. Can you explain the irony in this cartoon?
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Tone
/ A Note on Irony
Can you explain the irony in this cartoon?
See page 330 in textbook.
Answer: The little girl herself is completely self-absorbed.
The next slide shows and explains the answer.
GRAND AVENUE © 2002 Steve Breen and Mike Thompson. Reprinted by permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK for UFS. All rights reserved.

29. Can you explain the irony in this cartoon?
CHAPTER 8 Purpose and Tone
Tone
/ A Note on Irony
Can you explain the irony in this cartoon?
See page 330 in textbook.
GRAND AVENUE © 2002 Steve Breen and Mike Thompson. Reprinted by permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK for UFS. All rights reserved.
The irony is that the little girl herself is completely self-absorbed.
She shows no interest in the people around her and is concerned only about their paying attention to her new hair style.