1. Purpose and Tone

2. Purpose
Purpose refers to the author’s reason for writing a piece or text.
There are three common purposes for which authors write:
To Inform
To Persuade
To Entertain

3. Three Purposes for Writing
To Inform:
Authors use facts to give people information, to explain, to educate, to enlighten and to inspire.
The purpose of textbooks is usually to inform or explain but this is not always the case.

4. Three Purposes for Writing Continued
To Persuade
Authors may also use a combination of facts and opinions to persuade, to argue, to criticize, to condemn, and to ridicule.
Editorials in newspapers and magazines are written to argue a point and persuade the reader.
Advertising copy is written to persuade potential customers to buy a product.
Much web site copy is written to both persuade and inform.

5. Three Purposes for Writing Continued
To Entertain
Authors use fiction and non-fiction to entertain, to narrate, to describe, and to shock. Novels, short stories, and essays are written to entertain.

6. Tone/Slanted Language
There are two ways in which authors reveal their purposes for writing:
Tone
Slanted Language

7. Tone Tone refers to the author’s attitude toward a subject.
When you listen to your friends talk about their opinions on a topic, you can pick up clues about how they feel about the topic from their voice.
When you read a piece of writing, you can pick up clues about how the author feels about a topic too.
The author’s attitude is important in evaluating his or her message.

8. Words that Describe the Author’s Tone
Cheerful, joyous, happy (feeling good about the topic)
Angry, bitter, hateful (feeling bad/upset about the topic)
Objective, factual, straightforward (using fact without emotions)
Subjective, opinionated (expressing opinions and feelings)
Humorous, jovial (being funny)
Serious, sincere (being honest and concerned)

9. Words that Describe the Author’s Tone
Ironic (the opposite of what is expected; a twist at the end)
Sarcastic (saying one thing and meaning another)
Cynical (expecting the worst from people)
Sentimental, nostalgic (remembering the good old days)
Mocking, scornful (ridiculing the topic)
Subjective (based on one's own thoughts, experiences, and beliefs)
Objective (a fair and unbiased presentation of facts)

10. Slanted Language Slanted language helps you discern the author’s tone.
Writers slant the language they use in their writing. In other words, they choose their words carefully to manipulate the reader and control the way the reader feels about a topic. For example, an author can have a negative, positive or balanced slant.

11. Slanted Language
Read paragraph #1 below. Is its slant positive, negative or balanced?
Hershey is a friendly male fox terrier.  He has large, chocolate eyes which remain hidden in the winter when we allow his curly locks to grow, doubling his size and making him resemble a multi-colored sheep.  When he is “sheered” in the spring, we are shocked to see the big dark eyes following our every move.  We are also surprised to see what a little dog he really is and we suddenly understand how he can curl up into the smallest corners of the furniture and the house.  Yes, he is allowed up on the furniture; somehow he acquired that privilege, wheedling his way into our hearts as time went by. 

12. Slanted Language
At any rate, he does not shed, so he leaves no annoying fur on any couch or chair. The winters here are cold, of course, so he is in the house more than in the summer.  He makes a great foot warmer at that time because he loves to curl around our feet or at least lean against our legs as he sits as close as he possibly can to one of us.  His little pink tongue will dart out as frequently as we allow it to give us big wet kisses.  No one can help notice  how affectionate he is and how much he seems to want to be with people, whether the family or visitors.  He loves attention and loves to play, especially with children, although because he is older now, he rests more peacefully when we are quiet. 

13. Slanted Language
Nonetheless, out and about on the property in the fine weather, he is still an excellent hunter. He rids the whole area near the house and barn of any rodents (even very large ones like groundhogs), racoons or snakes in seconds.  They don’t stand a chance.  He is a vigilent watchdog, and, in spite of his size, has a deep, gruff bark, which makes the unsuspecting believe he is considerably larger and fiercer than he really is. Best of all, he is a great comfort when any of us are sick or are just feeling down.  He seems to understand when one of us is having a bad day, and sits intuitively near one of us.  There is no doubt about it: Hershey is a great little dog.

14. Slanted Language
Read paragraph #2 below. Is its slant positive, negative or balanced?
That dog is supposed to be a fox terrier, but you could never guess what kind of dog it really is.  In the winter, it looks like a dirty bag of wool (filled with twigs and leaves!) and in the summer, it looks like a skinny rat with huge eyes and knobbly knees.  Worse than its appearance, however, is the annoying bark it has whenever anything outside moves.  All the lovely deer that move quietly around the yard all night set him off and huge “woofs” are heard all evening. What an annoying dog!

15. Slanted Language
When he is out of his house, he is rarely on a leash.  He has not been trained to stay off people; every time anyone comes into the yard, he rushes up to greet them, barking loudly and jumping up on them. Don’t wear anything white or clean when you visit that house!! He also escapes his yard regularly and his owners seem to have no control over him; he runs away even faster when they yell at him to come back. He often throws himself into creeks and sloughs to cool himself off when he is on one of his jaunts and if he gets near you afterwards, make sure to give him a wide berth because he usually shakes all the muddy water off of himself and right onto you.

16. Slanted Language
Read paragraph #3 below. Is its slant positive, negative or balanced?
The people in the brick house down the road own Hershey, a mischievous fox terrier.  He is a pretty dog with big brown eyes, quite handsome except when he has spent the fall running through the woods and getting twigs caught up in his curly white fur.  He hates to get brushed, but when he is brushed, he is so soft and regal looking.  In the springtime,  his owners get him shaved and for a few weeks. He looks a bit like some kind of big-eyed rat, but his soft fur grows and covers him quickly and then he is presentable. 

17. Slanted Language
He is a friendly dog and loves to be with people; he also loves to play and is happiest when you wrestle with him, but you  have to be prepared because if  you are wearing something nice, he does not know it and jumps on you anyway.  He is very curious and loves to roam around in the woods and visit the neighbours, but when he has finished his romps, he comes back home and is quiet and affectionate.  He loves to curl up next to anyone who happens to be in his house.  He can stay this way for a long time, but when he hears the deer moving around the house in the early evening he barks a deep, authoritative “woof” to let them know that they are trespassing on his property.

18. Slanted Language
Sometimes his “woofing” can be annoying, but at least he is not “yappy” like other small dogs can be.  Hershey can be a pest, especially when you are wearing a white dress and do not want to play, but overall, he is a very likeable little dog.
Answers:
Paragraph #1 has a positive slant.
Paragraph #2 has a negative slant.
Paragraph #3 has a balanced slant with both negative and positive words.
Source:

19. Slanted Language
The connotation or denotation of the word will help you determine an author’s slant as well.
Denotation refers to the definition of a word.
Connotation refers to the feeling or emotion associated with a word. An author will use words with certain definitions as well as words that give off certain emotions that will help you figure out his/her purpose for writing as well as his/her attitude or tone toward the subject.

20. Slanted Language Example:
The definition of “house” is a place one lives in. There are no emotions connected to “house” because it is just a structure.
“Home,” on the other hand has feelings and emotions connected to it. A real “home” is a place where you feel safe and comfortable. That is the connotation of “home.”
A writer may use the word home instead of house to help the reader connect to feelings of safety and comfort.

21. Slanted Language Continued
Some words cause so much emotion to arise within a person they are called “loaded.”
These words are often used in political writing
Some examples of loaded words include: republican, communist, liberal and etc.