2. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers Guide to College Reading, 8/e Kathleen T. McWhorter Chapter 12 Interpreting the Writer’s Message and Purpose PowerPoint by Gretchen Starks-Martin St. Cloud State University, MN

3. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers THIS CHAPTER WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO: Recognize words that suggest positive and negative attitudes Make inferences about what you read Understand figurative language Discover the author’s purpose Recognize tone

4. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers CONNOTATIVE MEANINGS Crowd Mob Gang Audience Congregation Class Crowd suggests a large, disorganized group. Additional implied meanings: Click on icon for sound.

5. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers DENOTATIVE MEANINGS Denotative meanings are:  The meanings stated in the dictionary.  The literal meanings of a word or phrase.

6. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers IMPLIED MEANINGS An inference is an educated guess or prediction about something unknown based on available facts and information. It is the logical connection that you draw between what you observe or know and what you do not know. Make an inference: A woman seated alone in a bar nervously glances at everyone who enters. Every few minutes she checks her watch.

7. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers IMPLIED MEANINGS: Clues Description Action Conversation Writer’s Commentary / Details

8. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers How to Make Inferences 1. Be sure you understand the literal meaning. 2. Notice details. 3. Add up the facts. 4. Watch for clues. 5. Be sure your inference is supportable.

9. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Figurative language is a way of describing something that makes sense on an imaginative level but not on a factual or literal level.

10. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers Purpose of Figurative Language To paint a word picture. To help you visualize how something looks, feels, or smells.  Ex: “Sam eats like a horse.” A horse eats large amounts of food. Sam eats like a horse. Sam eats large amounts of food.

11. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers UNDERSTANDING THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE To give information To persuade To amuse you To explain To give advice

12. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers Style & Intended Audience The characteristics that make a writer unique are known as style. Writers can create different effects. Writers can vary their styles to suit their intended audiences.

13. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers Different Types of Audiences General-interest audience Medical doctors Skiing enthusiasts Antique collectors Religious groups

14. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers Tone Instructive Sympathetic Persuasive Humorous Nostalgic

15. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers Language Objective - factual Subjective – expresses attitudes and feelings Descriptive – use of words that appeal to the reader’s senses

16. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers LEARNING STYLE TIPS Applied Learner: Asking the questions, How can I use this information? Of what value is this information? Conceptual Learner: Studying to see how the ideas fit together, looking for connections and relationships, as well as inconsistencies. Are you an applied learner or a conceptual learner?

17. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers SELF-TEST SUMMARY How do authors suggest their ideas without directly stating them?  Connotative meaning  Implied meaning  Figurative language How can you identify the author’s purpose?  Style  Audience  Tone  Language

18. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers Visit the Companion Website For additional readings, exercises, and Internet activities, visit this book’s Companion Website at: www.ablongman.com/mcwhorter If you need a user name or password, please see your instructor.

19. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers My Reading Lab For more practice with critical reading skills, visit MyReadingLab, click on the Reading Skills tab, and then click on: 1. Purpose and Tone – Getty Museum, California 2. Inference – Great Lakes Region

20. Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Publishers TEST-TAKING TIPS: Answering Inference Questions Use the information in the passage to answer the question. Add up the facts and ideas contained in the passage and come to your own conclusion. To answer a question about purpose, ask: “What does the writer intend to accomplish by writing this?” To find the tone, ask: “How does the author feel toward his or her subject?” To find intended audience the words “This passage is written for” is often used. Consider each choice and look for evidence in the passage to support it.