Reading: Recognizing Author's Tone, Purpose & Attitude: B2 Lesson 3: Understanding How Purpose Influences Text Structure and Language Choices

Reading: Author's Tone, Purpose & Attitude (B2)

How Purpose Influences Text Structure and Language

Listen to the reading passages here.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to analyze how an author's purpose (to inform, persuade, or entertain) directly influences the text's structure and language choices.

Before You Read 🧠

Key Concepts (Click 🔊)

In this lesson, we connect three ideas: Purpose, Structure, and Language.

Author's Purpose

| គោលបំណងរបស់អ្នកនិពន្ធ

The reason *why* the author wrote the text (e.g., to inform, to persuade, to entertain).

Text Structure

| រចនាសម្ព័ន្ធអត្ថបទ

The way the author organizes the information (e.g., problem-solution, narrative, compare-contrast).

Language Choice

| ជម្រើសនៃភាសា

The specific words and tone the author uses (e.g., objective, emotive, formal).

Linking Purpose to Structure & Language

An author's purpose is like a plan. The structure is the blueprint, and the language is the building materials. They must all work together.

If the Purpose is ➡️ TO INFORM

Goal: To give objective facts and educate the reader.

• Common Structure: Descriptive, Compare/Contrast, Chronological (timeline).
• Common Language: Neutral tone, objective facts, statistics, definitions. (e.g., "The temple was built in the 12th century.")

If the Purpose is ➡️ TO PERSUADE

Goal: To make the reader agree with an opinion or take action.

• Common Structure: Problem/Solution, Argument/Counter-argument.
• Common Language: Emotive words (disastrous, amazing), modal verbs (must, should), rhetorical questions.

If the Purpose is ➡️ TO ENTERTAIN

Goal: To tell a story and hold the reader's interest.

• Common Structure: Narrative (story), chronological, descriptive.
• Common Language: Vivid verbs (raced, whispered), sensory details, metaphors, dialogue.

Reading Practice: Three Texts

Read these three short texts. Notice how they are different in structure and language.

Text 1: The World Wonder

Angkor Wat, located in modern-day Cambodia, is one of the largest religious monuments in the world, covering over 162.6 hectares. Originally constructed in the early 12th century as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, it was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the century. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of its architecture and its extensive bas-reliefs, which depict mythological and historical narratives.

Text 2: An Ocean of Plastic

It is time to wake up. Every single day, millions of plastic bottles are thrown into our oceans, choking our wildlife and poisoning our ecosystem. This is not just litter; it is a disastrous, self-inflicted crisis. If we fail to act, our oceans will have more plastic than fish by 2050. We must demand that corporations switch to sustainable packaging, and we should all refuse single-use plastics immediately. Urgent action is not just an option; it is our only choice.

Text 3: The Market

The 5 AM alarm buzzed. I stumbled out of the tuk-tuk into the pre-dawn chaos of the market. The air was thick with the smell of fragrant jasmine and sharp, spicy fish paste. A woman with a conical hat smiled, her teeth stained red from betel nut, as she held out a steaming-hot package of sticky rice. As the first rays of the sun hit the river, I knew it was going to be a good day.

Practice What You Learned 🎯

Quiz: Analyze the Texts

Based on the three texts you just read, answer the following questions. Click "Check Answers" when done.

1. What is the primary purpose of Text 1 (The World Wonder)?

• A) To persuade people to visit Angkor Wat.
• B) To inform the reader with objective facts about Angkor Wat.
• C) To entertain the reader with a story about Angkor Wat.

2. What language choice in Text 2 (An Ocean of Plastic) most clearly shows its persuasive purpose?

• A) The use of statistics ("more plastic than fish by 2050").
• B) The neutral description of plastic bottles.
• C) The use of strong, emotive words like "disastrous," "choking," and "poisoning."

3. What text structure and language does Text 3 (The Market) primarily use to achieve its purpose?

• A) Narrative structure and sensory details (smell, sight) to entertain.
• B) Problem/Solution structure to persuade the reader to visit the market.
• C) Compare/Contrast structure to inform the reader about markets.

Key Vocabulary Reference (Click 🔊)

• Purpose | គោលបំណង
  The reason why an author writes something (e.g., to inform, persuade, entertain).
• Structure | រចនាសម្ព័ន្ធ
  The way a text is organized or built.
• Objective (Adjective) | ភាវៈវិស័យ
  Based on facts, not personal feelings or opinions. (Used to inform).
• Persuasive (Adjective) | បujទាញ
  Trying to make you agree with an opinion. (Used to persuade).
• Emotive Language | ភាសាដែលរំជួលចិត្ត
  Words chosen to make the reader feel a strong emotion (e.g., "disastrous").
• Narrative (Noun) | និទានកថា
  A story. (Used to entertain).
• Sensory Details | ព័ត៌មានលម្អិតពីវិញ្ញាណ
  Words that describe sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch.

Your Reading Mission ⭐

Analyze the Real World

1. Find two different articles on the same topic (e.g., "AI in schools").
   • Article 1: A news report (like from Reuters or BBC).
   • Article 2: An opinion piece or editorial (like from The Guardian Opinion).
2. Read both. In your notebook, write down the Purpose, Structure, and Language Choices for each.
3. Compare them. How did the *purpose* (inform vs. persuade) change the *language* (neutral vs. emotive)?