Reading: Recognizing Author's Tone, Purpose & Attitude: B2 Lesson 2: Recognizing Subtle Variations in Tone

CEFR Level: B2 (Upper Intermediate)

Target Reading Sub-skill: Recognizing Author's Tone, Purpose & Attitude

Specific Focus: Recognizing Subtle Variations in Tone (e.g., critical, persuasive, objective)

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What You Will Learn

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Understand that an author's tone can be subtle and show complex attitudes.
• Identify an objective tone (factual, neutral).
• Identify a critical tone (finding fault, judging negatively).
• Identify a persuasive tone (trying to convince the reader).
• Recognize how word choice, emphasis, and sentence structure contribute to these tones.

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Hello Cambodian Learners!

At the B2 level, you'll read texts where the author's feelings or attitude aren't always simple like "happy" or "sad." Sometimes, an author might be subtly critical of a situation, try to persuade you to their viewpoint without being too obvious, or present information in a very objective, neutral way. Recognizing these subtle tones is important for understanding the full message, for example, in a news analysis about developments in Cambodia or an opinion piece on a social issue.

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Recognizing Subtle Tones

The author's tone is their attitude towards the subject or the reader. It's conveyed through their choice of words, how they structure sentences, and what information they include or exclude.

Let's look at three important tones. Click the text samples to hear them.

1. Objective Tone

Purpose: To present information factually, without personal feelings or bias.

Clues: Neutral language, facts and statistics, avoids emotional words, presents different sides fairly (if applicable).

Example: "The Mekong River flows through six countries in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia. It is approximately 4,909 kilometers long and supports the livelihoods of millions of people through fishing and agriculture. Annual flooding patterns deposit fertile silt along its banks."

This text is objective. It states facts about the Mekong River without expressing personal opinions or feelings.

2. Critical Tone

Purpose: To judge, find fault with, or express disapproval of something.

Clues: Words with negative connotations (e.g., flawed, problematic, inadequate, failed), pointing out weaknesses or negative consequences, sometimes using rhetorical questions to imply criticism.

Example: "While the new urban development project promises modernization, its inadequate consideration for green spaces is deeply problematic. The plan fails to address the potential increase in pollution and loss of community areas, which will inevitably harm the quality of life for residents."

This text is critical of the urban development project. It highlights negative aspects and uses words like "inadequate," "problematic," and "fails."

3. Persuasive Tone

Purpose: To convince the reader to agree with a certain viewpoint or to take a specific action.

Clues: Strong claims, appeals to logic or emotion, rhetorical questions, use of words like "should," "must," "it is essential," "clearly."

Example: "Protecting Cambodia's unique biodiversity must be a top priority for everyone. We should all support conservation efforts to save endangered species like the Irrawaddy dolphin. Clearly, if we don't act now, future generations will not be able to experience this incredible natural heritage. Join us in making a difference!"

This text is persuasive. It tries to convince readers to support conservation by using strong statements and a call to action.

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Practice Time!

Activity 1: What's the Dominant Tone?

Read each short text excerpt. Then choose the word that best describes the author's dominant tone.

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Quick Quiz!

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Great Job!

Recognizing subtle variations in an author's tone is an important part of critical reading. It helps you understand not just *what* is being said, but *how* it's being said and what the author truly intends to convey.

How do you feel about this lesson?

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