Reading: Recognizing Author's Tone, Purpose & Attitude: B2 Lesson 1: Identifying Author's Stance, Bias, and Underlying Assumptions

Reading: Recognizing Author's Tone, Purpose & Attitude

B2 Lesson 1: Identifying Stance, Bias, and Assumptions

Listen to the reading passage "The End of the Office?"

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to read a persuasive text and identify the author's stance (position), bias (unfair preference), and underlying assumptions (hidden beliefs).

Before You Read 🧠

Key Concepts (Click 🔊)

Let's learn three important ideas for this lesson.

Author's Stance

| ជំហរ​របស់​អ្នកនិពន្ធ

The author's specific position or opinion on a topic (e.g., they are *for* or *against* it).

Bias

| ភាពលំអៀង

An unfair preference for or against one side, often revealed through emotional or loaded words.

Assumption

| ការសន្មត់

A hidden belief that the author thinks is true before they even start writing.

How to "Read Between the Lines"

A B2 reader doesn't just read the words; they analyze the *choices* the author made. Use this toolkit to find the hidden meaning.

1. Identify the Stance (Position)

Ask: "What is the author's main point? Are they for or against this idea?" Look for the central argument.

• Example: "The author's stance is that remote work is superior to traditional office work."

2. Look for Bias (Loaded Words)

Ask: "Does the author use emotional words to make one side sound good and the other sound bad?"

• Neutral: "The office"
• Biased: "The soulless, gray prison of the office."
• Neutral: "Remote work"
• Biased: "The joyful freedom of remote work."

3. Find the Assumption (Hidden Belief)

Ask: "What must the author believe is true to make this argument?" This is never stated directly.

• Example Assumption: "The author must assume that all workers are self-motivated and can be trusted to work without supervision."

Reading Passage

Read the following text. Pay attention to the author's word choices.

The End of the Office?

For decades, the 9-to-5 office commute has been a mandatory part of professional life. Millions of workers have wasted years of their lives stuck in traffic, only to arrive at a noisy, distracting office cubicle. This outdated model, a relic of the last century, was built on mistrust, not productivity.

Now, we have finally entered an era of liberation. The rise of remote work has proven that employees can be trusted. Granting workers full autonomy to manage their own time is not just a 'perk'; it is a fundamental right. Companies that try to force workers back into their soulless prisons will find themselves unable to compete. The future is flexible, and the physical office is finally becoming obsolete.

Practice What You Learned 🎯

Quiz: Analyze the Passage

Based on the reading passage, answer the following questions. Click "Check Answers" when you're done.

1. What is the author's stance on office work?

• A) They are neutral and see both good and bad sides.
• B) They are strongly against it and believe it is outdated.
• C) They are in favor of it for building company culture.

2. Which of these phrases from the text most clearly shows the author's bias?

• A) "a mandatory part of professional life"
• B) "soulless prisons"
• C) "increase user engagement by 15%" (This option is from a different lesson and is incorrect)

3. What is an underlying assumption the author makes?

• A) The author assumes all workers are self-motivated and don't need supervision.
• B) The author assumes that office work is the best way to train new employees.
• C) The author assumes most people enjoy their daily commute.

Key Vocabulary Reference (Click 🔊)

• Commute (Noun) | ការធ្វើដំណើរ
  The daily journey a person makes between home and work.
• Relic (Noun) | សំណល់
  An object surviving from an earlier time, especially one of historical interest.
• Liberation (Noun) | ការរំដោះ
  The act of setting someone free from imprisonment or oppression.
• Autonomy (Noun) | ស្វ័យភាព
  The freedom to act or function independently.
• Obsolete (Adjective) | លែងប្រើ
  No longer produced or used; out of date.

Your Reading Mission ⭐

Find the Bias in the News

Your mission is to apply this skill to real-world English.

1. Find one opinion article online (from a source like The Guardian, Phnom Penh Post, or any news blog).
2. Read the article and try to identify:
• 1. The Stance: What is the author's main argument? (Are they for or against something?)
• 2. A Biased Word: Find one strong, emotional word (like relic or liberation) that shows their bias.
• 3. An Assumption: What hidden belief must the author have to make their argument?
3. Practice explaining your three findings to a friend in English.