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Recognizing Author's Tone - Purpose & Attitude

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

Sopheak Pich

Reading: Recognizing Author's Tone, Purpose & Attitude

B2 Lesson 1: Identifying Author's Stance, Bias, and Underlying Assumptions

Reading Like a Critical Thinker

At the B2 level, reading involves more than just understanding words; it involves understanding the writer's mind. A critical reader analyzes a text to identify the author's specific position, any unfair leaning, and the beliefs they take for granted.

Today, we will learn to identify an author's stance1, detect their bias2, and uncover their underlying assumptions3.

Key Concepts for Critical Reading

  • Stance: The author's specific viewpoint on an issue (e.g., are they FOR or AGAINST it?).
  • Bias: Unfairly favoring one side of an argument. We can detect bias by looking at emotionally loaded word choice (connotation)4 and seeing if the author ignores opposing viewpoints.
  • Underlying Assumption: A belief the author accepts as true without trying to prove it. It's the foundation of their argument.

Practice with an Opinion Piece

Let's analyze this short article about a proposed development project in Kampot.

Progress or Problem? The Proposed Riverfront Modernization

Kampot's riverside has long been admired for its sleepy, rustic charm. However, a new proposal aims to dramatically alter this landscape. The plan includes building a massive, concrete promenade, replacing the natural grassy banks, and allowing large, modern cafes to replace the small, family-run drink stalls. Proponents of the plan claim this "beautification" project will attract more high-spending tourists.

While proponents talk about progress, they conveniently ignore the inevitable consequences. Such a sterile, concrete development will destroy the very soul of what makes Kampot special. The charming, family-run stalls will be replaced by overpriced, generic coffee chains. Furthermore, this enormous project threatens the delicate river ecosystem. Surely, we can see that this is not development; it is the destruction of our heritage for the sake of a quick profit. We must oppose this plan to protect the real Kampot.

Guided Analysis

  • What is the author's STANCE?
    → The author is clearly against the modernization project.
  • How does the author show BIAS through word choice?
    → They use positive words for the current situation (sleepy, charming, rustic, family-run) and negative words for the proposed project (massive, sterile, concrete, overpriced, generic, enormous, destruction). This emotional language shows they are not neutral.
  • What is the author's UNDERLYING ASSUMPTION?
    → The author assumes that preserving the current "natural" and "rustic" charm is more valuable than the potential economic benefits of modernization. They believe this without needing to prove it; it's the foundation of their argument.

Your Turn to Analyze!

Practice Quiz

Read this short text, which argues from the opposite viewpoint.

"It's time for Kampot to embrace the future. For too long, the riverfront has been undeveloped and, in some places, unsafe, with poor lighting and broken paths. A modern, clean promenade will create a wonderful, safe space for families to gather and will boost the local economy significantly. Critics who want to cling to an imagined past are holding back real progress for the people who live and work here."

1. What is this author's stance on the development project?

  • A. Against it
  • B. For it
  • C. Neutral

Answer: B. For it.


2. Which word choice shows a negative bias towards the current situation?

  • a) modern
  • b) boost
  • c) broken

Answer: C. broken. The words "undeveloped," "unsafe," and "broken" are used to create a negative impression of the current riverfront.

Vocabulary Glossary

  1. Stance (noun)
    ភាសាខ្មែរ: ជំហរ
    The author's specific position or viewpoint on an issue (e.g., for, against, or neutral). ↩ back to text
  2. Bias (noun)
    ភាសាខ្មែរ: ភាពលំអៀង
    Presenting information in a one-sided or unfair way that favors a particular viewpoint. ↩ back to text
  3. Underlying Assumption (noun phrase)
    ភាសាខ្មែរ: ការសន្មត់មូលដ្ឋាន
    A belief or idea that the author accepts as true to form their argument, but does not state directly. ↩ back to text
  4. Connotation (noun)
    ភាសាខ្មែរ: អារម្មណ៍ ឬគំនិតវិជ្ជមាន ឬអវិជ្ជមាន ដែលពាក្យមួយបង្ហាញ លើសពីអត្ថន័យវចនានុក្រមរបស់វា
    The positive or negative feeling or idea that a word suggests, beyond its dictionary meaning. ↩ back to text
Homework Task

Be a Critical Reader!

Find an opinion or editorial article in English online (not a straight news report). Choose a topic you find interesting.

  1. Read the article and identify the author's overall stance (are they for or against something?).
  2. Find and write down two examples of biased word choice (words with strong positive or negative connotations).
  3. In your own words, what do you think is the main underlying assumption of the author's argument?

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