Author's Purpose
The author presents statistics, expert testimony, and addresses counterarguments.
What is to persuade?
A character slams a drawer shut and avoids eye contact.
What is they are upset, frustrated, or hiding something?
To calm or soothe someone’s anger.
a) provoke
b) placate
c) irritate
d) condemn
What is placate?
The books is on the table.
What is The books are on the table?
Stronger word choice for "sad": He was sad after the loss.
What is He was devastated after the loss?
A memoir uses vivid sensory detail and emotional reflection.
What is to entertain? (express personal experience / to reflect and share insight)
A story begins with: “The empty playground swings creaked in the wind.”
What is the mood is lonely, eerie, or desolate?
Distrustful of others’ motives.
a) optimistic
b) cynical
c) benevolent
d) naive
What is cynical?
Running down the hallway, the backpack slipped off his shoulder.
What is Running down the hallway, he felt his backpack slip off his shoulder?
Concise revision: Due to the fact that the train was late, we missed the movie.
What is Because the train was late, we missed the movie?
A news article on climate change uses urgent tone and alarming adjectives.
What is to inform while persuading the reader to take the issue seriously?
A narrator describes another character’s “carefully rehearsed laugh.”
What is the character may be insecure, insincere, or pretending confidence?
To place side by side for contrast.
a) juxtapose
b) analyze
c) merge
d) emphasize
What is juxtapose?
She likes reading, to swim, and hiking.
What is She likes reading, swimming, and hiking?
Avoids wordiness: At this point in time → ?
What is Now?
A speech appeals to logic (logos), credibility (ethos), and emotion (pathos).
What is to persuade the audience toward the speaker’s viewpoint?
A character avoids answering questions and changes the subject when school comes up.
What is they are struggling in school or hiding poor grades?
Bitter, harsh, or angry in speech.
a) euphoric
b) acrimonious
c) loquacious
d) jubilant
What is acrimonious?
Neither the teachers nor the principal want to attend.
What is Neither the teachers nor the principal wants to attend?
Stronger verb: The dog made a loud noise at the stranger.
What is The dog barked (or growled) at the stranger?
A science article uses neutral tone, technical vocabulary, and avoids opinion.
What is to inform or explain objectively?
A narrator says, “She smiled as she congratulated her rival, but her clenched fists told another story.”
What is she is pretending to be gracious but is actually angry or resentful?
Excessively obedient or fawning to gain favor.
a) obstinate
b) obsequious
c) magnanimous
d) apathetic
What is obsequious?
She wanted to go to the concert however she couldn’t afford a ticket.
What is She wanted to go to the concert; however, she couldn’t afford a ticket?
Academic style: Kids these days are always on their phones, which is bad.
What is Adolescents today frequently use mobile devices, which raises concerns about overuse?