AmyMath
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CLASS 9 · LEARNING KNOWLEDGE

Recognizing arguments, purpose, and tone in a text

How it works

In this topic area, you will learn how to recognize the arguments, the purpose (‹intention›), and the tone (‹tone›) of an English text. Arguments are the reasons or evidence that someone uses to support an opinion. The purpose is the author's goal, e.g. to inform, to persuade, or to entertain. Tone describes the attitude or mood in the text, e.g. ‹friendly›, ‹critical› or ‹formal›. To recognize these aspects, pay attention to keywords, phrasing, and the way information is presented. Example: In ‹The author uses strong language to convince the reader that recycling is important.› the purpose is to persuade, the tone is engaged, and the argument is the importance of recycling.

Note
Pay attention to phrasing, word choice, and structure in order to recognize arguments, purpose, and tone. Think about what the author wants to achieve and how they present their opinion.

An example

What is the author's purpose in the sentence ‹The statistics clearly show that exercise improves mental health.›?

The main purpose is to persuade, because the sentence uses a statistic as evidence for a statement.

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Own explanation and own practice exercises by AmyMath. Subject reference framework: English. The topic assignment may vary by federal state.