Chapter 8: Point of View

1
Chapter 8 Point of View
Bridging the Gap, 9/e Brenda Smith

• 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as
  Longman Publishers

2
In this chapter you will answer the questions

• Is a textbook influenced by the authors point of
  view?
• What is the authors point of view?
• What is the readers point of view?
• What is the difference between a fact and an
  opinion?
• What is the authors purpose?
• What is the authors tone?

3
What is the Authors Point of View?
Authors opinions and theories that influence
their presentation of the subject matter

• Point of View
• Suggests thoughtfulness and openness.
• p. 422 426

• Bias
• Facts are slanted toward the authors personal
  belief.
• An opinion or position on a subject.

4
What is the Readers Point of View
Alternative Arguments

• Open Mind
• Prior knowledge.
• Slightly suspicious nature.

• Closed Mind
• Existing opinions affect how much we accept or
  reject.
• If beliefs are strong we tune out new material.

5
Readers Tip Questions to Uncover Bias

• What is your opinion on the subject?
• What is the authors opinion on the subject?
• What are the authors credentials for writing on
  the subject?
• What does the author have to gain?
• Does the author use facts or opinions as support?
• Are the facts selected and slanted to reflect the
  authors bias?

6
What is a Fact?

• A Fact
• A fact is a statement based on actual evidence or
  personal observation.
• It can be checked objectively with empirical
  data.
• It can be proved to be either true or false.

7
What is an Opinion?

• An Opinion
• An opinion is a statement based upon personal
  feelings or judgments.
• It reflects a belief or an interpretation rather
  than an accumulation of evidence.
• It cannot be proved true or false.

8
Fact and Opinion

• Fact Freud believed that the personality is
  divided into three parts.
• Opinion Freud constructed the most complete
  theory of personality development.
• Opinion The personality is divided into three
  parts the id, the ego, and the superego.
• P. 430

9
Authors Purpose

• The reason for writing or reading.
• Persuade
• Inform
• Entertain

10
What is the Authors Purpose?
11
Authors Tone

• The authors attitude or feelings toward the
  subject matter.

12
What is the Authors Tone?

• Humorous remarks are designed to be comical
  amusing.
• Sarcastic remarks are designed to cut or give
  pain.
• Ironic remarks
• Express something other than the literal meaning.
• Designed to show the incongruity between the
  actual and the expected.

13
Recognizing the Authors Tone Part (1)

• Absurd/Ridiculous laughable or a joke.
• Ambivalent having contradictory attitudes or
  feelings.
• Apathetic not caring.
• Angry feeling bad and upset about the topic.
• Arrogant acting conceited or above others.
• Cheerful feeling good about the topic.
• Complex complicated entangled with confusing
  parts.

14
Recognizing the Authors Tone Part (2)

• Congratulatory honoring an achievement
• Cruel mean spirited.
• Cynical expecting the worst from people.
• Depressed sad, dejected, or having low spirits.
• Disapproving judging unfavorably.
• Distressed suffering strain, misery, or agony.
• Disapproving judging unfavorably.
• Evasive, abstruse avoiding or confusing the
  issue.

15
Recognizing Authors TonePart (3)

• Formal using an official style
• Frustrated blocked from a goal
• Gentle thoughtful, not pushy, kind
• Hard unfeeling, strict, unrelenting.
• Incredulous unbelieving.
• Intense/Impassioned extremely involved, zealous,
  or agitated.
• Irreverent lack of respect for authority.
• Objective/Critical using facts without emotions.

16
Recognizing Authors TonePart (4)

• Humorous being funny.
• Incredulous unbelieving.
• Indignant outraged.
• Intense/Impassioned extremely involved, zealous,
  or agitated.
• Ironic the opposite of what is expected a twist
  at the end.
• Irreverent lacking respect for authority.
• Mocking/Condemning using facts without emotions.

17
Recognizing Authors TonePart (5)

• Objective factual using facts without emotions.
• Obsequious fawning for attention.
• Optimistic looking on the bright side.
• Outspoken speaking ones mind on issues.
• Pathetic moving one to compassion or pity.
• Pessimistic looking on the negative side.
• Prayerful religiously thankful.
• Reverent showing respect.
• Righteous morally correct.

18
Recognizing Authors TonePart (6)

• Romantic expressing love or affection.
• Sarcastic saying one thing and meaning another.
• Satiric using irony, wit, and sarcasm to
  discredit or ridicule.
• Sensational over-dramatized or over-hyped.
• Sentimental remembering the good old days.
• Serious/Earnest/Sincere being honest
  concerned.
• Tragic regrettable or deplorable mistake.

19
Points of View in Editorial Cartoons

• In an editorial cartoon, a point of view is made
  without making a direct verbal statement.
• This is done through drawings and cartoons.
• See examples in your book or search the net under
  editorial cartoons.
• p. 444 446

20
To interpret an editorial cartoon, ask

• What is this about? (general topic)
• Who or what is represented by the images shown?
• What is the main point that the cartoonist is
  trying to get across?
• What is the tone of the cartoon?
• What is the cartoonists purpose?
• What is the cartoonists point of view or
  position on the subject?
• P. 447

21
Summary Points

• Does a textbook reflect the authors point of
  view?
• What is the authors point of view?
• What is the readers point of view?
• What is the difference between a fact and an
  opinion?
• What is the authors purpose?
• What is the authors tone?