Study · Academic reading skillsLesson 08
Identifying the Writer's Purpose and Tone
Level B1–B2
Identifying the Writer's Purpose and Tone
Learning goals
- In this lesson, you will learn to identify a writer’s purpose and tone in academic-style texts. You will notice evaluative language, recognise when a writer considers more than one side, and choose summaries that match both purpose and attitude.
Step 1 — Read and discover
Read the passage once. Ask why the writer wrote it and what attitude the language suggests.
Should Every Meeting Be Online?
Online meetings can save travel time and make it easier for people in different locations to work together. For short updates, they are often a practical choice. A shared document can also help participants keep track of decisions.
However, online meetings are not automatically more efficient. Technical problems can interrupt discussion, and people may find it harder to contribute when several participants speak at once. A meeting that could have been a brief message may also take longer than necessary.
The best approach is not to reject online meetings or use them for everything. Teams should choose the format that suits the purpose. If people need to solve a complicated problem together, a well-planned discussion may be useful. If they only need to share information, a short written update may be enough.
1. What is the main purpose of the passage?Try again
1. What is the main purpose of the passage?
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2. Which word best describes the writer’s tone?Try again
2. Which word best describes the writer’s tone?
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3. Which pair of ideas is supported by the passage?Try again
3. Which pair of ideas is supported by the passage?
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Step 2 — Purpose and tone
Purpose
Purpose means why the writer created the text: to explain, inform, persuade, compare, warn, or entertain. Look at the whole passage, especially the introduction and conclusion.
Tone
Tone means the writer’s attitude, such as balanced, critical, enthusiastic, cautious, or humorous. Notice evaluative words such as useful, automatically, complicated, and enough.
A practical strategy
1. Ask what the whole text is trying to do, not just what one paragraph says.
2. Check whether the writer presents one side only or considers advantages and disadvantages.
3. Choose a tone supported by the language; a balanced tone still expresses a viewpoint.
Strategy guide
Purpose
Recognise why the writer created the text.
- Read the introduction and conclusion carefully.
- Ask whether the writer explains, advises, persuades, or compares.
- Distinguish the overall aim from one supporting detail.
Example: Advising teams to choose meeting formats that suit the task.
Common mistake: Choosing a true detail instead of the writer’s main aim.
Tone
Identify the writer’s attitude from language choices.
- Notice evaluative words such as useful, automatically, and enough.
- Check whether both sides or limits are acknowledged.
- Avoid confusing a balanced tone with having no viewpoint.
Example: Discussing benefits and limitations before a qualified recommendation.
Common mistake: Labelling a text angry or sarcastic without clear language evidence.
Both sides
Spot when a writer weighs advantages against limitations.
- Look for contrast signals such as however.
- Pair a benefit with a limitation from the passage.
- Use these pairs to support answers about tone or purpose.
Example: Online meetings save travel time, but technical problems can interrupt discussion.
Common mistake: Assuming the writer supports only one side when both are discussed.
Step 3 — Purpose, tone, or detail?
Choose the best answer, then check your choices.
1. “Teams should choose the format that suits the purpose” suggests the writer mainly wants to:Try again
1. “Teams should choose the format that suits the purpose” suggests the writer mainly wants to:
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2. The phrase “not automatically more efficient” contributes to a tone that is:Try again
2. The phrase “not automatically more efficient” contributes to a tone that is:
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3. Which detail supports a balanced view of online meetings?Try again
3. Which detail supports a balanced view of online meetings?
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4. A writer whose purpose is to persuade readers to buy a product would most likely:Try again
4. A writer whose purpose is to persuade readers to buy a product would most likely:
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5. Which option is a purpose rather than a single supporting detail?Try again
5. Which option is a purpose rather than a single supporting detail?
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6. Tone is best identified by:Try again
6. Tone is best identified by:
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Step 4 — Practise with the meeting passage
Read the text below and answer the questions.
Should Every Meeting Be Online?
However, online meetings are not automatically more efficient. Technical problems can interrupt discussion, and people may find it harder to contribute when several participants speak at once. A meeting that could have been a brief message may also take longer than necessary.
The best approach is not to reject online meetings or use them for everything. Teams should choose the format that suits the purpose. If people need to solve a complicated problem together, a well-planned discussion may be useful. If they only need to share information, a short written update may be enough.
1. For a complicated problem that requires joint discussion, the writer suggests:Try again
1. For a complicated problem that requires joint discussion, the writer suggests:
✓
2. For sharing information only, the writer suggests:Try again
2. For sharing information only, the writer suggests:
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3. Which statement reflects the writer’s view of extremes?Try again
3. Which statement reflects the writer’s view of extremes?
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4. Which detail shows the writer considering both sides?Try again
4. Which detail shows the writer considering both sides?
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5. The conclusion mainly recommends:Try again
5. The conclusion mainly recommends:
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Step 5 — Choose the best summary
Read each paragraph quickly, then choose the best summary.
1. Online meetings offer practical benefits for some tasks, yet they can be disrupted by technical issues and may not suit every purpose. The writer argues that teams should select the format that matches what they need to accomplish.Try again
1. Online meetings offer practical benefits for some tasks, yet they can be disrupted by technical issues and may not suit every purpose. The writer argues that teams should select the format that matches what they need to accomplish.
✓
2. A passage that lists benefits in one paragraph and limitations in the next before offering a qualified recommendation is likely to have:Try again
2. A passage that lists benefits in one paragraph and limitations in the next before offering a qualified recommendation is likely to have:
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3. When a question asks for tone, you should:Try again
3. When a question asks for tone, you should:
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Step 6 — Quick review
Choose the best answer for each question.
1. Purpose refers to:Try again
1. Purpose refers to:
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2. A balanced tone often includes:Try again
2. A balanced tone often includes:
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3. In the meeting passage, online meetings can reduce travel time. This idea is:Try again
3. In the meeting passage, online meetings can reduce travel time. This idea is:
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4. Which question best tests purpose rather than a single fact?Try again
4. Which question best tests purpose rather than a single fact?
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5. If a writer says a solution “may be useful” for one situation but “may be enough” to use a shorter format for another, the tone is most likely:Try again
5. If a writer says a solution “may be useful” for one situation but “may be enough” to use a shorter format for another, the tone is most likely:
✓