IDENTIFYING THE AUDIENCE, WRITER’S

TONE & PURPOSE IN ACADEMIC

TEXTS
ALTINBAŞ UNIVERSITY

School of Foreign Languages

Modern Languages Department

ENG102 Communication Skills and Academic

Report Writing II
1
2023-2024 Academic Year, Spring Term
How is your mood today?
Do you feel happy, angry, sleepy, nervous…?

If you were writing an essay in this mood,

 what would your aim be? (purpose)
 who would you write it for? (audience)
 how would your language be? (tone) 2
The main requirement of a critical reader is :

 judge a text clearly

 comprehend the meaning fully

This is possible by understanding the writer’s technique.

There are three components that determine the writer’s technique:

1. Purpose
2. Audience
3. Tone

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Let’s read the following sentences and try to identify the

 purpose,
 tone and
 the audience

of the author.
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1. The primary aim of ENG102 course is to develop the students’
reading, writing, speaking and thinking skills in an academic context
(purpose?)

To inform – to give information about a subject. Authors with this

purpose wish to provide facts that will explain or teach something to
readers.

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2. I believe that the engineer who made this bridge should be awarded.
(TONE?)

Ironic–an unexpected opposite meaning in words or events. 7

3. In the last few years, there has been a rapid expansion in the number of
companies deploying artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in a
wide range of applications. (the audience?)
Specific audience (Engineering students, people interested in
engineering terms..) 8
 1.Purpose

PURPOSE IS THE REASON AN AUTHOR WRITES ABOUT A TOPIC.

A writer’s purpose influences both;

• their decisions about language and style and
• the format and organization of their work.

An understanding of purpose will help readers to understand the text

more easily.
 Author’
s
Purpose

For Neutral Against

Inform Persuade
Persuade
Explain Criticize
Describe
Convince
Narrate
Criticize
Entertain
Tolerate 10
Entertain
Compare
INFORM: TEACH
-Explain a point or a process
-Clarify an issue, a problem
-Give information about ideas,
experience, people or events.
COMPARE:
-Give information about the
similarity or dissimilarity
between two things/terms.
PERSUADE: CONVINCE
-Influence the reader to think or
feel like the author does
-Promote the author’s opinions or
judgment
-Encourage the reader to take
some kind of action.

DESCRIBE:
-Give vivid details
-Create mental AUTHOR’S PURPOSE CRITICIZE : JUDGE
pictures of what is THE REASON FOR -Evaluate strengths and
WRITING weaknesses of a topic or
being written about . a person.

ENTERTAIN :
AMUSE EXPLAIN:
TOLERATE:
-Make (an idea or NARRATE : TELL
- Accept a
- Have fun situation) clear to - Give an account of
situation/person
someone by describing it an event or an
- Laugh with the although you do not
in more detail or revealing experience
particularly like them.
author relevant facts.
Let’s read the following paragraphs and try to
identify the purpose of the author.

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Software engineering is a
branch of computer science
which includes the
development and building of
computer systems software
and applications software.
Computer systems software
is
composed of programs that
The author defines the
include computing utilities and
software engineering.
operations systems.
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For sound insulation between
convoluted
rooms, foams or pyramid foams are of
little or no help to you. Such foams are
suitable for reducing the reverberation
within a room and for improving room
acoustics. However, in order to insulate
sound effectively, you need special
soundproofing products.

The author informs the readers about the different usages of pyramid
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foams and soundproofing products..
 Fuel prices heavily depend on the
political and military situation in
countries that provide oil; even if we
do not take it into consideration, one
year of driving a gasoline car costs
you about $2,100 (given you drive
about 15,000 miles per year), but in
contrast electric vehicles are more
economical and environment-
friendly.

The author is trying to persuade the reader to use electric cars instead 15
of cars which work with fuel.
 2. Audience
TEXTS WRITTEN FOR DIFFERENT AUDIENCE VARY IN TERMS OF THEIR STYLES.

For example, texts addressing a specific group of people

might be difficult to comprehend for others, as specific terms
or terminology might be unfamiliar to them.
THE AUDIENCE OF A TEXT CAN BE VARIOUS:

• general audience

• specific audience
(e.g. teenagers, engineers, travelers, people with
specific hobbies…)
READ THE TEXTS BELOW
AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND
WHO IT MIGHT BE
WRITTEN FOR.

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Computer Engineers manage and
design the computer hardware and
software systems of a company.
These skilled individuals may
specialize in hardware or software
and are often referred to as
programmers. Their duties include
developing software systems,
updating hardware, and designing Computer engineering students
new equipment.

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In Uber released a white paper
outlining
2016, plans to provide on-demand
urban air transportation by 2023, calling
the project Uber Elevate. The goal was to
partner with an automobile manufacturer
to build fully electric aircraft that would be
able to take off and land vertically.

Manufacturing engineers, aircraft enginners, people who are

interested in technology.. 20
 I’ve been trawling through
looking for ideas and these designs have
Pinterest
me totally inspired. I’ve always been
drawn to an all-white kitchen but I think
they can look a bit sterile, so to warm
things up a hit of timber is in order. I’ve
been obsessed with Porta’s Contour
range ever since it was released. The
Riverine profile would look particularly
good on the front of the island – just like
they’ve done in the kitchen
interior architectures above
designed by Big House Little House.

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 3. Tone
Tone is the author’s attitude toward the topic of his/her work.

A text can have multiple tones and can even change its tone as the
writer’s ideas develop.
Tone is not explained or expressed directly.

A reader must read between the lines (make inferences)

to feel the author’s attitude and identify the tone.

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OFTEN AN AUTHOR’S TONE IS DESCRIBED BY ADJECTIVES SUCH AS;
• objective X subjective
• optimistic X pessimistic
• negative X positive
• critical
• ironic
• humorous
• cruel
• depressed
• angry
• serious
• mocking / sarcastic
• absurd
• regretful
• sentimental
• tolerant
• happy
• skeptical 24
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS EXPRESS DIFFERENT ATTITUDES
ABOUT A SHABBY APARTMENT. MATCH FIVE DIFFERENT TONES:
OPTIMISTIC, TOLERANT, SENTIMENTAL, HUMOROUS, AND OBJECTIVE
WITH THE SENTENCES.

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 optimistic, tolerant, sentimental, humorous, objective?

1. This place may be shabby, but I love it since both of my children sentimental
were born here, so it has a special place in my heart.
2.This isn’t the greatest apartment in the world, but it’s not tolerant
really that bad.

3. This place needs some repairs, but I’m sure the landlord will be optimistic
making improvements sometime soon.

4. When we move away, we’re planning to release three hundred humorous

cockroaches and mice, so we can leave the house exactly as we
found it.

objective 26
5. This is the apartment we live in. It provides shelter.
READ THE TEXTS BELOW
AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND
THE AUTHOR’S TONE.

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optimistic
ironic
mo
cki
ng
s
k
e
p
ti
c
a
l
 optimistic
ironic
mo
ckin
g
r
e
After the reason behind the horrible fire which took g place in one of
r
the factories in city became obvious, I, as a well-known
e
engineer,
found myself guilty thinking that if I had made a mistake
tf in installing
the wires correctly. u
29
l
The moment the words were out of my mouth, I wished I could take them back. I
didn't mean to hurt Keith's feelings. He is such a nice person, and he certainly doesn't
deserve to be treated so poorly. I guess the stress from my job has been more than I
can handle. Instead of taking my problems out on him, I need to deal directly with
the people who create the stress. If only I didn't care so much what people thought of
me at work, then this would not have happened.

regretful
cruel
tolerant
mocking 30
Whether you are starting or continuing on the academic road to success, there are a
series of markers that will help keep you on the path. First, you must believe. Believe
in yourself, believe in others, and believe in the process of life. You are here for a
purpose. Second, keep an open mind. Be aware of things that are working and things
that are not. Be willing to make changes. Third, know when you need help and be
willing to ask for it. There are many people who can assist you; be specific when you
ask for help. Fourth, ….

pessimistic
humorous
objective
sentimental
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LAST ACTIVITY IS TO APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE
LEARNED TO ONE PARAGRAPH!

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Stealing is condemned by society and viewed as uncivilized behaviour
that has negative consequences. There are different forms of stealing that
range from theft, burglary, fraud, shoplifting and other forms. Stealing
does not only have legal consequences, but also social and personal
consequences depending on what type of theft one is engaged in. Legal
punishment can be severe, ranging from restitution to court ordered
counselling and imprisonment. Stealing can also bring about mistrust
between members of society.

1. The tone of the passage is .

a. optimistic c. skeptical
b. absurd d. neutral 33
Stealing is condemned by society and viewed as uncivilized behaviour
that has negative consequences. There are different forms of stealing that
range from theft, burglary, fraud, shoplifting and other forms. Stealing
does not only have legal consequences, but also social and personal
consequences depending on what type of theft one is engaged in. Legal
punishment can be severe, ranging from restitution to court ordered
counselling and imprisonment. Stealing can also bring about mistrust
between members of society.

3. Who might the passage be written for?

General audience 34
Stealing is condemned by society and viewed as uncivilized behaviour
that has negative consequences. There are different forms of stealing that
range from theft, burglary, fraud, shoplifting and other forms. Stealing
does not only have legal consequences, but also social and personal
consequences depending on what type of theft one is engaged in. Legal
punishment can be severe, ranging from restitution to court ordered
counselling and imprisonment. Stealing can also bring about mistrust
between members of society.

3. The writer’s main purpose is to .

a. entertain the reader.
b. inform the reader.
c. convince the reader.
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d. criticize the reader.
SO FAR WE LEARNT THE IMPORTANCE OF IDENTIFYING
AUTHOR’S TONE & PURPOSE AND THE AUDIENCE AS:
- THEY ARE INTERRELATED TO EACH OTHER.
- THEY HELP US UNDERSTAND AND ANALYZE THE TEXT BETTER.
- THEY HELP US MAKE INFERENCES EFFECTIVELY.

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