2.5 Author's Purpose, Tone, and Point of View
Key Takeaways
The four author purposes tested on the TEAS are to inform, persuade, entertain, and express—identify them by source type and language.
Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject; mood is the feeling the passage creates in the reader.
Facts can be verified and use neutral language; opinions use judgment words like best, should, terrible, or remarkable.
Point of view (first, second, third person) is signaled by pronouns: I/we, you, and he/she/they/it.
Persuasive writing relies on rhetorical devices such as emotional appeals, rhetorical questions, repetition, and loaded diction.
Why Purpose and Tone Are Tested
Every passage on the ATI TEAS 7 Reading section was written by someone with a reason and an attitude. The Craft and Structure sub-content area (9 scored questions) asks you to look past the literal words and identify why the author wrote a text and how they feel about the subject. In nursing practice you will read patient-education pamphlets, drug warnings, discharge instructions, and journal abstracts—each with a different purpose. Reading the intent correctly prevents dangerous misunderstandings, which is exactly why ATI tests it.
Author's Purpose
Author's purpose is the reason a text exists. Author's purpose falls into four broad types, often remembered by the acronym PIE+E (Persuade, Inform, Entertain, Express).
| Purpose | Goal | Where you see it | Telltale language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inform | Explain facts or teach a process | Textbooks, news reports, drug labels | Neutral, factual, data-heavy |
| Persuade | Change the reader's belief or action | Editorials, ads, public-health campaigns | Opinion words, calls to action, loaded diction |
| Entertain | Amuse or engage emotionally | Fiction, humor, personal essays | Dialogue, vivid imagery, plot |
| Express | Share personal feelings or reflection | Memoirs, journals, blogs | First-person "I," emotion words |
Many passages mix purposes—a magazine article may inform and entertain—but the TEAS expects you to choose the dominant purpose. Ask: "If I deleted everything else, what is the author mainly trying to accomplish?"
Tone vs. Mood
These two terms are easy to confuse.
- Tone is the author's attitude toward the topic—serious, hopeful, critical, sarcastic.
- Mood is the reader's emotional response—anxious, calm, inspired.
Example: A passage that opens "Despite three failed treatments, the trial nurse refused to give up" has a determined, admiring tone, and it may produce a hopeful or tense mood in the reader. Same passage, two different feelings—because tone belongs to the writer and mood belongs to you.
Common TEAS Tone Words
| Positive | Neutral | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Optimistic, enthusiastic, admiring | Objective, formal, informative | Critical, skeptical, alarmed |
| Hopeful, encouraging, respectful | Detached, matter-of-fact | Disapproving, sarcastic, indignant |
Word Choice (Diction) Reveals Tone
The single strongest clue to tone is diction—the connotation of the words an author selects. Synonyms are rarely neutral.
| Neutral | Positive connotation | Negative connotation |
|---|---|---|
| Thrifty | Economical | Stingy |
| Confident | Self-assured | Arrogant |
| Persistent | Determined | Stubborn |
| Inexpensive | Affordable | Cheap |
When two answer choices both seem possible ("informative" vs. "enthusiastic"), let the loaded words decide. Words like remarkable, breakthrough, and thrilling push toward enthusiastic; the data indicate and researchers measured push toward objective.
Fact vs. Opinion
Distinguishing fact from opinion underpins both tone and purpose questions.
| Fact | Opinion |
|---|---|
| Verifiable against evidence | Cannot be proven true or false |
| Neutral wording | Judgment words (best, worst, should) |
| "Normal adult body temperature averages about 98.6 °F." | "Thermometers are the most important tool in nursing." |
A persuasive author blends the two, stating opinions as if they were facts. Spotting the unverifiable claim can unlock a tone or purpose question.
Point of View
Point of view is the narrative perspective, signaled by pronouns.
| Point of view | Pronouns | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| First person | I, me, we, us | Memoirs, reflective essays |
| Second person | you, your | Instructions, how-to guides |
| Third person | he, she, they, it | News, textbooks, research |
A shift to second person ("you should wash your hands for 20 seconds") usually signals instructional or persuasive intent, not an objective report.
Persuasive and Rhetorical Devices
When the purpose is to persuade, authors reach for rhetorical devices:
- Emotional appeal (pathos) — language that triggers fear, pity, or pride: "Imagine your own grandmother left untreated."
- Appeal to authority (ethos) — citing experts or institutions to build trust.
- Rhetorical question — a question asked for effect, not an answer: "Can we really afford to ignore this?"
- Repetition — repeating a phrase to drive it home.
- Loaded language — emotionally charged diction (devastating, miracle).
Worked Example
Passage: "Every winter, emergency rooms overflow with patients who never received a simple, free flu shot. We have the vaccine. We have the clinics. What we lack is urgency. It is time—past time—for every health system to make vaccination effortless. The cost of inaction is measured not in dollars, but in lives."
Step 1 — Purpose: The author wants the reader to act ("It is time…to make vaccination effortless"). That is persuade, not inform.
Step 2 — Tone: Words like overflow, urgency, and measured…in lives show an urgent, concerned attitude.
Step 3 — Devices: The rhetorical question ("What we lack is urgency" follows the implied question), the repetition of "We have," and the emotional appeal ("in lives") are all persuasive tools.
Step 4 — Fact vs. opinion: "We have the vaccine" is a fact; "It is time…past time" is an opinion stated for effect. Recognizing that mix confirms a persuasive purpose.
A pamphlet reads: "Skipping your annual screening is a gamble no one should take. Don't wait—schedule today." What is the author's primary purpose?
To inform readers about screening procedures
To persuade readers to schedule a screening
To entertain readers with a story about screenings
To express personal feelings about healthcare
Which sentence states a fact rather than an opinion?
Nursing is the most fulfilling profession a person can choose.
The TEAS Reading section contains 45 questions.
Reading passages are far too long on standardized exams.
Everyone should study reading comprehension before any test.
Match each excerpt to the author's tone.
Match each item on the left with the correct item on the right
"This breakthrough therapy could transform thousands of lives—an extraordinary moment for medicine."
"The study enrolled 240 participants and reported a 12 percent change over six weeks."
"Supposedly the device is foolproof, though no independent lab has confirmed the claim."
"Rising infection rates are deeply troubling and demand immediate attention."
A passage uses the pronoun "you" throughout and lists steps to follow. What does this most strongly suggest about the text?
It is a first-person memoir expressing feelings
It is instructional, addressing the reader directly
It is objective third-person research
It is fiction meant only to entertain
The feeling a passage creates in the reader (such as anxious or hopeful) is called the ___.
Type your answer below
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.