ParaPro Author's Purpose and Point of View 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A brochure for a national park describes hiking trails, wildlife, and camping regulations using bullet points and clear headings. The author's primary purpose is to:
- Persuade tourists to choose this park over others
- Entertain readers with adventurous park stories
- Inform visitors about park features and rules (Correct answer)
- Warn readers about dangers in the park
Correct answer: Inform visitors about park features and rules
Bullet points, headings, and factual descriptions of trails, wildlife, and regulations are organizational features of informational writing. The brochure's goal is practical: give visitors the information they need. Persuasion would use comparisons and promotional language; entertainment would use narrative.
Question 2: An author's purpose can change within a single text. Which example shows a text that both informs and persuades?
- A short story about a dragon who learns to share
- A science report listing only temperature data from weather stations
- An article presenting facts about pollution then arguing for stricter laws (Correct answer)
- A poem describing the beauty of a winter morning
Correct answer: An article presenting facts about pollution then arguing for stricter laws
An article that presents facts (inform) and then uses those facts to argue for a specific policy (persuade) combines both purposes. This is common in opinion journalism and advocacy writing. Stories and poems are primarily entertainment; a data-only report is purely informational.
Question 3: The phrase 'It is widely acknowledged that' at the start of a sentence signals the author is trying to:
- Express a personal feeling or emotion
- Establish the claim as broadly accepted to strengthen credibility (Correct answer)
- Introduce a controversial or minority viewpoint
- Entertain readers with a surprising fact
Correct answer: Establish the claim as broadly accepted to strengthen credibility
Phrases like 'it is widely acknowledged' suggest consensus among many people or experts, which the author uses to make the claim seem more legitimate and harder to dispute. This is a rhetorical strategy to build credibility — even if the author does not name specific sources.
Question 4: A story is told from the perspective of a child who does not fully understand what is happening around her. This narrative choice creates:
- An authoritative and trustworthy point of view
- A limited point of view that may miss important context (Correct answer)
- A third-person omniscient perspective covering all characters
- A persuasive appeal based on expertise
Correct answer: A limited point of view that may miss important context
A child narrator has a limited perspective — she can only report what she sees, hears, and partially understands. This creates an intentionally limited point of view, which authors often use to create irony, mystery, or emotional effect. Readers may understand more than the narrator does.
Question 5: Which of the following is the clearest example of an author using bias?
- A science textbook listing the steps of photosynthesis
- A news article quoting statements from both political candidates
- A company's website describing only the benefits of its product with no mention of drawbacks (Correct answer)
- A dictionary entry defining the word 'ecology'
Correct answer: A company's website describing only the benefits of its product with no mention of drawbacks
Bias occurs when an author presents information in a one-sided way that favors a particular viewpoint. A company website that lists only benefits and omits any drawbacks is a clear example — it is intentionally incomplete to create a favorable impression. Balanced, factual sources aim to minimize bias.
Question 6: A letter to the editor begins: 'As a nurse with 20 years of experience, I urge the city council to fund after-school health programs.' Why does the author mention her profession?
- To entertain readers with personal anecdotes from her career
- To establish her credibility and authority on the health topic (Correct answer)
- To inform readers about the nursing profession
- To shift readers' attention away from her main argument
Correct answer: To establish her credibility and authority on the health topic
Mentioning professional experience is an appeal to authority (ethos) — a persuasive strategy where the author establishes credibility so readers are more likely to trust and accept the argument. It signals that the author has relevant expertise, making her recommendation more compelling.
ParaPro Author's Purpose and Point of View 3
A brochure for a national park describes hiking trails, wildlife, and camping regulations using bullet points and clear headings.
The author's primary purpose is to: