Author's Purpose, Tone, and Point of View
The GED Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) test evaluates your ability to understand not just what an author says, but why and how they say it.
The Three Primary Purposes (P.I.E.)
- Persuade: Convince the reader to believe an idea or take action (editorials, speeches, advertisements).
- Inform: Provide factual explanations without personal bias (news reports, scientific articles, textbooks).
- Entertain: Engage the reader's emotions or imagination (short stories, personal essays, humor).
Determining Tone
Tone reflects the author's attitude toward the subject matter. Ask yourself:
- Does the author use charged or neutral vocabulary?
- Are they objective, critical, humorous, sympathetic, or cynical?
Tip: Look at the adjectives and adverbs. Words like "astonishing", "regrettable", or "undeniable" reveal the writer's underlying stance.