I am the writer – I want to shock you - I want to entertain – I
want to
Commenting on the writer’s
purpose and viewpoint
Reading AF6
1
I am the writer – I want you to think - I want you on my side
– I want to
- I am the writer – I can make you laugh – I can make you cry – I can make you
feel guilty – I can
- I am the writer – I may give you facts – I may lie – I may want to be balanced –
I am the writer – I want to shock you - I want to entertain – I
want to
It’s an important skill to be able to write
about:
what a
writer
thinks
the effect
of a writer’s
words on
the reader.
But is it easy to sort out the views of the
writer from the views of someone being
written about?
Test yourself with these passages:
2
I am the writer – I want you to think - I want you on my side
– I want to
- I am the writer – I can make you laugh – I can make you cry – I can make you
feel guilty – I can
- I am the writer – I may give you facts – I may lie – I may want to be balanced –
I am the writer – I want to shock you - I want to entertain – I
want to
Jenny thought that Chris was the worst boss
ever, but then this was only her first job and
this was her first day.
Who thinks that Chris is the ‘worst boss ever’?
Jenny
the writer
Chris
From these words, who implies that Jenny is
inexperienced
Can you
Jenny
see
why?
the writer
Chris
3
I am the writer – I want you to think - I want you on my side
– I want to
- I am the writer – I can make you laugh – I can make you cry – I can make you
feel guilty – I can
- I am the writer – I may give you facts – I may lie – I may want to be balanced –
I am the writer – I want to shock you - I want to entertain – I
want to
‘Good morning,’ said Sherlock Holmes cheerily. ‘Pray
draw closer to the fire. I see you are shivering.’
‘It is not the cold which makes me shiver,’ replied the
woman. ‘It is fear, Mr Holmes. It is terror.’
Who is feeling uneasy?
the woman
the writer
Sherlock Holmes
Who wants to interest the reader in a mystery?
the woman
What tells
the writer
you this?
Sherlock Holmes
4
I am the writer – I want you to think - I want you on my side
– I want to
- I am the writer – I can make you laugh – I can make you cry – I can make you
feel guilty – I can
- I am the writer – I may give you facts – I may lie – I may want to be balanced –
I am the writer – I want to shock you - I want to entertain – I
want to
If you are expected to write about the what the writer
thinks, there are some clues in the question.
Here are some questions from the 2004 reading paper
which ask about the writer’s purpose or viewpoint
How does paragraph 2 make the reader think that
the Eden project is exciting?
What do you learn about the writer’s viewpoint
and purpose overall?
How does the article try to make the reader feel
some sort of responsibility for the problem?
Which words are clues that these questions are
about the writer’s purpose and viewpoint?
5
I am the writer – I want you to think - I want you on my side
– I want to
- I am the writer – I can make you laugh – I can make you cry – I can make you
feel guilty – I can
- I am the writer – I may give you facts – I may lie – I may want to be balanced –
I am the writer – I want to shock you - I want to entertain – I
want to
Look at these questions from the 2004 reading paper. It is
about the Eden Project in Cornwall.
See if you can comment on the effects of the words on
the reader (even without seeing the whole passage!).
‘Space age’ makes the reader think the project is exciting
because it suggests… it is modern and futuristic.
‘largest greenhouse on the planet’ makes the reader think
the project is exciting because it suggests…
it is recording breaking and there is nothing else like it.
6
I am the writer – I want you to think - I want you on my side
– I want to
- I am the writer – I can make you laugh – I can make you cry – I can make you
feel guilty – I can
- I am the writer – I may give you facts – I may lie – I may want to be balanced –
I am the writer – I want to shock you - I want to entertain – I
want to
Often you can make many points about the
one word or phrase. See if you can make
different points about the same phrases:
I am the writer – I want you to think - I want you on my side
– I want to
- I am the writer – I can make you laugh – I can make you cry – I can make you
feel guilty – I can
‘Space age’ makes the reader think the project has a
serious purpose because it suggests…it is hi-tec and scientific.
‘largest greenhouse on the planet’ makes the reader think
the project has a serious purpose because it suggests…
it is an enormous project, and probably a very important
one.
7
- I am the writer – I may give you facts – I may lie – I may want to be balanced –
I am the writer – I want to shock you - I want to entertain – I
want to
I am the writer – I want you to think - I want you on my side
– I want to
- I am the writer – I can make you laugh – I can make you cry – I can make you
feel guilty – I can
Now look read this passage, and comment on how the writer makes
the reader feel respect and admiration for Sherlock Holmes.
Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, allcomprehensive glances.
“You must not fear,” said he soothingly, bending forward and patting
her forearm. “We shall soon set matters right, I have no doubt. You
have come in by train this morning, I see.”
“You know me, then?”
“No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm of
your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had a good
drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the
station.”
The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my
companion.
“There is no mystery, my dear madam,” said he, smiling. “The left
arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven places.
The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a dog-cart
which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you sit on the
8
left-hand side of the driver.”
- I am the writer – I may give you facts – I may lie – I may want to be balanced –
I am the writer – I want to shock you - I want to entertain – I
want to
Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, allcomprehensive glances.
He is concerned for the
woman, and reassures her
‘soothingly’ with his words, his
tone of voice and his actions.
His mind works quickly
and takes in a lot of
information at once:
‘all-comprehensive
glances’.
“You must not fear,” said he soothingly, bending forward
and patting her forearm.
9
I am the writer – I want you to think - I want you on my side
– I want to
- I am the writer – I can make you laugh – I can make you cry – I can make you
feel guilty – I can
Did you spot any of the following?
- I am the writer – I may give you facts – I may lie – I may want to be balanced –
I am the writer – I want to shock you - I want to entertain – I
want to
“We shall soon set matters right, I have no doubt. You
have come in by train this morning, I see.”
His observations are acute and
detailed as he notices that the
ticket is a ‘return’.
His words are full of
confidence – he has ‘no
doubt’. They are clear
and precise. He gets
straight to the point.
“You know me, then?”
“No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in
the palm of your left glove.
10
I am the writer – I want you to think - I want you on my side
– I want to
- I am the writer – I can make you laugh – I can make you cry – I can make you
feel guilty – I can
- I am the writer – I may give you facts – I may lie – I may want to be balanced –
I am the writer – I want to shock you - I want to entertain – I
want to
You must have started early, and yet you had a good drive
in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the
station.”
The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment
at my companion.
His observations and general
knowledge are stunningly detailed
(‘no vehicle save a dog-cart’) and
there is perhaps a touch of
smugness in his reply: ‘he smiled’.
Each point he makes is
exact, and he gives
just enough detail,
such as the ‘dog-cart’
and the ‘heavy roads’.
“There is no mystery, my dear madam,” said he,
smiling. “The left arm of your jacket is spattered with
mud in no less than seven places. The marks are
perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a dog-cart
which throws up mud in that way, and then only when
you sit on the left-hand side of the driver.”
11
I am the writer – I want you to think - I want you on my side
– I want to
- I am the writer – I can make you laugh – I can make you cry – I can make you
feel guilty – I can
- I am the writer – I may give you facts – I may lie – I may want to be balanced –
I am the writer – I want to shock you - I want to entertain – I
want to
Here is an example of a non-fiction text.
The streets of this civilised country are showing the
signs of another unpleasant British disease. The
pavements of this modern and developed country
are tattooed with the grey stains of a foul habit chewing gum.
People who can’t be bothered disposing of gum
properly, simply spit the contents of their mouths on
the floor for everyone to see and to tread upon.
How gorgeous is that?
Summarise the writer’s point of view.
What feelings does she hope to evoke in her readers?
12
I am the writer – I want you to think - I want you on my side
– I want to
- I am the writer – I can make you laugh – I can make you cry – I can make you
feel guilty – I can
- I amFind
the writer
– Iways
may give
you facts
– I does
may lie
– I may want to be balanced –
three
in which
she
this.
I am the writer – I want to shock you - I want to entertain – I
want to
People who can’t be bothered disposing of gum properly, simply
spit the contents of their mouths on the floor for everyone to
see and to tread upon. How gorgeous is that?
Did you make any of these points?
The writer’s point of view: she is disgusted by the amount of
chewing gum on the pavements.
She wants to make her readers feel disgust, and perhaps shame and
embarrassment.
There are hints of irony: ‘civilised’ ‘developed’, ‘gorgeous’
She uses unpleasant images: ‘spit the contents…’
She implies that it is unhealthy: ‘British disease’
13
I am the writer – I want you to think - I want you on my side
– I want to
- I am the writer – I can make you laugh – I can make you cry – I can make you
feel guilty – I can
The streets of this civilised country are showing the signs of
another unpleasant British disease. The pavements of this
modern and developed country are tattooed and ruined with
the grey stains of a foul habit - chewing gum.
- I am the writer – I may give you facts – I may lie – I may want to be balanced –
I am the writer – I want to shock you - I want to entertain – I
want to
When revising for this type of question,
remember to:
Pick out the
voice of the
writer
Look at different
types of writing,
and practise
looking for the
writer’s
viewpoint
Practise making as
many points as you
can about individual
words and phrases
Think about how
words and phrases
are designed to
effect the reader
14
I am the writer – I want you to think - I want you on my side
– I want to
- I am the writer – I can make you laugh – I can make you cry – I can make you
feel guilty – I can
- I am the writer – I may give you facts – I may lie – I may want to be balanced –