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What is the Author's Point of view?

What is the Author's purpose?

3 answers

The author's point of view refers to the perspective or stance the author takes in relation to the subject matter of their writing. This can include their beliefs, opinions, and attitudes, which shape how they present information and arguments. An author's point of view can be influenced by their experiences, cultural background, and personal beliefs.

The author's purpose is the reason why they wrote a particular piece. Common purposes include to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain a concept. Understanding the author's purpose can help readers interpret the text more effectively and grasp the intended message or argument.

To analyze both point of view and purpose, consider the following questions:

  1. Point of View:

    • What tone does the author use? (e.g., sarcastic, serious, informative)
    • What language choices indicate the author's feelings or attitudes?
    • How does the author's background influence their perspective?

  2. Purpose:

    • What is the main message or thesis of the text?
    • Why did the author choose to write about this topic?
    • What action or response does the author hope to provoke in the reader?

If you have a specific text or author in mind, I can help you analyze their point of view and purpose in more detail.

Vote No on the Highway 85 Extension

by Victoria Vail, Tribune staff writer

Next week, the city council will consider a proposal to extend Highway 85 by 10 miles. A small coalition of real estate developers have hurried this proposal forward, hoping to capitalize on state tax breaks and reassuring the city that their intentions are good. In truth, however, the proposed extension would hurt our community. It would be bad for downtown businesses, bad for families, and bad for the environment.

Bad for Downtown Businesses

Developers claim that the land west of town is ripe to be turned into a combined retail/residential area. They say that the extension of Highway 85 would give shoppers access to a greater variety of stores. In truth, though, we already have a great variety of stores downtown—over 200 of them. Many of these businesses have been hurting for several years due to the neglect of the Exit 10 overpass, which has made driving difficult. Extending Highway 85 would give shoppers a reason to avoid downtown altogether—likely dooming many small businesses and leaving buildings vacant. However, the overpass could be repaired at a fraction of the cost of the highway extension. This small investment in city infrastructure would be good for businesses and shoppers alike.

In this sense..?

In the excerpt from "Vote No on the Highway 85 Extension" by Victoria Vail, we can analyze the author's point of view and purpose as follows:

Author's Point of View

Victoria Vail expresses a clear opposition to the proposed extension of Highway 85. Her tone is critical and assertive, reflecting a deep concern for the impact of the highway extension on the community. She positions herself as a defender of local businesses and the environment, portraying the real estate developers as hurried and self-serving. By stating that the extension would hurt downtown businesses and lead to vacancies, she suggests that her values align more with community welfare than with economic gain driven by developers. Such language and framing indicate that Vail is passionate about preserving the integrity of the downtown area and protecting it from potential negative consequences arising from the highway extension.

Author's Purpose

The primary purpose of the author is to persuade readers to oppose the Highway 85 extension. She aims to inform the public about the potential negative ramifications of the proposal, such as the detrimental effects on downtown businesses, families, and the environment. By providing specific arguments—such as the existing variety of stores downtown and the suggestion that fixing the Exit 10 overpass would be a more beneficial investment—Vail seeks to convince her audience that there are better alternatives to the highway extension. Her piece serves not just to inform but to mobilize public sentiment against the proposal, advocating for a more community-oriented approach to urban development.

Overall, Vail uses her platform to highlight her concerns and rally support against a decision she deems harmful to the community's future.