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Part 8 :
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Identifying the writer’s attitude |
Stating and implying attitude
Sometimes writers make clear what they feel about something. They state their feelings openly. At other times, they imply or suggest what they feel – and this means we have to read between the lines to work out what they think.
When you are asked to identify the writer’s attitude or feelings, you’re being asked to say what the writer thinks about the issue. To do this, you should consider some of the following:- The writer’s stated attitude
This is the easiest one to identify. If a writer says what he or she feels, then you’re left in little doubt about his/her view. However, your answers shouldn’t focus on this type of answer alone. You should also refer to other aspects of the text (discussed below) that imply or suggest what the writer thinks.
- The words used by the writer
Writers pick words carefully to express themselves. The choice of words that a writer uses can tell you a lot about what the writer thinks. For example, if you describe an incident as ‘an unfortunate accident,’ you clearly feel less strongly about it than someone who describes it as ‘the result of carelessness.’
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