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Why This Matters for Nursing: Understanding why something was written helps you evaluate its reliability. A drug company's brochure (persuade) differs from a peer-reviewed study (inform). Recognizing tone helps you interpret patient communications and medical literature accurately.
Every text is written for a reason:
| Purpose | Goal | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Inform | Teach facts, explain | Textbooks, research articles, news reports |
| Persuade | Change beliefs/actions | Editorials, advertisements, political speeches |
| Entertain | Amuse, engage emotions | Novels, jokes, personal essays |
| Describe | Paint a picture | Travel writing, poetry, detailed accounts |
Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject—how they "feel" about it.
| Tone | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Objective/Neutral | Factual, no opinion, balanced |
| Formal | Professional, academic, serious |
| Informal/Casual | Conversational, friendly |
| Critical | Pointing out flaws, skeptical |
| Optimistic | Hopeful, positive |
| Concerned/Urgent | Worried, calling for action |
| Humorous | Light, funny, playful |
PIE = Purpose - Persuade - Inform - Entertain
For Tone: Ask "How would this sound if read aloud?"
Imagine the author's voice—are they excited? Worried? Neutral like a robot?
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