6.42 Author's Purpose & Point of View Worksheet

A community group argues against building apartments by saying, 'Our town will lose its character.' The group's statement lists crowded schools and traffic, but it gives no numbers and does not mention that some residents cannot afford current rents. The statement quotes longtime homeowners but not renters or young families. It defines 'character' through one group's experience.

A brochure about a private middle school lists college acceptance rates of its graduating class, even though middle school students will not apply to college for years. It also features photos of a science lab and says, 'Choose excellence.' The brochure does not show tuition costs until a separate page, and it does not compare outcomes to nearby public schools. The brochure selects impressive but not always relevant facts.

A school counselor writes a memo arguing against tracking students into separate math levels. The memo includes research summaries and also includes a sentence: 'Tracking sorts children like products on a shelf.' The memo provides evidence of unequal outcomes but does not discuss any cases where flexible grouping helped students catch up. The memo is persuasive, yet its metaphor and omissions may affect balance.