Author's Perspective and Point of View
An author's perspective is the viewpoint or attitude they bring to their writing. Identifying perspective helps readers understand why an author presents information or events in a particular way.
What You Need to Know
Key Concept Diagram
First person (I/we) places the narrator inside the story; third person (he/she/they) uses an outside narrator
The author's perspective shapes word choice, tone, and what information is included or omitted
Bias occurs when an author presents only one side of an issue; critical readers look for evidence of this
Compare perspectives: two texts on the same topic can present very different viewpoints
Key Vocabulary
Perspective
The particular viewpoint or attitude from which a text is written
Point of view
The position from which a narrator tells a story (first, second, or third person)
Bias
A tendency to favour one side or viewpoint while ignoring others
Tone
The author's attitude towards the subject, conveyed through word choice
Knowledge Check
Select the correct answer for each question. Click "Check Answer" to see if you are right.
Question 1
A text uses the words "I think" and "in my experience". What point of view is being used?
Question 2
An article about logging only includes interviews with timber workers. This is an example of:
Question 3
Which word BEST describes the tone of a text that uses words like "devastating", "heartbreaking", and "tragic"?
Key Concepts Summary
- ●First person (I/we) places the narrator inside the story; third person (he/she/they) uses an outside narrator
- ●The author's perspective shapes word choice, tone, and what information is included or omitted
- ●Bias occurs when an author presents only one side of an issue; critical readers look for evidence of this
- ●Compare perspectives: two texts on the same topic can present very different viewpoints