Literature and Nonfiction Strategies: Understanding Context


Texts of all types are shaped by different cultural and historical contexts. In addition to essays and memoirs, American nonfiction includes primary sources, such as historical accounts, letters, and journals. To understand context as you read these texts, ask yourself the following questions:

What is the author's purpose?
How does the purpose affect tone and word choice? 
Who is the audience?
How might the perceived audience influence the writing?
What is the author's perspective?
How does the work reflect the author's bias?

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