Identify and Understand Ideas, Opinions and Attitudes in a Range of Texts and the Connections Between Them

Main Content

What Are Ideas, Opinions, and Attitudes?

When you read any text, the writer is sharing three main things:

Ideas = The topics, points, or information the writer wants to talk about. These are the "what" of the text.

• Example: "The programme always starts with the latest headlines" (this is an idea about how a news show is structured)

Opinions = What the writer thinks or believes about something. These are personal views that could be different for different people.

• Example: "I'd even say it's changed my life" (this is one person's opinion about a TV show)

Attitudes = How the writer feels about something - their emotional response or general approach. This could be positive, negative, enthusiastic, disappointed, etc.

• Example: "The mountains in the middle of the island were incredibly stunning" (the word "stunning" shows a positive attitude)

How to Spot Ideas, Opinions, and Attitudes

Look for ideas by asking: What is this text about? What information is being shared?

• Ideas are usually facts, descriptions, or explanations
• They can often be proven or checked

Look for opinions by spotting:

• Words like: "I think," "I believe," "in my view," "apparently," "surprisingly"
• Adjectives that show judgment: "best," "worst," "better," "amazing," "terrible"
• Modal verbs showing uncertainty or possibility: "might," "could," "should"

Look for attitudes by noticing:

• The tone of the writing (formal, casual, excited, critical)
• Emotional language and strong adjectives
• Whether the writer seems positive, negative, or neutral
• Example from the textbook: "it really bothers me" shows a negative attitude toward missing the programme

Different Types of Texts You'll Encounter

You need to recognize these text types:

Instructions = Tell you how to do something step-by-step

• Example: Recipe, assembly manual, how-to guide
• Purpose: To guide someone through a process

Notices = Give important information or warnings

• Example: "No parking," library opening hours
• Purpose: To inform quickly and clearly

Advertisements = Try to sell you a product or service

• Example: Poster for a new phone, online shopping ad
• Purpose: To persuade you to buy or use something

Leaflets = Small printed documents with information

• Example: Tourist information, health advice pamphlet
• Purpose: To inform or promote something

Articles = Longer pieces of writing, usually in newspapers or magazines

• Example: News story, feature about a topic
• Purpose: To inform, explain, or entertain

Blogs = Personal online writing, often informal

• Example: Travel blog, personal diary-style post
• Purpose: To share experiences and opinions

Reviews = Evaluations of products, services, or experiences

• Example: Film review, restaurant review
• Purpose: To give an opinion and help others decide

Web pages = Online content of any type

• Example: Company website, information page
• Purpose: Various - inform, sell, entertain

Different Text Purposes

Texts can have different purposes (what they're trying to achieve):

Descriptive = Paints a picture with words, describes how something looks, feels, sounds, etc.

• Example: "The filming in the show is always stunning"

Narrative = Tells a story with events happening in sequence

• Example: "I started dance lessons after one episode about tango clubs in Argentina"

Informational = Gives facts and information

• Example: "The programme always starts with the latest headlines and then moves on to other stories"

Persuasive = Tries to convince you to agree with a viewpoint or take action

• Example: An advertisement trying to make you buy something

Discursive = Explores different sides of an issue

• Example: An article examining both benefits and drawbacks of social media

Argumentative = Presents a strong case for one particular viewpoint

• Example: An opinion piece arguing why a law should be changed

1. Pronouns and Referencing

Pronouns (he, she, it, they, this, that, these, those) refer back to something mentioned earlier. This connects ideas without repeating the same words.

Example from the textbook:

• "Audience figures for this well-known daily news programme have been falling recently, which surprises me, but it's still popular with lots of people I know."

  • "It" refers back to "this well-known daily news programme"

• "As my mum, who usually watches the show with me, said the other day, it doesn't need to be constantly serious"

  • "It" refers to "the show"

Referencing words point to ideas mentioned before or after:

• "this/that/these/those"
• "such" (referring to something just described)
• "the former/the latter" (referring to first or second of two things mentioned)

How to Read for Understanding: A Step-by-Step Approach

Step 1: Read the whole text once quickly to get the general idea

Step 2: Read again more carefully, paragraph by paragraph

Step 3: For each paragraph, ask yourself:

• What is the main idea here?
• What is the writer's opinion?
• How does the writer feel about this (attitude)?

Step 4: Look for connecting words to understand how ideas link together

Step 5: Check what pronouns refer to (draw arrows if it helps)

Step 6: Notice any changes in the writer's opinion or attitude as the text develops

Practical Example: Analyzing a Text Extract

Let's look at this extract from the textbook (Andrew talking about a news programme):

Ideas:

• The news programme has a regular structure
• It covers different types of news stories

Opinions:

• "That's a good thing" = Andrew thinks the regular structure is positive
• The trustworthiness of the programme is valuable

Attitude:

• Generally positive about the programme
• Shows trust and appreciation
• Some concern about disturbing content ("worrying or sad")

Connections:

• "Then" (×2) = shows time sequence
• "That" refers to the consistent structure described
• "Which" connects the regular structure to the feeling of trust
• "Although" = contrasts the positive feelings with the sometimes sad content