Author's Attitude — Choose the word that best describes the author's attitude. - SHSAT English Language Arts

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Why Author's Attitude Matters

Every time you read something — a news article, a novel, or even a text message — the person who wrote it has feelings about the topic. We call those feelings the author's attitude. On the SHSAT, you'll be asked to figure out what that attitude is and pick the best word to describe it. This skill has a long history in reading and writing education.

Ancient Greece • Rhetoric Is Born

Greek thinkers like Aristotle taught that speakers use ethos (character), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic) to persuade audiences. Recognizing a speaker's attitude was a key part of understanding any argument.

1800s • Literary Criticism Grows

Scholars began studying how authors' personal feelings shaped their writing. Readers were taught to look for clues in word choice and sentence structure.

1950s • Standardized Tests Emerge

Reading comprehension tests started asking students to identify tone and attitude. These questions tested whether students could go beyond the surface meaning of a passage.

1970s–Today • The SHSAT and Modern Testing

Tests like the SHSAT regularly include 'author's attitude' questions. They ask you to pick one word — like 'optimistic' or 'critical' — that best captures how the author feels.

So here's the big question: how do you figure out what an author feels when they don't come right out and say it? That's exactly what this lesson will teach you.

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Core Principles of Author's Attitude

Before we dive into practice, you need to understand the building blocks. Author's attitude is all about reading between the lines. The author might not say "I'm angry about this" — but their word choices, details, and style will show you how they feel.

Word Choice (Diction)

The specific words an author picks reveal a lot. Saying someone "strolled" versus "stomped" paints very different pictures. Pay close attention to adjectives, adverbs, and verbs — they carry the most emotional weight.

Details & Evidence

What does the author choose to include or leave out? If a writer only mentions the positives of a new invention, they probably feel enthusiastic. If they focus on the problems, they're likely critical.

Tone vs. Attitude

Tone is the mood or feeling of the writing itself. Attitude is the author's personal feeling toward the subject. They're closely related, but attitude focuses on what the author thinks and feels.

Connotation

Connotation is the emotional meaning behind a word (beyond its dictionary definition). "Home" feels warm and safe. "Dwelling" feels cold and plain. Authors pick words with certain connotations on purpose.

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KEY TAKEAWAY

Think of reading for author's attitude like being a detective at a crime scene. The author doesn't leave a signed confession — instead, they leave clue words everywhere. Your job is to gather those clues (word choice, details, connotation) and figure out what the author really feels.

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The Attitude Clue Map

The diagram below shows how you move from reading a passage to choosing the best attitude word. Think of it as your step-by-step roadmap.

This flowchart shows the five steps for identifying an author's attitude: read, gather clues (words and details), check connotation, form your own feeling word, then match it to the closest answer choice.

Notice that Steps 2a and 2b happen at the same time. As you read, you're looking at both individual word choices and the bigger details or examples the author includes. Then you ask yourself: do these clues feel positive, negative, or neutral? That leads you to a feeling word — and finally, you match it to the best answer.

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How Attitude Shows Up in Writing

Authors don't usually announce their attitude. Instead, it leaks through their writing in three main ways. Let's look at each one closely.

1. Loaded Language

Loaded language means words that carry strong emotional weight. Compare these two sentences about the same event:

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Example Comparison

Sentence A: "The mayor courageously proposed a new plan." → Attitude: admiring Sentence B: "The mayor recklessly proposed a new plan." → Attitude: disapproving

Both sentences describe the same action. But "courageously" has a positive connotation, while "recklessly" has a negative one. That single word shifts the entire attitude.

2. Selection of Details

Authors choose which facts and details to include. If a writer discusses a new video game and only mentions its amazing graphics, great soundtrack, and fun gameplay, the attitude is clearly enthusiastic. If they only mention bugs, crashes, and high prices, the attitude is critical.

3. Sentence Structure & Punctuation

Short, punchy sentences can show frustration or urgency. Long, flowing sentences might show thoughtfulness or wonder. Exclamation points can signal excitement. Question marks in a row might show disbelief. Even the rhythm of the writing tells you something about how the author feels.

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Attitude Words You Need to Know

On the SHSAT, the answer choices are usually single words. You need to know what those words mean! Below is a spectrum of common attitude words, organized from positive to negative. The diagram also shows neutral words in the middle.

The Attitude Word Spectrum organizes common SHSAT answer choices from positive (left, green) to neutral (center, amber) to negative (right, red). Memorize these words and their meanings!

Attitude Word	What It Means	Clue in the Passage
Admiring	Showing respect or approval	Praise words like "brilliant," "talented," "remarkable"
Skeptical	Doubting; not easily convinced	Questioning phrases like "it remains to be seen," "some doubt"
Objective	Fair and balanced; based on facts	Facts, statistics, no emotional language
Nostalgic	Longing for the past; bittersweet memories	Phrases like "I remember when," past-tense warmth
Ambivalent	Having mixed feelings; seeing both sides	"On one hand... on the other hand..." structures
Dismissive	Treating something as unimportant	Phrases like "hardly worth mentioning," short or blunt sentences

Common Attitude Words and Their Clues

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Worked Example: Finding the Attitude Step by Step

Let's walk through a sample SHSAT-style passage and question together. Read the short passage below, then follow each step.

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Sample Passage

"The city's new recycling program is a remarkable step forward. For years, residents have thrown away tons of plastic that could have been reused. Now, thanks to the tireless efforts of community leaders, families can easily sort their recyclables at home. While the program is not perfect — pickup schedules can be confusing — it represents genuine progress toward a cleaner future."

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Question

Which word best describes the author's attitude toward the recycling program? (A) hostile (B) indifferent (C) optimistic (D) ambivalent

Step-by-Step Solution

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Step 1 — Read and Get the Big Picture

The passage is about a new recycling program. The author describes it as positive overall but mentions one small flaw (confusing pickup schedules).
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Step 2 — Circle Key Words and Note Details

Positive clue words: "remarkable step forward", "tireless efforts", "genuine progress", "cleaner future". Slightly negative detail: "not perfect," "confusing." The positive clues far outweigh the negative ones.
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Step 3 — Check Connotation

Words like "remarkable," "tireless," and "genuine progress" all have strong positive connotations. The one negative note ("not perfect") is mild and followed immediately by a positive statement. Overall connotation: positive.
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Step 4 — Form Your Own Feeling Word

Before looking at the answer choices, think: the author seems hopeful and positive about this program. A good word might be "optimistic" or "supportive."
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Step 5 — Match to the Best Answer

(A) Hostile — means angry and aggressive. Way too negative. Eliminate. (B) Indifferent — means not caring at all. The author clearly cares. Eliminate. (C) Optimistic — means hopeful about the future. This matches! The author acknowledges a flaw but focuses on the positive. (D) Ambivalent — means having equally mixed feelings. The author is mostly positive with only a tiny negative note, so this is too balanced.

✅ The answer is (C) optimistic.

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Common Traps & How to Avoid Them

The SHSAT includes wrong answers that are designed to trick you. Here are the most common traps and strategies to avoid them.

Trap Type	What It Looks Like	How to Avoid It
Too Extreme	Answer says "furious" when the author is just mildly annoyed	Ask: Is the author REALLY that intense? Pick the milder, more precise word.
Right Topic, Wrong Feeling	Answer is about the right subject but the wrong emotion	Focus on HOW the author feels, not just WHAT they're writing about.
Confusing Tone with Topic	The passage discusses something sad, so you pick "sad" — but the author is actually analytical	Remember: the topic's mood ≠ the author's attitude. A sad topic can be discussed objectively.
Unfamiliar Vocabulary	You don't know what "laudatory" means, so you skip it	Study the attitude word list. If you don't know a word, try to eliminate the ones you DO know are wrong.

Four Common SHSAT Attitude Traps

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KEY TAKEAWAY

Think of attitude answer choices like ordering a drink by temperature. If the passage feels "cool" (mildly negative), don't pick "freezing" (extremely negative) or "warm" (positive). You want the answer that's the closest match in direction (positive/negative/neutral) AND intensity (mild, moderate, or strong).

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Attitude vs. Purpose vs. Tone

On the SHSAT, you might see questions about attitude, purpose, or tone. These are related but different. Understanding the difference will help you avoid confusion.

Concept	What It Asks	Example Answer
Author's Attitude	How does the author FEEL about the topic?	"The author is skeptical of the new policy."
Author's Purpose	WHY did the author write this?	"To persuade readers to support recycling."
Tone	What is the overall MOOD or feeling of the writing?	"The passage has a formal, serious tone."

Attitude vs. Purpose vs. Tone

Here's a quick way to remember: Attitude = the author's feelings. Purpose = the author's goal. Tone = the writing's vibe. When the SHSAT asks for attitude, focus on feelings — not reasons or vibes.

As you move toward high school ELA classes, you'll analyze attitude in longer and more complex texts — novels, speeches, and research articles. The skill you build now will be the foundation for all of that advanced work.

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Practice Problems

Question 1: CONCEPTUAL

An author writes: "The sunset painted the sky in breathtaking shades of gold and crimson." Which word best describes the author's attitude toward the sunset? (A) indifferent (B) appreciative (C) critical (D) fearful

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The answer is (B) appreciative. The key clue word is "breathtaking," which has a very positive connotation — it suggests the author finds the sunset beautiful and impressive. "Indifferent" means not caring, which contradicts "breathtaking." "Critical" and "fearful" are both negative, and nothing in the sentence suggests criticism or fear. The author clearly admires the sunset.

Question 2: BASIC

Read this passage: "Some people claim that homework improves grades. However, there is little solid evidence to support this idea. Most studies have been small, and their results are mixed at best." Which word best describes the author's attitude toward the claim that homework improves grades? (A) supportive (B) enthusiastic (C) skeptical (D) hostile

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The answer is (C) skeptical. The author uses phrases like "little solid evidence" and "mixed at best" to cast doubt on the claim. These phrases show that the author doesn't believe the evidence is convincing. "Supportive" and "enthusiastic" are both positive, but the author is questioning the idea — not supporting it. "Hostile" is too extreme; the author isn't angry, just doubtful. Skeptical — meaning doubting or questioning — is the best match.

Question 3: INTERMEDIATE

Read this passage: "While modern technology has certainly made communication faster, one cannot help but wonder if something has been lost. The handwritten letters my grandmother kept in her dresser drawer carried a warmth that no text message could ever match." Which word best describes the author's attitude? (A) objective (B) nostalgic (C) angry (D) indifferent

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The answer is (B) nostalgic. The author looks back fondly on handwritten letters and compares them favorably to modern text messages. Phrases like "something has been lost" and "warmth that no text message could ever match" show a longing for the past. "Objective" doesn't work because the author is clearly expressing personal feelings, not presenting balanced facts. "Angry" is too strong — the author is wistful, not furious. "Indifferent" means not caring, but the author clearly cares deeply about this topic.

Question 4: APPLIED

Read this passage: "The school board's decision to cut the art program is, frankly, shortsighted. Art classes teach students creativity, problem-solving, and self-expression — skills that standardized tests cannot measure. Removing these classes to save money ignores the long-term costs to students' development." Which word best describes the author's attitude toward the school board's decision? (A) approving (B) neutral (C) amused (D) disapproving

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The answer is (D) disapproving. The author calls the decision "shortsighted," which means poorly thought out — a clearly negative judgment. The author then lists reasons why art is valuable and argues that the decision "ignores the long-term costs," which shows disagreement. "Approving" is the opposite of what the passage shows. "Neutral" doesn't work because the author takes a strong position. "Amused" means finding something funny, and there's no humor here. Disapproving — meaning showing that you think something is wrong — perfectly captures the author's critical stance.

Question 5: CRITICAL THINKING

Read this passage: "The new community garden has attracted dozens of volunteers. Fresh tomatoes and peppers now grow where an empty lot once sat abandoned. Some neighbors, however, worry about increased foot traffic and noise. Others question whether the city should have spent money on soil and fencing when roads need repair." Which word best describes the author's attitude toward the community garden? (A) enthusiastic (B) hostile (C) objective (D) dismissive

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The answer is (C) objective. This is a tricky question because the passage includes both positive details (volunteers, fresh vegetables, transformation of an empty lot) and negative concerns (foot traffic, noise, spending priorities). The key is that the author presents BOTH sides without choosing one. There are no loaded words showing the author's personal opinion — they report what happened and what people think. "Enthusiastic" seems tempting because of the positive details, but the author also gives equal space to the concerns. "Hostile" and "dismissive" are clearly wrong because there's no anger or disrespect. The balanced presentation points to an objective — meaning fair and neutral — attitude.

SUMMARY

Pulling It All Together

Summary

To find the author's attitude on the SHSAT, follow a clear process. First, read the passage and look for clue words — especially adjectives, adverbs, and verbs that carry emotional weight. Next, check the connotation (positive, negative, or neutral) of those words. Also notice which details and examples the author chooses to include. Then, form your own one-word feeling before looking at the answer choices.

When matching your word to the answers, eliminate choices that are too extreme or in the wrong direction. Remember the difference between attitude (how the author feels), purpose (why they wrote it), and tone (the mood of the writing). Build your vocabulary of attitude words — such as skeptical, admiring, nostalgic, objective, and dismissive — so you can match with confidence on test day.