Words and Details in Informational Texts

Question

Read the passage. Which words and details impact the meaning and tone of the passage?

Power outlets may be obsolete in the not too distant future. Forward-thinking citizens are already using solar backpacks to charge their mobile devices. Now companies are developing other wearable energy sources to power phones and tablets.

Answer 1

The first thing I would do is read the passage two or three times to understand the author's purpose. Next, I would take notes or highlight any words or phrases that stand out to me. For example, on my second reading I took note on the phrase "not too distant future," which seems to imply an urgent tone and that the reader should take action to do something about the changing technology. Another phrase I noted is "Forward-thinking," which seems to imply a positive tone because the author is hopeful about the future of renewable energy. Finally, I will take what I already know about current events related to renewable energy and add what I've noted in the text to make a logical conclusion or inference about the meaning. My inference, then, is that the meaning of the text is to persuade the reader to support or invest in wearable energy sources.