HSPT: Viewpoint: keep the voices straight
Learn to tell the writer's own view from the views the writer reports, read the attitude words that show how the writer treats each side, and find where two speakers agree or disagree.
How do you answer questions about how a writer treats a group, or where two speakers agree?
Short answer
Separate each voice in the passage and find the attitude words attached to it, such as sensible, mistaken or fair. The right answer matches the writer's actual tone, which is often more balanced than the wrong choices suggest.
Know first: Argument: claim, reasons and the other side, Inference: connecting details
Step 1 of 5
A passage can hold several voices
Many passages include more than one viewpoint. A writer may describe what some people want, what others worry about, and then give a recommendation. In a dialogue, two speakers may disagree on some points and agree on others.
Viewpoint questions ask How does the writer treat...? or On which point do the speakers agree? To answer, keep track of who thinks what, and look at the words the writer uses to describe each side.
| Words about a group | How the writer treats them |
|---|---|
| sensible, fair, reasonable | Respects the view, even if choosing differently |
| mistaken, ignores, overlooks | Disagrees with the view |
| some argue, others prefer | Reports the view without judging it |
| of course, rightly | Agrees with the view |
Find the attitude word closest to the group the question names.
Step 2 of 5
Sort the voices
A two-speaker dialogue
Ava: "Our class trip should be to the science center. Students learn more when they can touch the exhibits1." Noah: "I like the science center too, and hands-on exhibits are great2. But the bus to the science center costs twice as much3 as the trip to the history museum."
- Ava's reason: hands-on learning.
- Noah agrees with Ava on this point.
- Where they differ: Noah is worried about cost.
Worked example: Ava and Noah
Using the dialogue above: On which point do Ava and Noah clearly agree?
- AThe class should definitely go to the science center.
- BThe bus cost is too high.
- CThe history museum is the better trip.
- DHands-on exhibits are valuable.
- 1
Find Ava's view
The trip should be to the science center because hands-on exhibits help students learn.
- 2
Find Noah's view
He likes the science center and hands-on exhibits, but worries about the bus cost.
- 3
Find the overlap
Both value hands-on exhibits. That's D.
- 4
See why the other choices are there
A is Ava's view only; Noah raises a concern about it. B is Noah's concern; Ava never mentions cost. C adds a decision neither speaker makes.
Answer
D. Hands-on exhibits are valuable.
Wrong: Noah disagrees with everything Ava says.
Right: Noah agrees about hands-on exhibits but raises a concern about cost.
Look for words like too, I agree and of course. They show common ground even in a disagreement.
Step 3 of 5
Read the attitudes
Check yourself · Question 1
The city should keep the public pool open until 9:00 on summer nights. Some neighbors claim that later hours would make swimming unsafe, but that view overlooks the plan to keep two lifeguards on duty until closing. Extra lights over the deep end would add another safeguard.
How does the writer treat the neighbors who say later hours would be unsafe?
Answer: A
The writer says their view overlooks the lifeguards who would stay until closing. That word shows disagreement about a fact, with no insult. A matches it.
Trap answer: As selfish people who oppose fun
Exaggerated tone
- Why it looks right
- The writer disagrees with the neighbors, so a harsh description can seem to fit.
- Why it's wrong
- Overlooks says the neighbors missed a fact. Nothing in the passage attacks the neighbors themselves.
- The right answer
- As overlooking a safety step the plan already includes, which matches the word overlooks.
Check yourself · Question 2
Coach Reyes: "We should practice twice a week this season. More practice means fewer mistakes in games." Ms. Park: "Fewer mistakes would help, I agree. But many players also have music lessons on Wednesdays, so a second day would have to be Saturday."
Which statement would both speakers most likely accept?
Answer: D
Coach Reyes says more practice means fewer mistakes, and Ms. Park says Fewer mistakes would help, I agree. That shared point is D.
Common mistake
Treating every view the writer reports as the writer's own.
- Why it's tempting
- The views all appear in the writer's words, so they can blur together.
- Do this instead
- Mark each voice: some say, others worry, I recommend. Then answer about the voice the question names.
Step 4 of 5
What to remember
Remember
- Separate the writer's view from the views the writer reports.
- Attitude words like sensible, mistaken and fair show how the writer treats each side.
- In a dialogue, look for words like I agree and too to find common ground.
Step 5 of 5
Practice on a real question
Use what you just learned on this question, then check the explanation.
In your own words
In the practice question, which words show the writer's attitude toward the group, and which choice exaggerates that attitude?