ABSTRACT
Most literate people, certainly those reading this, come into contact with myriad written messages every day. The bulk of this reading material is not composed of interesting stories but of bits of nonnarrative text. News articles, advertisements, bulletins, and pamphlets rarely exceed a few hundred words, yet these comprise an important part of our total reading. Much of this text is written to influence our beliefs and behaviors. Advertisements, editorials, and political statements are blatant attempts to affect our choice in what we buy and how we vote. Newspaper and magazine articles are usually more subtle in tone; the opinion being expressed is often presented as description.
