AUTHOR’S PURPOSE is the main reason the author writes a piece of text. An author can have more than one purpose when writing a text.

A reader must determine the author’s purpose because we read different texts in different ways. A reader must determine the author’s purpose to know how to read and understand the text.

Think: PIEPIE

There are additional purposes, but these are the most commonly seen.

Writing to Persuade

Attempts to influence the reader.

• In a text written to persuade, the author’s primary purpose is to compel readers to take action, convince them of an idea through argument, or to reaffirm their existing beliefs.

• Facts and Statistics can be used to inform OR persuade. A reader must pay attention to how the facts are presented.

• Readers or viewers may find a television commercial entertaining, however, the primary purpose of such a text is to persuade people to purchase a product or service.

Examples of Persuasive Texts:

• Advertisements/Commercials• Campaign Speeches• Book or film review • Restaurant reviews • Editorial articles • Political position papers

Writing to Inform

In a text written to inform the author’s primary purpose is to provide the reader with information about a topic. Informational writing shows or explains facts.

• Remember, facts and statistics are used to inform, but can also be used to persuade. A reader must pay attention to how the facts are presented.

Informational Writing is also called Expository writing. Expository = Expose

Writing to Inform• A text that is written to inform may also entertain readers. For

example, many readers find reading the newspaper to be very entertaining, but the primary purpose is to provide information.

Examples of informational texts :• Textbooks • Expository Essays/Articles • Newspaper Articles • Instructions or Directions• Encyclopedias/Reference Books• Non-fiction Trade Books• Cookbooks • Informational Brochures• How-to Manuals

Writing to EntertainIn a text written to entertain, the primary purpose is to amuse readers. This

does not mean that the text must be happy or funny; the text could be a tragedy, but the main reason for writing the text is to entertain readers.

These texts might express values and ideas that make readers view the world differently (persuade). They may contain a lesson (inform), but the author’s primary purpose is to entertain.

Examples of entertaining texts: Stories Poems Dramas/Plays Songs Novels

How do I figure out the author’s purpose?

Ask yourself the following questions…

1. Is the text a poem, play, or story?• If the text is a poem, play, or story, then it’s safe to say that the author’s main purpose

is to entertain readers.• If the text is not a poem, play, or story, ask yourself the next question.

2. Does the text provide a lot of facts and information?• If the text is primarily providing readers with facts and information, then we can

conclude that the author’s main purpose in writing the text is to inform readers. • If the text does not inform the reader, then go to the next question.

3. Is the text attempting to get the reader to do something?• If the text contains many arguments and claims, or a call where the reader is urged to

take action, then the author’s main purpose is to persuade.• If the text does not appear to be persuasive, reanalyze the text and repeat the

process.

Review

• Informative or expository writing provides factual information about a topic.

• Persuasive writing expresses an opinion (*may use facts to support).

• Narratives (stories) are written to entertain.

The next slides have 10 examples of author’s purpose. Read and determine the author’s primary purpose of each passage. Write the answers on your paper.

1. A list of the 25 richest athletes in the world.

2. The story of a teenage boy learning to understand and live with his father, who is a Vietnam war veteran.

3. An “X-men” comic book.

4. An editorial arguing that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever.

5. A National Geographic article about the eating and breeding habits of the endangered bald eagle.

6. A website arguing that a new shopping mall should not be built because it threatens an endangered bald eagle’s home. The website also lists other reasons why the mall should not be built.

7. A poem about bald eagles.

8. A magazine ad promoting Nike Hyperdunk shoes because the shoes make athletes jump higher.

9. A road sign saying, “Rest Stop Five Miles Ahead.”

10. The tragic play about the death of teenagers in love.

What is the author’s purpose?

1. A list of the 25 richest athletes in the world.

2. The story of a teenage boy learning to understand and live with his father, who is a Vietnam war veteran.

3. An “X-men” comic book.

4. An editorial arguing that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever.

What is the author’s purpose?

5. A National Geographic article about the eating and breeding habits of the endangered bald eagle.

6. A website arguing that a new shopping mall should not be built because it threatens an endangered bald eagle’s home. The website also lists other reasons why the mall should not be built.

7. A poem about bald eagles.

What is the author’s purpose?

8. A magazine ad promoting Nike Hyperdunk shoes because the shoes make athletes jump higher.

9. A road sign saying, “Rest Stop Five Miles Ahead.”

10. The tragic play about the death of teenagers in love.

Answers1. Inform 2. Entertain3. Entertain 4. Persuade5. Inform 6. Persuade7. Inform 8. Persuade9. Inform10. Entertain