Acknowledging Author's Purpose
All texts are written for a purpose. All paragraphs within texts are also written for a reason. Understanding the purpose an author has for writing helps us better understand what we are reading. The author’s purpose for writing a particular paragraph may be the same reason he or she wrote the whole text or it may be different. An author may, for example, be writing to amuse you but include a paragraph written solely to inform, to provide some important background information. When you work out and acknowledge the author’s purpose, you are looking at why the text was written and how the writer has tried to position you, in terms of how you feel about the characters, situations, issues etc.
There are three main text types each with their own purpose(s).
Text Types |
Main purpose is to ... |
More specific purpose is to ... |
Examples |
Imaginative |
entertain |
amuse, describe, inspire, connect, teach |
Narratives (stories), recounts, novels, fables, folktales, picture books, poems, plays, songs, jokes, films. |
Informative |
inform |
report, explain, describe, direct, instruct, teach, recount, inspire, connect, share |
Reports, newspaper articles, news bulletins (short radio or television broadcasts), explanations, procedures, descriptions, directions, instructions, recounts, letters, biographies. |
Persuasive |
persuade |
change beliefs, buy or do something |
Expositions, discussions, letters, speeches, debates, advertising. |
You can work out the writer's purpose by the type of text and the details included. If the purpose is to:
- Entertain - the text may be funny, contain a personal story, teach a lesson or include elements of fantasy, such as talking animals or humans with super powers. If the story makes you laugh, its more specific purpose might be to amuse. If the text is a personal story about someone or a group of people who have overcome great difficulties or set and achieved some very impressive goals, its more specific purpose might be to inspire. If there is a moral to the story because a main character learns a lesson for example, the more specific purpose might be to teach. While narratives may be written to teach a lesson, you will know not to accept everything you read as fact, as the author’s purpose is to entertain you.
- Inform - the text will contain facts (things that could be proven to be true) and/or descriptions of people, animals, places or things or provide information on how to do something. If the text provides details that explain a natural phenomena for example, the more specific purpose might be to explain. If there are many factual details about a person, animal, place or thing the more specific purpose might be to describe. If the text is written from the point of view of the writer (written in the first person using pronouns like I, my, we, our) and is retelling experiences or events that have taken place, the more specific purpose might be to recount his or her personal experience. If the text provides step-by-step details on how to do something, the more specific purpose might be to instruct. If there are details on how to travel from one place to another for example, the more specific purpose might be to direct. If a text contains a lot of facts, you may be more inclined to accept what you are reading as true and perhaps learn something new, especially if you have cast a critical eye and worked out the writer seems to be trustworthy.
- Persuade - the text will try to convince you to agree with the writer's point of view (opinion) or to buy or do something. It will contain a lot of opinion words such as the best, essential, vital or everyone must have one. If the text is trying to tell you that a particular opinion is the most important, the more specific purpose might be to change your beliefs and agree with the writer's point of view. If the text is trying to tell you how amazing something is, such as a new television or a type of hat, its more specific purpose might be to convince you to buy something. If it is trying to tell you how amazing or important an experience is, its more specific purpose might be to convince you to do something. In these texts it is important to acknowledge the author is trying to convince you to agree with them, so you must not accept everything you read as fact.
Comprehension Tests
1. Always read the question carefully and work out which part of the text you are being asked to consider, whether it is the author's reason for writing the whole text or a section within the text.
2. If you are being asked about the writer's purpose of a section within the text, find that section and re-read it.
3. Note whether the text contains factual information, the writer's personal opinion or whether it is an amusing or inspiring story. Once you have worked out whether its main purpose is to entertain, inform or persuade, you can work out the more specific purpose by looking at the words and details included in the text.
4. If it is a multiple choice question, make sure you read all possible answers before choosing the best one.
1. Always read the question carefully and work out which part of the text you are being asked to consider, whether it is the author's reason for writing the whole text or a section within the text.
2. If you are being asked about the writer's purpose of a section within the text, find that section and re-read it.
3. Note whether the text contains factual information, the writer's personal opinion or whether it is an amusing or inspiring story. Once you have worked out whether its main purpose is to entertain, inform or persuade, you can work out the more specific purpose by looking at the words and details included in the text.
4. If it is a multiple choice question, make sure you read all possible answers before choosing the best one.