Author's Purpose
Ever wonder why someone wrote something? That's the author's purpose - their reason or intention behind creating a text. Writers don't just randomly put words on a page - they have specific goals in mind!
Remember the handy P.I.E. method to identify the three most common purposes for writing:
- P - Persuade: The author tries to convince you of something or change your opinion
- I - Inform: The author teaches you facts or explains how something works
- E - Entertain: The author wants to amuse you or tell an engaging story
Quick Tip: Many texts have more than one purpose! A funny article about climate change might both entertain AND inform you.
Understanding an author's perspective (how they think about the subject) is just as important. Their viewpoint shapes everything about the text - from what information they include to the words they choose to express their ideas.