Author's Purpose

Author's Purpose

What is it? Can I apply it?

Multiple Choice

You read a nonfiction book which explained the importance of focusing on the positive and not the negative things in life in order to have better mental health.

What is the author's purpose for writing this text?

• persuade

• inform

• entertain

Multiple Choice

You finished reading a mythology book which featured the story of Pandora, who was given a mysterious box by Zeus, but ordered never to open it.

What is the author's purpose for writing this text?

• persuade

• inform

• entertain

Multiple Choice

You finished reading a political speech by a well-known politician who spoke about the need for everyone to do his/her part to conserve water.

What is the author's purpose for writing this text?

• persuade

• inform

• entertain

Be More Specific

Now that we've reviewed what PERSUADE, INFORM, and ENTERTAIN mean, we need to learn how to be more specific.

Functional Text

This is an example of a functional text. It helps the reader perform a function, or carry out a task.

Why did the author write this text?

What's the author's purpose?

This text was written to inform or explain to readers how to make a high glider paper airplane.

Fiction

The Adventures of Captain Underpants is a fictional story about a principal who turns into Captain Underpants.

What's the author's purpose?

The author wrote this text to entertain readers with a funny story about a superhero who wears underpants.

Ad

This is an ad for Cheerios.

What's the author's purpose?

This ad was written to persuade you to try Cheerios. It states they're "toasty crisp" and "so delicious" before stating "You try 'em".