Author's Purpose

Author's Purpose

April 1, 2021

Objective:

SWBAT define author's purpose and identify the author's purpose for writing a text.

Multiple Choice

An author's purpose is...

• the reason an author writes

• the reason an author teaches

• the author's sense of humor

• the author's way of life

There are 3 main reasons for an author to write a text.

• Persuade

• Inform

• Entertain

Multiple Choice

What does P.I.E. stand for?

• people, issues, excellence

• purpose, idea, ending

• persuade, inform, entertain

• problem, idiom, explanation

Writing to Persuade

The author wants to influence or persuade the reader to think, believe, or act in a certain way.

Examples

Advertisements

Movie/Book Reviews

Commercials

Political Ads

What is this Coca-Cola ad trying to persuade you to do?

Writing to Inform

The author provides information or describes something to the reader. Authors use facts and reasons to get the point across.

Examples

Textbooks

News articles

Directions, charts, schedules

Non-Fiction books

What was the infographic trying to inform us about?

Writing to Entertain

The author writes something for the reader's enjoyment.

Examples

Fiction

Poetry

Plays

Jokes

Comics

Two circus lions are eating a clown...one of the lions turns to the other lion and says "this tastes funny."

What emotion did the author want you to feel?

Identifying the author's purpose is ->

However, a text can have more than one purpose!

We're trying to identify the author's MAIN reason for writing a text

I know what you're thinking...

"Ms. Perez, how do I identify the author's purpose is if there can be more than one?!"

Multiple Choice

When an author's purpose is to inform, the text will include mostly _____.

• Opinions

• funny or imaginary details

• characters and a setting

• facts (information that is true)

If you're thinking...

"Ms. Perez, I'm still confused!"

When identifying the author's purpose, ask yourself...

• Is it a story, poem, or play? If so, it was probably written to entertain.

• Is the text teaching me about something or showing me how to do something? If so, it was probably written to inform.

• Is this text trying to convince me to do something? If so, it was probably written to persuade.

Let's Practice!

Multiple Choice

What is the author's purpose?

A note from your friend asking you to be his science partner

• Entertain

• Persuade

• Inform

Multiple Choice

What is the author's purpose?

Directions on how to put together a bookshelf

• Inform

• Entertain

• Persuade

Multiple Choice

What is the author's purpose?

• to inform

• to entertain

• to persuade

Multiple Choice

Can a text have more than one purpose?

• Yes

• No

REMEMBER!

• ALL texts are written for a reason

• A text can have more than one purpose

• To identify the author's purpose, ask yourself: "Why did the author write this text?"

• Identifying Author's Purpose is easy as P.I.E. (persuade, inform, entertain)

Multiple Select

How well can you identify the author's purpose?

• I can NEVER identify author's purpose

• I can SOMETIMES identify author's purpose

• I can ALWAYS identify author's purpose