Author's Purpose

Author's Purpose

by Ms. Brooks

​There are three main reasons why an author writes

• ​To persuade

• ​To inform

• ​To entertain

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​Just remember -- PIE!

​But there's more!

​Author's purpose isn't just why they write; it's also how they achieve their purpose.

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​An author that is trying to persuade will use different language than author that is trying to inform. And the author that just wants to entertain will use language different than both of the others!

Multiple Choice

An author whose purpose is to inform will use language that is -- 

• Objective and neutral 

• Emotional and pleading 

• Hyperbolic and intimidating 

• Disinterested and boring 

​Informing

• ​The purpose is simply to give information

• ​The author states facts

• ​The author's goal is not to change your mind -- they simply share what happened

Multiple Choice

An author whose purpose is to persuade will use language that is -- 

• Emotional and manipulative 

• Objective and neutral 

• Fantastical and elaborate 

• Bored and disinterested 

​Persuading

• ​When the author's purpose is to persuade, they want to convince you of their point of view

• ​Their language will be emotional and manipulative

• ​An author attempting to persuade wants you to do something -- buy something, protest something, agree with something

​advertisements are an example of

​persuasive writing. The author wants

​you to buy something.

Multiple Choice

An author whose purpose is to entertain will use language that is -- 

• Hyperbolic, but objective 

• Disinterested and neutral 

• Fantastical and exciting 

• Emotional and manipulative 

​Entertaining

• ​An author's whose purpose is to entertain simply wants to tell a story. There are no ulterior motives.

• ​Their language may be exciting, or emotional, but they want you to enjoy their story.

• ​The story can be fiction or non-fiction, like a narrative, but the goal is to tell a story.

Multiple Choice

Read the excerpt; then, determine the author's purpose:

"Texas is known for its superb high school marching bands. Each week during football season, thousands of students take to the field to display their musical and marching talents. These students also compete in local, state, and even national competitions."

• Persuade

• Inform

• Entertain 

Multiple Choice

Read the excerpt, then determine the author's purpose:

"Swearing during a summer afternoon in Texas, people gaze into convenience store refrigerators. They select chilled bottles of water and stand in line, where they might pay more than $2.00 per bottle. After chugging the water, they toss the empty bottle into the trash. What's wrong with this picture? Consumes are paying too much for a simple drink of water, and their trash clogs oceans and endangers sea life. This must stop now!"

• To persuade

• To inform

• To Entertain

Multiple Choice

Read the excerpt, then determine the purpose:

"The acrid scent of burning firewood wafts through the crisp night air. I'm suddenly transported back to a childhood memory. My dad, brothers, and I are sat around a campfire, spearing marshmallows with sticks and holding them over the open flame, watching them melt and turn into gooey deliciousness. I pull mine out of the fire, and tug at the crisp, brown shell, impatient for it to cool enough to eat."

• To persuade

• To inform

• To Entertain

​Watch these two videos

Open Ended

In your own words, describe the difference between persuasive writing and informational writing.

​A few things to remember!

​In persuasive writing, the author wants you to agree with them on something.

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​In informational writing, the author is simply stating facts. They let you decide what to do with them.

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​In entertainment writing, the author simply wants to tell a story.