Introduction to Author's Purpose & Point of View

Author’s Purpose

All authors write for a reason. The author’s purpose is simply the reason as to why
the author is writing about a specific topic. There are many different reasons why
an author may write. For instance, an author may want to inform others about a
topic, to persuade someone to agree or disagree, to entertain the reader, or to
explain his or her own ideas.

Author’s Purpose

Desired Outcome

Inform

Reader learns about a topic

Persuade

Reader agrees or disagrees

Entertain

Reader is entertained

Explain

Reader hears author’s own ideas

Describe

Reader has a picture in their mind about a topic

Author’s Perspective or

Point of View

Authors are influenced by their own points of view, or
feelings, about the topics they are writing about. Authors
usually leave clues in their writings about their own
perspectives. Authors are sometimes explicit about their
perspectives. Other times, the authors’ points of view must
be inferred from the context clues within the texts.

TONE- How does the author feel about the topic? Look at
the author’s word choice, is it–positive, negative, or neutral
(objective). Does the author use imagery or strong
language?

BACKGROUND–What is their background? What
are their past experiences? What motivates them
or influences their opinion?

PURPOSE–Why are they writing? Who is their
target audience?

I can determine how an author’s

point of view and purpose

influence their writing.

To consider the author’s point of view, consider the
following evidence from the text:

●What is the central idea that the author is trying to convey?

●How does the author use various words and phrases to
influence how a reader thinks about the topic?

●How does the author use various facts, examples,
anecdotes, or third-party opinions to influence how a
reader thinks about the topic?

●What is the author’s purpose for writing about the topic?

●Is the author trying to convince the reader to agree or
disagree?

Read the following short article.

Can you determine the author’s purpose and point of view (perspective)?

Multiple Choice

What was the author's purpose and point of view?

• Purpose: Persuasive

  POV: Processed foods are bad for you

• Purpose: Informative

  POV: Processed foods are bad for you

• Purpose: Entertain

  POV: People used to eat meat

Fact

Opinion

A statement that can be

proven.

A belief, what

someone thinks,
feels, or believes
about someone or

something.

Perspective

Bias

Connotation

To understand

something through your

own senses and logic,

your point of view.

The presentation of

information or an
issue from a single

point of view.

Author’s word choice
is negative, positive,

or neutral.

To analyze a text, you must be able to identify
the way in which the evidence is presented.

Try it Out!

#3

a.

The author favors deer hunting.

b.

The author does not favor deer hunting.

Deer are beautiful creatures. They are so graceful to watch as they
run through the forest. It’s hard to understand how anyone could
do anything to harm these beautiful animals.

What is the author’s perspective?

Match

Try it Out!

• The way an author views a topic is the author’s___.

• The reason an author is writing about a topic is called author’s ___.

• Persuade, inform, entertain, describe, explain

point of view/perspective

purpose

The types of author's purpose

• point of view/perspective

• purpose

• The types of author's purpose

Multiple Choice

Deer are beautiful creatures. They are so graceful to watch as they
run through the forest. It’s hard to understand how anyone could
do anything to harm these beautiful animals.

What is the author’s perspective?

• The author favors deer hunting.

• The author does not favor deer hunting.

Multiple Choice

I wonder who invented paper plates? He was a clever guy! Imagine having
to lug heavy plates to a picnic, and then have to carry them home again.

• The author thinks disposable products are wonderful.

• The author thinks disposable products are harming
  the environment.

SAMPLE: Responding to Text

The author seems to feel________________ about this topic. The evidence is

______________________.

Open Ended

Does the author have a negative, positive, or objective (neutral) perspective of the
topic? What evidence supports your thinking?

Answer Frame: The author seems to feel ______. The text evidence that supports this is ____.

Open Ended

Does the author have a negative, positive, or objective (neutral) perspective of the
topic? What evidence supports your thinking?

Answer Frame: The author seems to feel ______. The text evidence that supports this is ____.

Try it Out!

#5

Does the author have a negative, positive, or objective (neutral) perspective of the
topic? What evidence supports your thinking?