Author's Purpose
Understanding why writers write - the key to deeper comprehension and critical thinking
What You'll Learn
- The main purposes for writing (PIE and beyond)
- How to identify author's purpose in different texts
- Clues and text features that reveal purpose
- Teaching strategies for author's purpose
- Common misconceptions and how to address them
Understanding Author's Purpose
Author's purpose is the reason why an author writes a particular text. Understanding this purpose is important for reading comprehension and is frequently tested on the ParaPro Assessment. When students can identify why an author wrote something, they better understand what they're reading and can evaluate the text more effectively.
Why Author's Purpose Matters
- Helps readers understand the text's message
- Guides how we should read and interpret information
- Reveals potential bias or perspective
- Improves critical thinking skills
- Enhances overall comprehension
The PIE Method: Three Main Purposes
The PIE acronym helps students remember the three primary reasons authors write. While there are other purposes, these three cover most texts students will encounter.
Persuade
Definition: To convince the reader to think, feel, or act a certain way.
Characteristics:
- Contains opinions and arguments
- Uses emotional appeals
- Includes calls to action
- Presents evidence to support a position
- May acknowledge opposing views to refute them
Text Examples:
- Editorials and opinion pieces
- Advertisements and commercials
- Political speeches
- Book or movie reviews
- Persuasive essays
Signal Words/Phrases:
"Should," "must," "ought to," "It's important that," "I believe," "In my opinion," "The best," "Obviously," "Clearly"
Inform
Definition: To teach, explain, or provide information about a topic.
Characteristics:
- Presents facts and data
- Uses objective language
- Explains how things work
- Defines terms and concepts
- Organized logically
Text Examples:
- Textbooks and encyclopedias
- News articles (not editorials)
- How-to guides and manuals
- Scientific reports
- Biographies
Signal Words/Phrases:
"For example," "In fact," "Studies show," "According to," "The reason is," "First, second, third," "Specifically," "Research indicates"
Entertain
Definition: To amuse, engage, or provide enjoyment to the reader.
Characteristics:
- Uses creative language and imagery
- Includes humor or suspense
- Develops characters and plot
- Appeals to emotions
- May contain dialogue
Text Examples:
- Novels and short stories
- Poetry
- Comic strips
- Humorous essays
- Fictional narratives
Signal Elements:
Descriptive language, figurative language, "Once upon a time," character names, dialogue tags ("she said"), sensory details
Beyond PIE: Additional Purposes
While PIE covers the basics, authors may have other purposes. Understanding these helps students analyze more complex texts.
Describe
To paint a picture with words
Examples: Travel writing, nature essays, character sketches
Explain
To make something clear or understandable
Examples: Science textbooks, technical manuals, tutorials
Express
To share personal thoughts or feelings
Examples: Personal essays, diaries, memoirs
Analyze
To examine and interpret
Examples: Literary criticism, case studies, research papers
Mixed Purposes
Many texts have multiple purposes. Understanding how purposes blend helps students analyze sophisticated writing.
Common Combinations
- Inform + Persuade: News editorials that present facts while arguing a position
- Entertain + Inform: Historical fiction that teaches about a time period while telling a story
- Entertain + Persuade: Satirical writing that makes a point through humor
- All Three: Children's books that entertain while teaching a lesson and encouraging certain behaviors
Teaching Strategies for Author's Purpose
As a paraprofessional, you'll use various techniques to help students identify author's purpose. Here are effective strategies:
1. The Question Method
Teach students to ask:
- What is the author trying to do? (Basic purpose)
- How do I know? (Evidence from text)
- Who is the intended audience? (Helps clarify purpose)
- What response does the author want? (Reader's action/feeling)
2. Text Feature Analysis
Guide students to examine:
- Title and headings
- Graphics and images
- Text structure
- Word choice
- Tone and mood
- Source and publication
- Beginning and ending
- Author's credentials
3. Author's Purpose Anchor Chart
Create a reference chart:
| Purpose | Question | Clues |
|---|---|---|
| Persuade | Does it try to convince me? | Opinions, "should," emotional words |
| Inform | Does it teach me something? | Facts, dates, explanations |
| Entertain | Does it tell a story/amuse? | Characters, dialogue, humor |
Common Student Challenges
Students often struggle with specific aspects of identifying author's purpose. Understanding these challenges helps you provide better support.
Challenge 1: Confusing Topic with Purpose
Problem: Students say the purpose is "to write about dogs" instead of "to inform about dog care."
Solution: Teach that purpose is the WHY (why the author wrote it), not the WHAT (what it's about). Use the verb test: Purpose always starts with "to" + verb (to persuade, to inform, to entertain).
Challenge 2: Oversimplifying Mixed Purposes
Problem: Students pick only one purpose when texts have multiple purposes.
Solution: Introduce the concept of primary and secondary purposes. Ask: "What is the MAIN purpose? Are there other purposes too?" Use percentages: "This text is 70% to inform and 30% to persuade."
Challenge 3: Personal Bias
Problem: Students identify purpose based on how they feel rather than text evidence.
Solution: Always require text evidence. Use the "prove it" strategy: Students must point to specific words, sentences, or features that support their answer.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Identifying Purpose
Read each excerpt and identify the author's primary purpose:
1. "The three-toed sloth moves at an average speed of 0.24 kilometers per hour. Native to Central and South American rainforests, these mammals spend most of their lives hanging from tree branches. Their slow metabolism allows them to survive on a low-energy diet of leaves."
2. "Every citizen must vote in the upcoming election. Our community's future depends on your participation. Don't let others decide your fate - make your voice heard at the ballot box on November 5th."
3. "Sarah crept down the creaky stairs, her heart pounding. The old house groaned and whispered secrets in the darkness. Suddenly, a door slammed shut behind her. She was trapped!"
Click to see answers
1. To Inform - Presents factual information about sloths without trying to convince or entertain. Uses scientific language and specific data.
2. To Persuade - Uses commanding language ("must vote"), appeals to civic duty, and includes a call to action. The word "must" is a strong indicator of persuasion.
3. To Entertain - Creates suspense with descriptive language, builds tension, and focuses on creating an emotional response rather than teaching or convincing.
Exercise 2: Finding Evidence
Read the passage and list three pieces of evidence that reveal the author's purpose:
"Tired of tossing and turning all night? You need SleepWell, the revolutionary mattress that guarantees better rest. Unlike ordinary mattresses, SleepWell uses advanced memory foam technology that contours to your body. Dr. Jane Smith says, 'I've never slept better!' Don't suffer another sleepless night. Order SleepWell today and save 20%. Your back will thank you!"
What is the author's purpose, and what evidence supports this?
Click to see answers
Author's Purpose: To Persuade (specifically, to sell a product)
Evidence:
- Rhetorical question: "Tired of tossing and turning?" engages reader emotionally
- Superlatives: "revolutionary," "guarantees," "never slept better"
- Testimonial: Dr. Jane Smith's endorsement adds credibility
- Call to action: "Order SleepWell today"
- Incentive: "save 20%" encourages immediate action
- Promise: "Your back will thank you" suggests benefits
Exercise 3: Mixed Purposes
Read the passage and identify both the primary and secondary purposes:
"The Monarch butterfly's journey is one of nature's most amazing stories. These delicate creatures travel up to 3,000 miles from Canada to Mexico each fall, a trip that takes multiple generations to complete. Sadly, their population has declined by 90% in the last 20 years due to habitat loss. We must act now to save these magnificent insects. Plant milkweed in your garden, avoid pesticides, and support conservation efforts. Every action counts in preserving this natural wonder for future generations."
Click to see answers
Primary Purpose: To Persuade
- Calls for action: "We must act now"
- Specific recommendations: plant milkweed, avoid pesticides
- Emotional appeals: "magnificent," "natural wonder"
Secondary Purpose: To Inform
- Facts about migration distance (3,000 miles)
- Statistical information (90% decline)
- Scientific explanation of multi-generational journey
Note: The informational content serves to support the persuasive goal.
Author's Purpose Across Genres
Different genres typically have characteristic purposes. Understanding these patterns helps students make predictions and better comprehend texts.
Genre-Purpose Connections
| Genre | Typical Purpose | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| News Article | Inform | 5 W's, quotes, facts |
| Advertisement | Persuade | Slogans, benefits, calls to action |
| Fairy Tale | Entertain (+ teach) | Magic, moral, "once upon a time" |
| Recipe | Inform (instruct) | Steps, measurements, sequence |
| Speech | Persuade/Inspire | Rhetorical devices, emotion, evidence |
Key Takeaways
- Author's purpose is WHY an author writes (not WHAT they write about)
- PIE (Persuade, Inform, Entertain) covers the main purposes
- Many texts have multiple purposes - identify primary and secondary
- Text features, word choice, and structure reveal purpose
- Always support purpose identification with text evidence
- Different genres have typical purposes
- Understanding purpose improves overall comprehension
Related Reading Topics
Ready to Continue?
Now that you understand author's purpose, learn how different text structures help organize information - another key skill for reading comprehension.
