Authors

Purpose
Can you determine
the

authors purpose
for
writing?

What is authors purpose?

The authors
purpose is
the reason
he or she is
writing.

And why should

you care?

When You Analyze the Authors

Purpose

You can better understand the

text.
You will learn to detect bias
and to evaluate info for
accuracy
AND you gain a deeper
understanding of the text or
medias meaning.

u l
o
y Il rt
o n a
D a m
e s
m k nd ?
o a F
o
f
l
u
st

What?

Student

Ummm
okSure!

e
h

c
a
Te r

Why do writers write?

To Persuade
To Inform
To Entertain

To Explain
To Describe

And

Analyze Content Carefully

The

author
may have
more than 1
purpose for
writing.

How Can the Reader

Determine the
Purpose?

Active
Reading

Read carefully.
Look for context clues.
Examine word choice.
Analyze the writers
purpose.

Describe

PIEED

Persuade

Inform

Entertai
n
Explain

Persuade

To convince your reader to act or

think a certain way

Look for
Emotional, Loaded Language
Persuasive Images
Bias (One sided argument or point of
view)

Persuade

Examples

Inform
Writing that contains factual
information only.
Examples include manuals, atlas,
nonfiction books (IF the information is
factual but NOT persuasive)

Entertain

The authors purpose is to write

text that holds the readers
attention and provides
enjoyment.

Example: Novels, Narratives, Humorous

Memoirs (real life episodes or events)

Entertain

PIE =

Persuade, Inform,

Entertain

To be more
specific
Informative Writing

May
Mainly
Descri
be

Or
Explai
n

Authors Purpose Inform

Describe

Provides specific,
sensory details in
your informational
writing

Explain

The informational
writing includes
explanations.

Can You Identify The

Authors Purpose?

Class Assignment
Identify the purpose(s) of the following
communication presented in the next 5 slides.

Some of the writing may serve more than one purpose.

For example, a travel brochure may be used to inform you
about Jamaicas sandy beaches and local attractions while
ALSO persuading you to visit their country for your next
vacation.

Authors Purpose

Example 1

At the faculty meeting, Mr. Smith stood up to

speak

I think we need to consider implementing

school uniforms. The students at Highland

High are not following dress code rules . Shorts
are too short. Students come in with crazy
piercings. The lack of rules only causes chaos
and prevents me from teaching my classes. All
of us would spend less time monitoring dress
code and more time teaching. As a result,
students would learn more.

Email to faculty
from Principal

Example 2

One week later

Subject: Uniform Survey

Please take a few minutes today to fill out this

Google form. The reason I need you to
complete these questions and provide
feedback is because I am meeting with a
school uniform vendor later this week. Your
input is valuable!
Thanks again! Mrs. Carmey

Email to Principal
from Coach Jeffries

Example 3

Subject: Uniform Options

I checked with my gym uniform supplier. He said
they had shirts made of various materials
available in blue and navy blue. The polo shirts
are the same as the ones I ordered for the
football team to wear while traveling. They are
very lightweight and comfortable. The material
does not stretch or shrink after washing and
drying. If you are interested in ordering, I have
extra order forms in my office.

Coach Jeffries

Parent/Guardian Letter
Example 4
Excerpt

Highland High School

Tiger Pride
Parents:
Please make sure you have purchased your childs
uniform! We will begin requiring students to wear them
by Monday of this upcoming week. We have the
guidelines, recommended discount vendors and pricing,
etc. available on our school website. Please do not
hesitate to call if you have any questions. Thank you for
your support!
Sincerely,

Mrs. Carmey

Sunday Night Text between students

Example 5

Looking fine in
our uniforms!
LOL