1. Author’s Purpose notes
What’s the purpose?
Author’s
Purpose
notes

2. Author’s Purpose
Every writer has a purpose in mind when he/she writes.
The purpose that the writer chooses will determine the following:
Style- are any of the words in bold/italicized?
Word choice
Structure
You can determine the author’s purpose by watching the clues in:
Style
Tone
Point of view
structure

3. To… PERSUADE To convince the reader of a certain point of view
Tries to convince the reader to agree with an opinion, but the author will probably use facts to build a strong argument.
Part of being a good reader is noticing what the writer doesn’t say.
If the author presents lots of facts, but they only inform you about one side of an issue, the purpose is probably to persuade.
Examples: advertisements, editorials, essays, and campaign speeches

4. To … INFORM To teach To give information to the reader
The writer leaves out his or her personal opinions.
The writing is objective and presents both sides of an issue
Examples: news articles, textbooks, biographies, documentaries, book reports, instruction manuals, charts, graphs, tables, and maps

5. ENTERTAIN To… To hold the attention of the reader through enjoyment
Includes fiction, like mystery novels, as well as plays, poems, short stories, and comic books
Will often include factual information, and they will often include the author’s opinion or characters’ opinions, but, overall, the purpose is the reader’s enjoyment
Examples: novels, short stories, poetry and drama