1. Evaluating Author’s Purpose
Why is identifying the author’s intent so important?

2. Perspective
Why might two different people give different versions of an event?
What effect does the author's perspective have on a piece of writing?
Why is it important to know the background of an author?

3. Author’s Purpose Think about P.I.E.
Authors write a story for three reasons:
Persuade
Inform
Entertain

4. The steps in identifying and evaluating :
Read
Read the passage carefully.
Evaluate
Evaluate whether the author has selected the best way to present and write about his/her topic.
Accuracy
Consider whether or not the author’s information is accurate by looking at the sources.
Decide
Decide if the text informs, persuades, or entertains.

5. Persuade
When an author tries to persuade the reader, they want you to think the way they think.
Visiting museums are a great way to learn. At the museum you can read about facts while looking at different exhibits. Everyone should visit a great museum once in a while.

6. Inform
When an author writes to inform a reader, they are giving the reader facts and information.
Elmont is located in New York State. New York is on the eastern coast of the United States of America. Some students in Elmont attend the Covert Avenue School.

7. Things to look for when determining if the informative text is valid:
“This is why…” (and it sounds like an opinion statement)
“research shows…,” but with no supporting evidence
ALWAYS Consider the source
Count the number of corporate and government sources versus the number of progressive, public interest, female and minority voices.

8. Entertain
When an author tries to entertain the reader, they want you to enjoy what you are reading.
My brother came charging at me with the pie in his hand. He smashed it right into my face. Laughing, I picked up his bowl of cereal and dumped it on my kid sister’s head. Then, mom came into the kitchen.

9. Why did the author write this paragraph?
Every time I go to sleep, I hear a noise under my bed. I think it is a monster, but I am not sure. I call out to my mother and father, but all I hear is silence. Quickly, I pretend it’s nothing and pull the covers up over my head.
The author wrote this paragraph to ENTERTAIN us.

10. Consider Author's Purpose in Fiction Passages Most often, the purpose of fiction is to entertain the reader…but not always. .
Sometimes, however, the author uses fiction to make a political statement, such as "A Modest Proposal," a satire by Jonathan Swift. Other times, the author wants to persuade readers to take action or contribute to a specific cause. In poetry, an author's purpose is to most likely elicit a specific feeling in the reader, such as sympathy, joy or love. Poets and fiction writers alike often attempt to create a specific mood in their writing which may include humor, suspense, suffering, or curiosity.