What is the author's purpose?

The author's purpose is the reason or intention behind a piece of writing. Understanding the author's purpose is crucial for interpreting the text effectively.

Common authorial purposes include:

  • To inform: This aims to educate the audience about a particular subject or topic. Factual information and evidence are typically presented. You can find more about this concept at To inform.

  • To persuade: This seeks to convince the reader to agree with a certain viewpoint or take a specific action. Arguments and appeals to emotion are often used. Learn more about it in To persuade.

  • To entertain: This focuses on amusing or engaging the reader through storytelling, humor, or other creative means. You can read more about this in To entertain.

  • To describe: This aims to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind using sensory details and imagery. See To describe for more details.

Sometimes, an author may have multiple purposes in a single piece of writing. Identifying the dominant purpose helps in understanding the author's overall message and intent.