Definition, Types, and Examples
Understanding Author’s Purpose is a key reading skill that helps readers grasp the deeper meaning behind a text. Whether you’re analyzing a story, an article, or an advertisement, knowing why the author wrote it makes comprehension easier and more accurate.
What Is Author’s Purpose?
Author’s purpose refers to the reason why a writer creates a piece of writing. It answers the question: What does the author want the reader to think, feel, or do after reading this text?
An author may want to inform readers, persuade them, entertain them, or explain something clearly. Often, a text can have more than one purpose, but usually one is dominant.
Why Is Author’s Purpose Important?
Understanding the author’s purpose helps readers:
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Better understand the message of the text
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Identify bias or opinions
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Improve critical thinking skills
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Answer comprehension questions correctly
It also helps writers communicate more effectively with their audience.
Main Types of Author’s Purpose
1. To Inform
When an to inform, they aim to provide facts, information, or explanations.
Common examples include:
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Textbooks
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News articles
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Research papers
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Instruction manuals
Clues to look for: facts, statistics, definitions, and neutral language.
2. To Persuade
An author writes to persuade when they want to convince readers to agree with a viewpoint or take action.
Common examples include:
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Advertisements
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Opinion articles
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Political speeches
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Reviews
Clues to look for: strong opinions, emotional language, calls to action, and persuasive arguments.
3. To Entertain
When the purpose is to entertain, the author wants to engage, amuse, or emotionally connect with the reader.
Common examples include:
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Short stories
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Novels
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Poems
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Plays
Clues to look for: storytelling, characters, dialogue, humor, or emotional scenes.
4. To Explain
An author’s purpose to explain focuses on clarifying how or why something happens.
Common examples include:
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How-to articles
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Process essays
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Tutorials
Clues to look for: step-by-step instructions, examples, and clear explanations.
How to Identify the Author’s Purpose
To determine ask yourself:
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What is the topic of the text?
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How does the author present the information?
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Is the tone neutral, emotional, or opinionated?
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What does the author want me to learn, believe, or do?
Paying attention to word choice, tone, and structure can reveal the author’s main goal.
Examples of Author’s Purpose
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A science article explaining climate change → To inform
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A commercial promoting a new product → To persuade
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A fantasy novel → To entertain
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A recipe or DIY guide → To explain
