UNDERSTANDING AUTHOR’S PURPOSE

Directions:• Copy the following notes using the Cornell note taking

method.

What exactly is an

audience?

An author’s audience is the person or people he/she is trying to reach with his writing.

Who is the intended audience(s) for each of the following

types of writing?

•Text messages and emails •New York Times •People magazine•The Hunger Games•Science textbook

An author’s purpose is simply his or her reason for writing.

Author’s Purpose

• Everyone who writes is an author, and each author writes for different reasons or for a specific purpose.

• Many times, the author’s purpose is revealed in the way the writer writes.

• An author usually writes to achieve one of more of these purposes:

To Persuade To Inform

To Entertain

To Persuade

• to convince readers to do or believe something

•Example: • Editorials try to persuade you to form the same opinion as the author

To Inform

• to give information•Example:

• Textbooks inform you about a particular subject

To Entertain

• to present humor or other enjoyable material

•Example: • Novels entertain you with interesting stories

How can I determine author’s

purpose?

Ask yourself the following questions:

1)Is the author telling a story? 2)Is the author arguing for or against something?

3)Is the writing trying to explain something?

me an my moms r goin 2 da store 2 night so i cant come ovr. i am gonna get those new nikes tho!

To inform

r u watchin amer idol? there is this dude on there an he is crzy! lol!

To entertain

u have to go 2 homecoming or u will b sad when evry1 is talking bout it da next day. dont b silly.

To persuade

me & raymond are drivin down brdway and just saw this man get pulled ovr. he looked like he was yellin at the police officer. ray wuz lookin so hard he almst hit da car n front of us!

To entertain

did u hear michelle and david broke up? idk y but she is so mad.

To inform

i promise i didnt tell ne1 wat u told me. y wood i do that? besides i didnt c jenny last wk an she is da 1 tellin evry1.

To persuade

What is the author’s purpose?The giant panda is a bearlike animal that has thick white fur with black markings on its ears, limbs, shoulders, and around its eyes. The giant panda feeds on bamboo forests at high altitudes in western China. It also eats bulbs, roots, eggs, andsome small mammals.The cubs are born in late winter.The giant panda is anendangered species and is protected by the Chinese government.

entertain persuade inform

What is the author’s purpose?Joe had been fishing for over two hours without a single bite. Suddenly there was a nibble at the end of his fishing line. He stood up on the boat and leaned out too far. Just then there was a sharp yank on the line. Joe fell overboard and landed head first into the water. Joe and his friends laughed at what had just happened.

entertain persuade inform

What is the author’s purpose?It’s New! It’s Refreshing! It’s a new kind of soda! This is the best soda in the world! If you drink this soda you will jumphigher, run faster, and be smarterin school. Try one today!

entertain persuade inform