The document discusses the three main purposes an author may have for writing: to persuade, to inform, or to entertain. It defines each purpose and provides examples. It encourages readers to consider the author's purpose when analyzing a text by asking questions about the intent and techniques used. The key purposes are to persuade by convincing the reader of a viewpoint, to inform by providing factual information to educate, and to entertain by telling an interesting story for enjoyment.

1. Why do Writers Write?
What IS an Author’s Purpose?
To Persuade
To Inform
To Entertain

2. “PIE”
Persuade
Inform
Entertain

3. AUTHOR’S PURPOSE
When reading anything, ask yourself these
questions….
• What was the author’s reason for writing this selection?
– to persuade me?
– to inform me?
– to entertain me?
• Which statement from the selection best shows the author’s
purpose in writing this selection?
• Why did the author write these words/this phrase ___ in
italics, in bold, all capital letters, in brackets, etc….?
• Why did the author include (a list of ingredients, a graphic,
statements in parentheses, a picture, etc…)?

4. When an Author
Wants to Persuade…
• The author is trying to make the reader agree with something
important. The author wants to persuade you to see his or her
point of view.
Examples of persuasive writing:
 Editorials in a newspaper or magazine, speeches, or
advertisements
 Articles or advertisements about health issues, environmental
issues, or other issues important in society

5. When an Author
Wants to Inform…
• To inform is to provide information or to show how to DO or
MAKE something. We usually read informational text to learn
more about a subject and to find answers to our questions.
Examples of informational books/text:
 Non-fiction books
 News stories in a newspaper or magazine
 Encyclopedia, dictionary, or thesaurus
 How-to books or manuals
 Cookbooks

6. When an Author
Wants to Entertain…
• To entertain is to tell a story or to tell what a person or place is
like in an interesting or funny way. You usually read something
entertaining for fun.
Examples of entertaining books/stories:
 Bluford Series
 Cinderella
 Nursery Rhymes
 Reader’s Digest Jokes and Short Stories
 Urban Legends
 Picture Books

7. So,
What
IS
the Author’s Purpose?
To Persuade
To Inform
To Entertain

8. • Need to review this presentation?
• Just close the show and start from the
beginning.
• Ready to practice?