Determining Author's Purpose

When you read, you can ask a simple question: "Why did the author write this?" Every author has a purpose. It might be to persuade you, to inform you, or to entertain you. In this lesson, you will learn how to figure out the purpose and how to prove your answer using real words from the text.

Most short passages have one main purpose. You can remember the three purposes with the letters P, I, and E.

Persuade means the author wants you to agree with an idea or do something. Inform means the author wants to teach you true facts. Entertain means the author wants to tell a fun story that makes you feel something, like happy or excited.

Clue words are small hints that point to the author's purpose. If you see words like "should," "must," or "the best," the author is probably trying to persuade you. If you see words like "first," "next," or "a fact is," the author is probably trying to inform you. If you see characters, feelings, or made-up events, the author is probably trying to entertain you.

You do not have to guess. You can circle or point to the exact clue word that gave you the answer.

Text evidence means you use the author's own words to back up your answer. It is not enough to say "I think it is to inform." You must also say which sentence tells you that.

Look at this short passage: "Frogs are amphibians. They lay their eggs in water, and their babies are called tadpoles." This passage gives true facts about frogs, so its purpose is to inform. The evidence is the sentence "Frogs are amphibians," because it teaches a real fact.

Now look at this one: "Please turn off the lights when you leave a room. Turning off lights saves energy and helps our planet." This passage wants you to do something, so its purpose is to persuade. The evidence is the word "please" and the sentence telling you to turn off the lights.

Here is a third passage: "The little mouse tiptoed past the sleeping cat, giggling to herself the whole way." This passage tells a made-up story with a character, so its purpose is to entertain. The evidence is the made-up mouse and cat, and the word "giggling."

Read this passage: "Apples grow on trees. Farmers pick them in the fall when they are ripe." Ask yourself, is this passage sharing facts, telling a story, or trying to convince you? Then find one sentence that proves your answer.

Read a second passage: "You should always wear a helmet when you ride your bike. Helmets keep your head safe." This time, look for the word that shows the author wants you to do something.

Author's Purpose: The main reason an author writes a passage.

Persuade: To try to get the reader to agree with an idea or do something.

Inform: To teach the reader true facts about a real topic.

Entertain: To tell a story or make the reader feel happy, excited, or amused.

Text Evidence: An exact word or sentence from the passage that proves your answer.

Clue Words: Small words, like "should" or "first," that hint at the author's purpose.

Related lessons

• Identifying Author Purpose In Text