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Author’s Purpose:

Easy as PIE

  • Theauthor’s purposeis thereason for writing.
  • Authors write for different purposes. The most common purposes are to…

Persuade

Inform

Entertain

Sometimes the author’s purpose affects what he writes. It's important for you to recognize that as you read.

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Author’s Purpose: Easy as PIE

Persuade

If an author is writing to persuade, then his/her writing will contain only information that will encourage you to share his/her beliefs.

Inform

In an author is writing to inform, then his/her writing will be an attempt to teach you something.

Entertain

In an author is writing to entertain, then his/her writing will be an amusement or diversion intended to hold the attention of an audience. Writing to entertain usually involves writing a story of some kind.

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Author’s Purpose: Easy as PIE

The author’spurpose affects the contentof what he/she writes. As a reader, you need to become aware of that purpose so that you can evaluate the content of what the author is writing.

In other words,YOU CAN'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ. Think about why the author is writing as you read for information.

Author's Purpose Questions are questions that ask you to figure out why the author wrote the text. Author’s purpose questions are another way of saying, "Why did the author write this anyhow, or what was the reason this piece was written?"

1. What is the author's main purpose in writing?

2. What details in the story helped you decide what the author's purpose was?

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Author’s Purpose: Easy as PIE

Example 1:

The hunting, stalking, and killing of animals has been an American tradition since early man lived here. Today it exists as a sport. There is no longer an excuse or reason for stalking and killing an animal in his or her habitat. However, people continue to hunt animals today, and they feel they have every right to continue to do so. Animals need to be protected from this attack by humans.

How does this writer feel about hunting?

This writer believes that hunting animals is bad.

His writing contains only information

to persuade you NOT to hunt.

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Author’s Purpose: Easy as PIE

Example 2:

I remember my first hunting trip with my dad. He taught me to aim and shoot straight. I remember how proud I was when I brought that first rabbit home and the family feasted on my achievement. Today I continue to tramp through the fields or the woods. It brings back such fond memories of those trips with Dad. And I still get a feeling of satisfaction out of being able to bring something home--whether a small rabbit or a graceful deer. Hunting brings me great joy! I wish everyone had an opportunity to experience that feeling of accomplishment.

How does this writer feel about hunting?

This writer believes that hunting animals is good.

His writing contains only information

to persuade you to hunt.