Identifying Author's Purpose

What is author's purpose?

Authors always write for a reason. Everything you read has a purpose. The author's purpose is either to describe, to entertain, to explain,or to persuade.

How do you find author's purpose?

Every reading passage is written for a reason. Whaen you read, ask yourself, "What does the author want me to know?" Your answer will help you figure out the author's purpose.

* If a reading passage contains many details about a person, place, or thing, the author's purpose is to describe.
* If a reading passage is enjoyable to read, tells a personal story, or uses a story to teach a lesson, the author's purpose is to entertain.
* If a reading passage provides facts about a particular subject or tells readers how to do something, the author's purpose is to explain or inform.
* If a reading passage contains many opinions or tries to convince readers to do something, buy something, or believe something, the suthor's purpose is to persuade.

Reading Activity

Text 1: Read this selection from a speech made by a freed slave, Sojouener Trurth, to the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in 1851. As you read, try to figure out Sojouener Trurth's purpose in this part of the speech. Then answer the questions.

        That man over there say that women needs to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or give me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me? Look at my arm! I have ploughed, and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man-when I could get it-and bear the lash as well!! And ain't I a woman?

1. What was Sojouener Trurth's purpose in this part of her speech?
    a. to describe the physical starin of her daily life
    b. to entertain listeners with an amusing story
    c. to persuade listeners that women are men's equals
    d. to inform listeners about the injustice of slavery

2. You know your answer to question 1 is correct because this part of the speech mainly
    a. relates an enjoyable story.
    b. contains opinions that try to get listeners to believe something.
    c. contains many detains that describe a person, place, or thing.
    d. provides facts or tells listeners how to do something.

Text 2: Read this story that Alexa wrote about a man who helps people with thier computer problems. As you read, ask yourself, "Why did the author probably write this story?" Then answer the questions.

      When I first got my new computer, I had a few problems getting everything to work just right. Each time I phoneed the manufacturer's technical-support hotline, I was put on hold for what seemed like hours. Could there really be that many people with computer problems? When a technical-support person named Jared finally answered the phone, I posed the question to him. He explained that much of his time is taken up with complex, and sometimes unusaual, questions. He told me a story to illustrate his point.

     " A customer called," Jared began, "and he was complaining that, while the computer is pretty much working fine, the cup holder isn't right. This wasn't a minivan; it was a computer. What cup holder could the caller be asking about? I thought that maybe it was a promotional device he had picked up a computer show, something that somehow was attached to the computer. So I asked him where he had gotten it," Jared explained.

     " He said, it came the computer." The man huffed and showed signs of exasperation. 

     " I asked, where exactly on your machine is the cup holder located?"

     " The caller answered, don't you guys know your own product? It's right in front. You push the little button on the left, and the cup holder comes out."

     " Suddenly everything became clear to me. This man's cup holder was the computer's CD-ROM drive. The man was trying to set a soda can into this disc drive!"

3. The author told this story primarily to
    a. describe what a computer looks like
    b. entertain readers with an amusing story
    c. inform readers how technical-support people fix computer
    d. persuade readers to be patient when calling computer companies

4. You know your answer to question 3 is correct because the story mainly
    a. contains many details about what a computer looks like
    b. tells readers how to fix computers
    c. tries to convince readers of something
    d. relates an enjoyable story

Text 3: Read the advertisement for a portable computer. Then answer the questions.
                                                                   Tech-Tron’s TT2100
        The Portable Computer for When you need More Than a Portable Computer
                                                What $999 Gets you from Tech-Tron

- 256 MB RAM

- 80 GB hard drive

- 1.2 GH2 processor

- 17” LCD display

- 24 X CD-ROM drive

- Built-in stereo speakers and microphone

                                                                     - 2- year warranty  
            Are you just getting by with your portable computer? When you turn it on, do you try to convince yourself that this computer is "good enough and fast enough and has enough memory?" 

            Deep down, you know that your current laptop really isn't meeting your needs: it's not really good enough and fast enough, and it really doesn't have enough memory. You probably think that a new computer with all the features you need costs a small fortune. Not anymore! Check out Tech-Tron's new TT2100, THE PORTABLE COMPUTER OF THE FUTURE, AT A PRICE YOU CAN AFFORD!

            "the price shown does not reflect state and local taxes that may apply. Prices are subject to change. Tec-Tron is not responsible for editorial, pictorial, or typographical errors in this advertisement."

                                What$999 Gets you from the other guys ; NONE

5. What is the main purpose of the the details in the ad?
    a. to entertain readers with facts about the features of a new computer
    b. to persuade readers that a new computer is better that what is available from other computer companies
    c. to describe the features of sevaral different kinds of computers
    d. to expalin how to compare different computer 

6. Which of these states another purpose of the details?
    a. to amuse readers with an exaggerated comparison
    b. to convince readers that other companies sell empthy boxes
    c. to decribe what is found in most computer boxes
    d. to tell readers about the computers that are avalilable to them

7. What is the main purpose of the ad?
    a. to persuade readers to invest their money in a company that makes a new computer
    b. to entertain readers with amusing computer information
    c. to inform readers that a new portable computer is available
    d. to persuade readers to buy a particular portable computer

8. The information in the aircle was written in order to
    a. encourage readers to think twice before buying a computer
    b. provide information that readers need to know in order to make a informed decision
    c. explain about local taxes that must be paid if the computer is purchased
    d. amuse readers with absurd information