Determine an Author's Point of View or Purpose

Every time you read an article, a textbook chapter, or even a social media post, someone made choices about what to include, what to leave out, and how to say it. Those choices reveal something important: the author's point of view (what they think or feel about the topic) and their purpose (why they wrote the piece in the first place). Understanding these two things helps you become a smarter, more critical reader.

People have been thinking about how writers persuade and inform audiences for thousands of years. Here are a few key moments in that story.

So here's the big question this lesson answers: How can you figure out what an author believes about a topic and why they wrote about it — just by reading carefully?

Before we dig into examples, let's get clear on the key vocabulary. These four ideas are the building blocks of everything that follows.

When you read an informational text, there are several types of clues that help you figure out the author's point of view and purpose. The diagram below shows how these clues connect to the two big ideas.

Let's walk through each clue. Word choice is about the specific words an author picks — "pollute" versus "impact" tells you very different things. Tone is the overall feeling — is the author excited, worried, angry, or calm? Details included are the facts, examples, and stories the author chose to put in. Details left out can be just as revealing — what did the author decide not to mention? Structure is how the text is organized — does it lead with a shocking fact, or start with a question? Finally, direct statements are moments when the author simply tells you what they think, like "I believe…" or "In my opinion…"

All six clues work together. As you read, you collect these clues like puzzle pieces. Together, they paint a picture of the author's point of view and purpose.

Reading for point of view and purpose isn't something that happens by magic. You can follow a reliable process every time you face an informational text. Think of it as a detective's checklist.

Step 1 — Read the Whole Text First

Don't try to analyze while you're still on the first paragraph. Read the whole thing through so you get the big picture. Pay attention to how you feel as you read. If you feel persuaded, angry, curious, or amused, that's already a clue about the author's purpose.

Step 2 — Notice the Clues

Go back through the text and mark the six types of clues from our diagram. Circle strong word choices. Underline any direct opinion statements. Note what kinds of details and examples the author uses. Ask yourself: are the details mostly positive, mostly negative, or balanced?

Step 3 — Ask "What Does the Author Think?"

Put the clues together. Based on the word choices, tone, and details, what seems to be the author's attitude or opinion? Even if they never say "I believe," the clues tell you. For example, an author who uses words like "devastating," "tragic," and "urgent" about climate change clearly feels that it is a serious problem.

Step 4 — Ask "Why Did They Write This?"

Now think about purpose. Is the author mainly trying to teach you something new (inform)? Are they trying to get you to agree with them or take action (persuade)? Or are they telling a story in a way that's fun to read (entertain)? Some texts do a mix — for example, a persuasive article might also inform you about background facts so its argument makes sense.

Step 5 — Support with Evidence

The most important part! Whatever you decide about point of view and purpose, you need to back it up with evidence from the text. Point to specific words, sentences, or details. This is what separates a strong reader from a guessing one.

This flowchart is your go-to method. Whenever a test question asks you about point of view or purpose, these five steps will guide you to a strong answer.

Let's take a closer look at the three main purposes — inform, persuade, and entertain — and the clues that help you tell them apart.

Many informational texts blend purposes. An article about endangered animals might inform you about the problem (facts and stats), then persuade you to donate to a wildlife charity (call to action). When this happens, identify the primary purpose — the main thing the author wants to accomplish.

Now let's look at how point of view (the author's attitude) can range from very negative to very positive. The word choices an author makes slide along a scale.

Let's put our detective skills to work on a real passage. Read the paragraph below, then follow along as we break it down step by step.

Sometimes figuring out an author's point of view and purpose is straightforward. Other times, it can be tricky. Let's compare situations where it's easy versus hard.

Here's the most important thing to remember about tricky texts: even when an author doesn't say "I think," they still reveal their viewpoint through every choice they make. The details they include, the details they skip, and the words they pick all add up. Don't worry if you don't catch everything on the first read. Go back, reread, and look for patterns.

Right now, you're learning to identify point of view and purpose. As you move through middle school and into high school, this skill grows more powerful. Here's a peek at how it expands.

The skill you're building right now is the foundation for all of these. Once you can spot what an author thinks and why they wrote something, you're ready to start evaluating whether they did a good job of making their case. That's a skill you'll use in every class — and in real life — for the rest of your life.

Time to test your skills! Try each problem on your own before clicking "Show Answer." The problems get harder as you go.