Identify the author's purpose for writing a passage. - ISEE Lower Level Reading Comprehension

SECTION 1

Why Do Authors Write?

Have you ever thought about why someone writes something? Every time a person picks up a pen or sits at a computer, they have a reason. That reason is called the author's purpose.

People have been writing for thousands of years. Over time, readers figured out that most writing fits into a few main categories. Let's look at how this idea grew!

3000 BC • Ancient Writing Begins

People in ancient Mesopotamia wrote on clay tablets. They mostly wrote to inform others — keeping records of food and trades.

800 BC • Stories and Poems

The ancient Greeks wrote epic poems like the Odyssey to entertain people with exciting adventure tales.

300 BC • Persuasive Speeches

Greek thinkers like Aristotle taught people to write speeches to persuade (convince) others to agree with them.

Today • The ISEE Tests This!

On the ISEE, you will read passages and figure out the author's purpose. It's one of the most common question types!

So, the big question is: How do you figure out why an author wrote a passage? That's exactly what this lesson will teach you. Let's go!

SECTION 2

The Three Main Purposes: PIE

Here's a fun trick to remember the three main reasons authors write. Think of the word PIE! Each letter stands for one purpose.

P = Persuade

The author wants to convince you to think, feel, or do something. Look for opinions and strong words like "should," "must," or "best."

I = Inform

The author wants to teach you something new. Look for facts, dates, and details. The writing sounds like a textbook or encyclopedia.

E = Entertain

The author wants to amuse you or tell a story. Look for characters, dialogue, fun descriptions, and adventures.

🥧

KEY TAKEAWAY

Think of PIE like ordering at a bakery. You always choose one main flavor. An author always has one main purpose — to Persuade, Inform, or Entertain. Your job is to figure out which slice of PIE the author is serving!

💡

ISEE Test Tip

On the ISEE, you might also see the purpose described with words like "describe," "explain," or "narrate." "Describe" and "explain" mean to inform. "Narrate" means to tell a story (entertain). Don't let fancy words trick you!

SECTION 3

The Author's Purpose Decision Tree

Here is a handy flowchart to help you decide the author's purpose. Start at the top and follow the arrows by asking yourself simple questions about the passage.

Start at the top and follow the arrows. Ask yourself: Does the author use opinions? Does the passage teach facts? If neither, the purpose is probably to entertain!

Use this flowchart like a map. First, check for opinion words like "should" or "best." If you find them, the purpose is to persuade. If there are no opinions, ask if the passage is full of facts. If yes, it's to inform. If it's a story with characters, it's to entertain.

SECTION 4

How to Spot Each Purpose — Clue Words

Great detectives look for clues. You can be a reading detective! Each author's purpose has special clue words (words or phrases that hint at the purpose). Let's learn them.

Clue Words for PERSUADE

Opinion words: should, must, best, worst, need to
Strong feeling words: important, terrible, amazing, unfair
The author is trying to change your mind or get you to do something.

Clue Words for INFORM

Fact words: studies show, according to, in the year, research found
Teaching words: for example, this means, one type of, the reason is
The tone sounds like a textbook — calm and neutral.

Clue Words for ENTERTAIN

Story words: once upon a time, she said, he walked, they felt
Description words: bright blue sky, thundering waves, creaky old door
There are usually characters, a setting, and a plot (a problem to solve).

💡

ISEE Test Strategy

On the ISEE, read the questions FIRST, before you read the passage. If you see a question about the author's purpose, you'll know to look for clue words as you read. This saves time!

SECTION 5

What Each Purpose Looks Like

Let's look at three short passages. Each one shows a different author's purpose. Study them carefully — this is exactly what you'll see on the ISEE!

Compare the three example passages above. Notice how different they look and sound. The persuade passage uses opinion words. The inform passage shares facts. The entertain passage tells a story.

Notice the box at the bottom of the diagram. Those are the exact ways the ISEE asks about author's purpose. Whenever you see those question types, use your PIE skills!

SECTION 6

Worked Example: Finding the Author's Purpose

Let's practice together! Read this short passage, then follow the steps to find the author's purpose.

📝

Sample Passage

The Arctic fox is one of the most amazing animals on Earth. Its thick fur changes color with the seasons — white in winter and brown in summer. This helps it blend in with its surroundings. Arctic foxes can survive in temperatures as low as −58°F. They have small ears, which help them keep body heat from escaping.

Question: What is the author's main purpose for writing this passage?

1
Step 1 — Look for Opinion Words

Scan the passage for words like "should," "must," "best," or "worst." The word "amazing" sounds like an opinion, but the rest of the passage is full of facts. One opinion word is not enough. The main purpose is probably not to persuade.

❌ Not Persuade
2
Step 2 — Check for Story Elements

Is there a character? A setting for a story? Dialogue? No — there's no character named anyone, and nobody is talking. This is not a story.

❌ Not Entertain
3
Step 3 — Check for Facts and Information

Does the passage share facts? Yes! It tells us the fur changes color, foxes survive in −58°F, and they have small ears. These are all facts the author is teaching us.

✅ This is Inform!
4
Step 4 — Choose Your Answer

The author's main purpose is to inform the reader about Arctic foxes. On the ISEE, you would look for the answer choice that says something like "to give information about" or "to describe" or "to explain."

Answer: The author wrote this passage to inform the reader about Arctic foxes.

🧠

REMEMBER THIS!

Go through the PIE checklist like a detective checking clues. Rule out each purpose one by one. Usually two choices won't fit at all, and the right answer will be clear!

SECTION 7

Comparing the Three Purposes

Sometimes it can be tricky to tell purposes apart. This table shows you exactly how to compare them. Study it carefully!

Feature	Persuade	Inform	Entertain
What it does	Tries to change your mind	Teaches you something	Tells a story or amuses you
Tone	Strong, passionate	Calm, neutral, factual	Fun, descriptive, emotional
Clue words	Should, must, best, need to	Studies show, according to, for example	Once, she said, the wind howled
Examples	Ads, speeches, editorials	Textbooks, articles, reports	Novels, short stories, poems
ISEE answer words	"convince," "argue," "encourage"	"explain," "describe," "inform"	"tell a story," "amuse," "narrate"

Use this chart to compare the three purposes side by side.

⚠️

TRICKY PASSAGES

Sometimes a passage does two things at once — like a story that also teaches you facts about animals. When this happens, ask: What is the MAIN purpose? The ISEE asks for the main or primary purpose. Focus on what the author does MOST in the passage.

SECTION 8

Beyond PIE — Other Purpose Words on the ISEE

The ISEE won't always use the words "persuade," "inform," or "entertain." Sometimes the answer choices use fancier words. Don't worry — you already know what they mean! Here's a cheat sheet.

ISEE Answer Choice Word	It Really Means...	PIE Category
to describe	to paint a picture with words	Inform
to explain	to help you understand something	Inform
to narrate	to tell a story	Entertain
to convince	to make you agree	Persuade
to argue	to give reasons for an opinion	Persuade
to share an experience	to tell about something that happened	Entertain

Keep this list in mind when you see tricky answer choices on the ISEE.

As you get older, you'll learn even more purpose categories. For now, PIE is all you need for the ISEE Lower Level. Master these three, and you'll be ready!

⚠

Process of Elimination

Remember, there's no penalty for wrong answers on the ISEE. Always answer every question! If you're unsure, cross out any choice that doesn't match the passage. Even eliminating one wrong choice helps a lot.

SECTION 9

Practice Problems

Time to test your skills! Read each mini-passage carefully. Then pick the best answer. Remember to look for clue words and think about PIE. You've got this!

Question 1: CONCEPTUAL

Read this passage: "Recycling is important because it helps protect our planet. Everyone should recycle paper, plastic, and glass. If we don't recycle, our landfills will overflow. We must start recycling today!" What is the author's main purpose? A) To inform readers about what recycling is B) To persuade readers to start recycling C) To entertain readers with a funny story about trash D) To describe the history of recycling

A. To inform readers about what recycling is
B. To persuade readers to start recycling
C. To entertain readers with a funny story about trash
D. To describe the history of recycling

Show answer (B)

B is correct. The passage uses strong opinion words like "should," "must," and "important." The author is trying to convince you to recycle — that's persuading! Choice A is wrong because the passage doesn't explain what recycling is. Choice C is wrong because there is no story or humor. Choice D is wrong because the passage never talks about the history of recycling.

Question 2: BASIC

Read this passage: "The African elephant is the largest land animal on Earth. Adult males can weigh up to 14,000 pounds. Elephants use their long trunks to pick up food, spray water, and greet other elephants. They live in family groups led by the oldest female." The author most likely wrote this passage to — A) convince readers to protect elephants B) tell an exciting story about an elephant C) give information about African elephants D) argue that elephants are the best animals

A. convince readers to protect elephants
B. tell an exciting story about an elephant
C. give information about African elephants
D. argue that elephants are the best animals

Show answer (C)

C is correct. The passage is full of facts — weight, trunk uses, family groups. The tone is calm and neutral, like a textbook. This is informing. Choice A is wrong because the author never says we should protect elephants. Choice B is wrong because there are no characters or a plot. Choice D is wrong because the author doesn't give an opinion that elephants are the "best."

Question 3: INTERMEDIATE

Read this passage: "Liam stared at the old map spread across the dusty table. 'This is it,' he whispered to his sister. 'Grandpa's treasure.' Maya's eyes grew wide. She grabbed a flashlight and said, 'Let's go find it before dark!' Together, they rushed out the back door and into the woods." Why did the author write this passage? A) To explain how treasure maps are made B) To convince readers to explore the woods C) To inform readers about a brother and sister D) To entertain readers with an adventure story

A. To explain how treasure maps are made
B. To convince readers to explore the woods
C. To inform readers about a brother and sister
D. To entertain readers with an adventure story

Show answer (D)

D is correct. This passage has characters (Liam and Maya), dialogue (they talk to each other), a setting (a dusty table, the woods), and action (rushing out the door). These are all signs of a story meant to entertain. Choice A is wrong because the passage never explains how maps are made. Choice B is wrong because the author isn't trying to convince you of anything. Choice C is tricky — yes, there is a brother and sister, but the main purpose isn't just to give you information about them. It's to tell an exciting story!

Question 4: APPLIED

Read this passage: "The Nile River is the longest river in Africa. It flows over 4,100 miles from central Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. For thousands of years, farmers have used the Nile's water to grow crops. The river floods each year, leaving behind rich soil that is perfect for farming." A student says: "The author wrote this to persuade readers that the Nile is the best river." Is the student correct? A) Yes, because the passage says the Nile is the longest river B) Yes, because the passage says the soil is "perfect" C) No, the author's main purpose is to inform readers about the Nile River D) No, the author's main purpose is to entertain readers with a story about farming

A. Yes, because the passage says the Nile is the longest river
B. Yes, because the passage says the soil is "perfect"
C. No, the author's main purpose is to inform readers about the Nile River
D. No, the author's main purpose is to entertain readers with a story about farming

Show answer (C)

C is correct. The student is wrong. The passage is packed with facts — length, location, farming uses. Even though "longest" and "perfect" sound impressive, they are used as facts, not opinions. The author isn't saying "You should visit the Nile" or "The Nile is better than other rivers." Choice A is wrong because "longest" is a fact, not an opinion. Choice B is wrong because "perfect for farming" describes the soil, not an argument. Choice D is wrong because there is no story with characters or a plot.

Question 5: CRITICAL THINKING

Read this passage: "Last summer, my family visited Yellowstone National Park. We saw a huge geyser called Old Faithful shoot water high into the sky. My little brother screamed with excitement! A park ranger explained that geysers are caused by underground water being heated by hot rocks. I couldn't believe how powerful nature could be." This passage has both story elements and facts. What is the author's PRIMARY purpose? A) To persuade readers to visit Yellowstone B) To inform readers about how geysers work C) To share a personal experience about a family trip D) To explain why Yellowstone is the best national park

A. To persuade readers to visit Yellowstone
B. To inform readers about how geysers work
C. To share a personal experience about a family trip
D. To explain why Yellowstone is the best national park

Show answer (C)

C is correct. This is a tricky one because the passage mixes facts about geysers with a personal story. But the PRIMARY purpose is to share the author's experience — notice words like "my family," "my little brother screamed," and "I couldn't believe." The whole passage is framed as a personal story. Choice A is wrong because the author never tells you to visit Yellowstone. Choice B is tempting because there is one fact about geysers, but most of the passage is about the family trip. Choice D is wrong because the author never compares Yellowstone to other parks or says it's the best.

SUMMARY

Let's Review: Author's Purpose

Summary

Every author writes for a reason. The three main purposes are Persuade (convince you to think or do something), Inform (teach you facts), and Entertain (tell a story or amuse you). Remember the word PIE to keep them straight!

To find the purpose on the ISEE, look for clue words like "should" and "must" (persuade), facts and dates (inform), or characters and dialogue (entertain). Always ask: What is the MAIN purpose? Use process of elimination to cross out wrong answers, and always answer every question. You've got this!