Why Do Authors Write?
Have you ever wondered why someone wrote a book, an article, or even a sign at the zoo? Every time a person writes something, they have a reason — a purpose. The purpose is like a job the writing is supposed to do.
People have been writing for a very, very long time. Long ago, people drew pictures on cave walls to tell stories. Then they made up letters and words. Over time, writers learned they could do many things with words. They could teach, share feelings, or paint a picture with sentences. Let's look at how this idea grew!
So here is the big question this lesson will help you with: When you read something, how do you figure out the author's main purpose? Keep reading to find out!
The Three Big Purposes
When an author writes an informational text (a text that gives you real facts), they usually have one of three main purposes. They might want to answer a question, explain how something works, or describe something. Let's learn about each one!
Answer a Question
Explain Something
Describe Something
The Main Purpose
A Picture Guide to Author's Purpose
Let's look at a picture that shows how the three purposes work. Each purpose has its own special job!
Look at the picture above. It shows a text in the middle, like a book. The author's purpose can go in one of three directions: answer, explain, or describe. When you read, ask yourself the question in the yellow box at the bottom: "What is the author MOSTLY trying to do?"
How to Find the Main Purpose
Finding the main purpose is like being a detective! You look for clues in the text. Here are three easy steps you can follow every time you read.
Step 1 is to read the title. The title is like a sign on a door — it tells you what is inside! A title like "How Bees Make Honey" tells you the author wants to explain something.
Step 2 is to look for clue words as you read. Words like "because" and "the reason is" mean the author is answering a question. Words like "first," "next," and "then" mean the author is explaining steps. Words like "looks like," "has," and "is made of" mean the author is describing.
Step 3 is to ask yourself: "What does the author MOSTLY want to do?" Your answer is the main purpose!
Clue Words for Each Purpose
Different purposes use different kinds of words. This table shows you which words go with which purpose. Keep an eye out for these clue words when you read!
| Purpose | Clue Words You Might See | Example Title |
|---|---|---|
| Answer | because, the reason is, that is why, so | "Why Do We Need Sleep?" |
| Explain | first, next, then, how, steps | "How a Butterfly Grows" |
| Describe | looks like, has, is, feels, lives in | "All About Dolphins" |
Worked Example: Finding the Purpose
Let's try finding the main purpose together! Read the short text below, then follow the steps.
Comparing the Three Purposes
Sometimes it can be tricky to tell the purposes apart. Let's compare them side by side so you can see how they are different — and how they are the same!
| Answer | Explain | Describe | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Gives a reason or answer to a "why" or "what" question | Shows how something works or happens, step by step | Tells what something looks like, sounds like, or is |
| Title might start with | "Why…?" or "What is…?" | "How…" or "The Steps to…" | "All About…" or the name of a thing |
| You feel like… | Your question got answered! | You learned how to do or understand something! | You can picture it in your mind! |
| Example | "Why is the sky blue?" | "How Plants Make Food" | "The Amazing Rain Forest" |
Remember, a text can do more than one thing. A text about dolphins might describe them AND explain how they swim. But one purpose is the biggest one. That biggest purpose is the main purpose.
Going Further: Other Reasons Authors Write
Right now, you are learning about three purposes for informational texts — texts that share real facts. But as you get older, you will learn about even more reasons authors write! Here is a sneak peek.
| What You Know Now | What You'll Learn Later |
|---|---|
| Authors answer, explain, or describe | Authors can also persuade (try to change your mind) or entertain (make you laugh or feel happy) |
| You look for clue words | You'll also look at how the author feels about the topic (this is called "tone") |
| You find ONE main purpose | You'll learn to talk about more than one purpose and how they work together |
For now, keep practicing with the three purposes: answer, explain, and describe. You are building skills that will help you be an amazing reader for the rest of your life!
Practice Problems
Now it's your turn! Read each question carefully. When you are ready, click "Show Answer" to check your thinking.
What We Learned
Every text has a main purpose — the biggest reason the author wrote it. When you read an informational text, the author usually wants to do one of three things: answer a question (like "Why do birds sing?"), explain how something works (like how a seed grows into a plant), or describe something (like what a penguin looks like). To find the main purpose, you follow three steps: read the title for clues, look for clue words like "because," "first," or "has," and then ask yourself what the author is MOSTLY trying to do.
Remember, a text can do more than one thing, but one purpose is always the biggest — that is the main purpose. Now you have the tools to find it every time you read. Keep practicing, and you will get better and better. You are becoming an amazing reader! 🌟