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Understanding why an author wrote something helps you unlock the deeper meaning of any passage.
Every time someone writes something — a story, an article, a poem, or even a text message — they have a reason for writing it. That reason is called the author's purpose. People have been thinking about why writers write for thousands of years. Understanding purpose helps you become a smarter, more active reader.
On the SSAT, you will read passages and answer questions about why the author wrote them. Knowing the author's purpose helps you figure out the main idea, the tone, and even what kind of answer choices to look for. Let's look at how thinkers throughout history have explored the idea of purpose in writing.
So, the big question is: How do you figure out why an author wrote something, especially when they don't tell you directly? That's exactly what this lesson will teach you.
Most authors write for one (or sometimes more) of these main reasons. You can remember them with the acronym P.I.E. — Persuade, Inform, Entertain. There are also a couple of other purposes you should know. Let's break them all down.
When you read a passage on the SSAT, you can ask yourself a series of questions to figure out the author's purpose. The flowchart below walks you through this step by step. Start at the top and follow the arrows based on what you notice in the passage.
As you practice, this decision process will become automatic. You won't need the flowchart anymore — you'll just feel it when you read. But for now, these questions are a great tool to keep in your back pocket during the SSAT.
Authors don't usually announce "My purpose is to persuade you!" Instead, they leave clues in the text. Learning to spot these clues is the real skill. Let's look at the main types of textual evidence (details in the passage that support your answer) for each purpose.
One of the fastest ways to identify author's purpose is to pay attention to the tone (the author's attitude or feeling toward the topic). Different purposes tend to have different tones. The diagram below maps common tones to purposes.
Here is a handy table of signal words — words and phrases that often appear in passages and point you toward a specific purpose.
| Purpose | Common Signal Words & Phrases | Typical Passage Type |
|---|---|---|
| Persuade | should, must, I believe, in my opinion, clearly, it is important that, we need to | Editorials, speeches, advertisements, letters to the editor |
| Inform | according to, research shows, studies indicate, is defined as, for example, as a result | Textbooks, encyclopedias, news articles, science reports |
| Entertain | once upon a time, suddenly, he whispered, she laughed, the wind howled, as if | Short stories, novels, fairy tales, humorous essays |
| Describe | the golden light, crisp autumn air, a towering mountain, shimmering waters, the scent of | Poetry, travel writing, descriptive essays |
| Express | I felt, it reminded me of, I remember when, in my heart, looking back | Personal essays, memoirs, poetry, journal entries |
Let's walk through a sample SSAT-style passage together. Read the passage below, then follow the steps to identify the author's purpose.
One of the trickiest things about author's purpose questions is that the same topic can be written about in very different ways. Let's compare how three authors might write about the same subject — dogs — but with different purposes.
| Feature | Passage A: Inform | Passage B: Persuade | Passage C: Entertain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Line | "Dogs were first domesticated over 15,000 years ago." | "Every family should adopt a dog from a shelter." | "Max tipped over the trash can again and grinned." |
| Tone | Neutral, factual | Passionate, urgent | Humorous, playful |
| Key Clue | Dates, facts, no opinion | "Should," reasons, call to action | Characters, humor, a storyline |
| Reader's Reaction | "I learned something new." | "I should consider adopting!" | "That's funny! I want to keep reading." |
| Purpose | Inform | Persuade | Entertain |
On the SSAT, author's purpose questions don't always use the exact words "persuade," "inform," or "entertain." The answer choices might use fancier language. It helps to know how these purposes can be described in different ways.
| Basic Purpose | SSAT Answer Choice Might Say... |
|---|---|
| Persuade | convince the reader, argue a point, encourage action, promote an idea, advocate for a change |
| Inform | explain a process, present information, describe a historical event, educate the reader, analyze a topic |
| Entertain | tell a story, amuse the reader, create suspense, share an amusing anecdote, engage the reader's imagination |
| Describe | paint a picture, create a mood, portray a scene, capture an experience |
| Express | share personal feelings, reflect on a memory, convey emotions, explore inner thoughts |
Also, remember that the SSAT Reading section includes three types of passages: fiction (stories), nonfiction (factual writing), and poetry. Fiction passages almost always have a purpose of entertaining or expressing feelings. Nonfiction passages are more likely to inform or persuade. Poetry can do any of these — so read it extra carefully!
Try these five practice problems. For each one, read the short passage or description, then choose the best answer. After you pick your answer, read the explanation to check your thinking.
Every passage you read on the SSAT was written for a reason. The author's purpose is that reason, and the main categories are persuade (convince you of something), inform (teach you facts), entertain (tell an engaging story), describe (paint a vivid picture), and express (share personal feelings). Remember the acronym P.I.E. for the big three.
To identify purpose, use three strategies: check for opinions vs. facts, scan for signal words (like "should," "according to," or "once upon a time"), and identify the tone of the passage (urgent? neutral? playful?). When a passage mixes purposes, always pick the primary purpose — the one that best describes the passage as a whole. You've got this!