Understanding Author’s Purpose

Every author writes with a goal in mind—whether to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain. Figuring out the author's purpose helps you interpret the text correctly.

Types of Author’s Purpose

• To Inform: Shares facts or teaches you something new.
• To Persuade: Tries to convince you to believe or do something.
• To Entertain: Tells a story or amuses you.
• To Explain: Helps you understand how or why something works.

Clues to Author’s Purpose

• Look at the language—are there facts, opinions, emotional words?
• Notice the structure—is it a story, a list of instructions, or an opinion piece?

Using This Skill

Knowing the author’s purpose is helpful in school, at work, and in daily life when you need to decide if information is trustworthy or useful.