EXAMINATION OF THE
AUTHOR’S POINT OF VIEW
DETERMINING THE
AUTHOR’S PURPOSE
DETERMINING
THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE
WHAT IS AUTHOR’S PURPOSE?
THE REASON OF THE
CREATION OF THE TEXT.
DETERMINING
THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE
PURPOSE DEFINITION EXAMPLES
The author wants you to Advertisements,
believe, do, or buy something. campaign speeches,
TO PERSUADE persuasive letters
opinions, etc.
The author wants to give you Contracts, law, essay, or
information or instructions. articles, instructions or
TO INFORM directions, reference
texts, letters, textbooks,
etc.
DETERMINING
THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE
PURPOSE DEFINITION EXAMPLES
The author wants to relate a History texts, non fiction
story or recount past events. books’ biographies,
TO NARRATE anecdotes, news papers,
etc.
The author wants you to Stories, Poems, Drama,
visualize or experience what Songs, etc.
TO DESCRIBE something or someone looks
like, or feels like.
DETERMINING
THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE
PURPOSE DEFINITION EXAMPLES
The authors wants to tell you Instructions, directions,
how do something or step-by-step procedures,
TO EXPLAIN something works. how-to-recipes,
operations manual, etc.
The authors wants to amuse Novels, Stories, Poems,
you or for you to enjoy the Drama, Songs, etc.
TO ENTERTAIN writing itself.
DETERMINING
THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE
An important thing to take note of when you
are determining the author’s purpose is the genre
you are reading. You can usually identify the
purposes correctly, if you are also able to
understand the genre.
COMBINATION OF
PURPOSES
COMBINATION OF PURPOSES
Sometimes a text has more than one purpose, but a combination of two or more purposes.
POLITICAL CARTOONS CAN BOTH INFORM AND ENTERTAIN
COMBINATION OF PURPOSES
Sometimes a text has more than one purpose, but a combination of two or more purposes.
NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS CAN INFORM, ENTERTAIN, AND PURSUADE
COMBINATION OF PURPOSES
Sometimes a text has more than one purpose, but a combination of two or more purposes.
TV COMMERCIALS MIGHT BE VERY INFORMATIVE OR VERY
ENTERTAINING BUT ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO CONVINCE AND
PERSUADE THE VIEWERS TO EVENTUALLY BUY THE PRODUCT.
WHY IDENTIFY
PURPOSE?
WHY IDENTIFY PURPOSE?
When you understand why a source was
created, it helps you think critically about what
information is present, what information is
missing, and what you can expect to takeaway
from the source.
WHY IDENTIFY PURPOSE?
As a reader, knowing the purposes or intent
that the writer has for creating the piece of work
helps you EVALUATE it better.
For example, if you know that an author is trying to
persuade you, then as a reader, you want to be cautious about
believing everything they tell you. They could be using faulty
reasoning on you or tug at your heart strings to make you
believe what they say.
HOW TO IDENTIFY
PURPOSE?
HOW TO IDENTIFY PURPOSE?
Step 1
first, ask , “WHY DID THE AUTHOR CREATE/ WRITE THIS TEXT?”
Step 2
If the author’s purposes isn’t obvious, ask “HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?”
Step 3
Look for clue words to find the author’s purpose.
HOW TO IDENTIFY PURPOSE?
CLUE WORDS
Compare : The author wants to show similarities between ideas
(both, similarly, in the same way, like, just as)
Contrast : The author wants to show differences between ideas
(however, but dissimilarly, on the other hand)
Criticize : The author wants to give a negative opinion of an idea
(judgement words: “bad”, “wasteful”, “poor”)
Describe/Illustrate: The author wants to paint a picture of an idea
(Adjectives: “red”, “lusty”, “morose”, “sparkling”)
HOW TO IDENTIFY PURPOSE?
CLUE WORDS
Explain : The author wants to break down an idea on a simpler terms
(look for words that turn a complicated process into simple language)
Identify : The author wants to tell the reader about an idea
(text that identifies or lists, will name an idea or series of ideas
without providing much description or opinion)
Intensify : The author wants to make an idea greater
(text that intensifies will add more specific details to the idea)
Suggest : The author wants to propose an idea
