Writer’s Purpose

Identifying the Writer’s Purpose

It’s paramount to remember that every piece of writing has a purpose or objective, a reason why the writer has written the piece.
This purpose can be to inform, persuade, entertain, or a combination of these.
The purpose can often be discerned from the subject matter, the tone, and the style of the writing.
The title of the text can also give insight into the primary purpose of writing.

How Writer’s Purpose Influences Writing

The purpose of the text highly influences the style of language used by the writer. For instance, informative texts often contain objective language, while persuasive texts utilise emotional language.
Similarly, the audience also influences the writer’s purpose. If the target audience is children, the author might use simple language and a lot of images.
The purpose affects the format as well. An informative piece might structure the information logically, while an entertaining piece might use more narrative elements.

Analysing the Writer’s Purpose

Ask yourself what the writer wants the reader to think, feel or do after reading the text. This can provide clues about the writer’s purpose.
It’s important to understand that a single text can have multiple purposes. For instance, a novel can entertain while also conveying a social message.
Look out for textual evidence to back up your assumptions about the writer’s purpose.

Responding to the Writer’s Purpose

Develop an understanding of how successfully, or not, the writer achieves their purpose. Was the argument persuasive? Was the information clear and understandable? Was the entertainment value high?
Use evidence from the text to support your evaluation.
Keep in mind that some purposes may be more easily measurable than others. A text’s ability to entertain, for instance, can be somewhat subjective.

Remember, comprehending the writer’s purpose is fundamental for understanding the text deeply and it can help you predict and infer other aspects of the text. Practice these skills by reading various types of texts and identifying the purposes behind them.