AUTHOR’S PURPOSE

An author’s purpose is his reason for or intent in writing. An author’s purpose may be to amuse the reader, to persuade the reader, to inform the reader, or to satirize a condition.

1. To relate a story or to recount events, an author uses narrative writing. . 

2. To tell what something looks like, sounds like, or feels like, the author uses descriptive writing.

3. To convince a reader to believe an idea or to take a course of action, the author uses persuasive writing.  

4. To inform or teach the reader, the author uses expository writing.

An author’s purpose is reflected in the way he writes about a topic. For instance, if his purpose is to amuse, he will use jokes or anecdotes in his writing. 

Clues to an author’s purpose may be found in titles, prefaces, and the author’s background.