What is an Author's Purpose?

S2-SA3-0049

Grade Level:

Class 4

NLP, Law, History, Social Sciences, Literature, Journalism, Communication

Definition

What is it?

An author's purpose is the main reason why a writer creates a piece of text. It's like asking, 'Why did the author bother to write this?' Authors usually write to persuade, inform, or entertain their readers.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine your school principal puts up a notice board. If the notice says 'School picnic on Saturday! Please bring your lunch and water bottle,' the principal's purpose is to inform you about the picnic. If it says 'Don't litter! Keep our school clean and beautiful,' the purpose is to persuade you to keep the school clean.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's find the author's purpose in a short story:

Step 1: Read the text carefully. "Once upon a time, in a small village nestled among green hills, lived a mischievous monkey named Chintu. Chintu loved to play pranks on everyone, especially the grumpy old farmer, Ramu. One day, Chintu replaced Ramu's sweet mangoes with sour lemons, and everyone laughed!"
---Step 2: Ask yourself: 'What is the main idea or feeling the author wants to create?' Is it giving facts, trying to make you agree with something, or just telling a fun story?
---Step 3: Look for clues. Words like 'mischievous,' 'loved to play pranks,' 'everyone laughed' suggest fun and lightheartedness.
---Step 4: Consider the overall effect. The story makes you smile and imagine the funny situation.
---Step 5: Conclude the purpose. The author's purpose here is to entertain the reader with a funny story about a monkey.

Answer: The author's purpose is to entertain.

Why It Matters

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Thinking all texts have only one purpose. | CORRECTION: While there's usually a primary purpose, texts can have secondary purposes too. For example, a story might entertain but also teach a moral lesson.

MISTAKE: Confusing the author's purpose with the topic of the text. | CORRECTION: The topic is what the text is about (e.g., 'cricket'). The purpose is why the author wrote about cricket (e.g., to inform you about cricket rules, to persuade you to watch a match, or to entertain you with a cricket story).

MISTAKE: Believing the author's purpose is always obvious. | CORRECTION: Sometimes you need to look for clues, analyze the language, and think about the effect the text has on you to figure out the purpose.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: A recipe book tells you how to make 'Aloo Gobi'. What is the author's purpose? | ANSWER: To inform (how to cook)

QUESTION: Your favourite comic book shows superheroes fighting villains and saving the world. What is the author's main purpose? | ANSWER: To entertain

QUESTION: An advertisement for a new mobile phone highlights its amazing camera and long battery life, urging you to 'Buy now!'. What is the author's purpose? | ANSWER: To persuade

MCQ

Quick Quiz

What is the author's purpose in a newspaper report about the latest cricket match scores?

To entertain the readers with a thrilling story

To persuade readers to support a particular team

To inform readers about the match results and details

To express the author's personal feelings about cricket

The Correct Answer Is:

A newspaper report primarily provides facts and details, so its main purpose is to inform. While it might be exciting, entertainment isn't the primary goal, nor is persuasion or expressing personal feelings.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

When you read product reviews on Amazon or Flipkart before buying a new gadget, you're seeing different authors' purposes at play. Some reviews inform you about features, while others try to persuade you to buy or not buy, and some might just entertain with a funny story about their experience.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

PURPOSE: The reason for doing something | PERSUADE: To make someone believe or do something | INFORM: To give facts or information | ENTERTAIN: To provide enjoyment or amusement | AUTHOR: The writer of a book, article, or other text

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Now that you understand author's purpose, you can learn about 'Identifying Main Idea'. Knowing why an author writes helps you better understand the central message they are trying to convey.