What is Author's Purpose?

S2-SA2-0058

Grade Level:

Class 4

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

Definition

What is it?

Author's Purpose means the main reason why a writer writes something. It's like asking 'Why did the author bother to write this story or article?' 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 tells you about the new timings for the school bus, the principal's purpose is to INFORM. If the notice asks you to join the new eco-club, the purpose is to PERSUADE you to join. If it's a funny story about a lost tiffin box, the purpose is to ENTERTAIN.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's find the author's purpose for different types of writing:

Step 1: Read a short piece of writing. Example: 'Did you know that the Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World? It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.'
---Step 2: Ask yourself: Is the author trying to make me believe something or do something? No.
---Step 3: Ask yourself: Is the author trying to make me laugh or feel happy with a story? No.
---Step 4: Ask yourself: Is the author giving me facts or details about something? Yes, it's giving facts about the Taj Mahal.
---Step 5: Based on the facts, the author's purpose is to INFORM the reader.

Answer: The author's purpose is to INFORM.

Why It Matters

Understanding author's purpose helps you read smarter and understand messages better, whether it's a news article or a social media post. This skill is crucial for journalists, lawyers, and even social media managers who need to craft messages carefully to achieve their goals.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Thinking that an author can only have one purpose. | CORRECTION: Authors can have more than one purpose, but there is usually one main purpose. For example, a story might entertain but also teach a lesson (inform).

MISTAKE: Confusing the author's purpose with the story's main idea. | CORRECTION: The main idea is WHAT the text is about. The author's purpose is WHY the author wrote it. 'A story about a brave boy' (main idea) vs. 'To entertain children with a story of bravery' (purpose).

MISTAKE: Believing all non-fiction is 'inform' and all fiction is 'entertain'. | CORRECTION: While often true, some non-fiction (like an advertisement) aims to persuade, and some fiction (like a fable) aims to inform or teach a moral.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: A recipe book tells you how to make delicious biryani. What is the author's main purpose? | ANSWER: To Inform.

QUESTION: A poster shows a picture of a clean park and says, 'Keep our city clean! Use dustbins and help your community.' What is the author's main purpose? | ANSWER: To Persuade.

QUESTION: Your favourite comic book shows funny adventures of a superhero who also teaches you about being kind to animals. What are the two main purposes of the author? | ANSWER: To Entertain and to Inform (or Persuade, if it's strongly encouraging kindness).

MCQ

Quick Quiz

What is the main purpose of a newspaper article reporting on the latest cricket match scores?

To persuade people to watch more cricket

To entertain readers with funny stories about players

To inform readers about the match results and details

To argue that one team is better than another

The Correct Answer Is:

A newspaper article reporting scores primarily gives facts and details about the match, so its main purpose is to inform. It doesn't primarily try to make you do something (persuade) or laugh (entertain).

Real World Connection

In the Real World

When you see an advertisement for a new mobile phone on TV or online, the company's purpose is to PERSUADE you to buy it. When a news anchor on DD National tells you about the weather forecast, their purpose is to INFORM you. When you watch a Bollywood movie, the director's purpose is to ENTERTAIN you.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

PURPOSE: The reason for doing something | PERSUADE: To convince someone to do or believe something | INFORM: To give facts or information to someone | ENTERTAIN: To provide amusement or enjoyment | 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 'Main Idea'. Knowing the author's purpose helps you better identify the main idea of any text, making you a super smart reader!