Author’s Purpose and Point of View

Author’s PurposeThe author’s purpose is their reason for writing.

Authors write for many different reasons but most fall into one of the following categories:

-To inform

-To entertain

-To persuade

-To express or describe

Some writers write to INFORM their readers about a specific topic

Characteristics: Has mostly factual information

For example: The author of your history text book was writing to INFORM you about historical

events.

Some writers write to INFORM

Some writers write to ENTERTAIN their readers

Characteristics: Tells a story often using humor or suspense

For example: The novel “Holes” was written to ENTERTAIN young adult readers.

Some writers write to ENTERTAIN

Some writers write to PERSUADE their readers to think or act in a certain way

Characteristics: Criticisms and arguments for and against something as well as promotions are

often used in persuasive passages

For example: The advertisement written for Crest toothpaste, was written to persuade the viewer to buy the

toothpaste.

Some writers write to PERSUADE

Some writers write to EXPRESS or DESCRIBE something to their readers

Characteristics: Presents a specific point of view or shares personal feelings

For example: The Diary of Anne Frank was written to EXPRESS

or DESCRIBE Anne Frank’s feelings during the Holocaust.

Some writers write to EXPRESS or DESCRIBE

Several factors contribute to author’s purpose

These include the author’s...

- Bias

-Use of fact/opinion

-Tone

Author’s BiasWriters write about what they know…

• The author’s bias is the author’s outlook or prejudice

• Generally, writers support ideas or institutions that benefit them

Use of Facts and Opinions• A FACT is a piece of information that can be

checked to determine whether they’re true

• An OPINION reflects how a person feels about a subject and cannot be proven true or false

An author’s use of facts and opinions can help you determine what their feelings are

about a particular subject. This will help you decide the reason or

purpose for their writing

Author’s ToneThe author’s TONE reveals the author’s

attitude

• Author’s make decisions about the words they use and the tone they create based

on how they feel about the subject

• Purpose can be determined by deciding how the author wanted the audience to

feel about a subject

Strategies and Tips• Read the selection carefully to get a general feeling

for what the author is saying.

• Look for any biases or prejudices the author might have? (Did the author take a particular stand on an

issue?)

• Determine if the author uses more facts or opinions in the passage

• Decide what the tone of the passage is by looking for words that reveal the author’s attitude toward the

topic

• Finally ask yourself why did the author write this passage?

Point of ViewPoint of view is determining who is telling

the story

There are two point of views the story may be told from

- First person

- Third person

First Person Point of View

First person point of view occurs when the story is narrated by a character

within the story

• Look for key words such as I, we and us to identify first person point of

view

Third Person Point of View

Third person point of view occurs when the story is told by a narrator outside of the

story

• Look for key words for clues to third person point of view such as they, she, and he

• There are two subcategories of third person point of view

Third Person Omniscient Point of View

Third Person OMNISCIENT Point

of View occurs when the narrator knows each of the

character’s thoughts (the narrator is all

knowing)

Third Person Intimate Point of View

Third Person INTIMATE Point of View occurs when

the narrator is closer and more

aware of one particular

character’s point of view

Strategies and Tips

• Always look for key words in the passage which might identify the point of view

• If the point of view is third person point of view:

• - Decide if the author knows all of the feelings and emotions and actions of all characters

• or • - If the narrator is more closely aware of the

behavior and thoughts of one particular character