Key Takeaways
- Three main purposes: Persuade, Inform, Entertain (PIE)
- Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject
- Word choice reveals tone
- Purpose and tone work together to create meaning
- Help students ask "Why did the author write this?"
Author's Purpose and Tone
Understanding why an author writes and how they feel about their subject helps readers fully comprehend a text. These skills are frequently tested on the ParaPro.
Author's Purpose
Author's purpose is the reason an author writes a text. The three main purposes are:
| Purpose | Goal | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Persuade (P) | Convince the reader | Advertisements, editorials, speeches |
| Inform (I) | Teach or explain | Textbooks, news articles, instructions |
| Entertain (E) | Amuse or engage | Novels, jokes, poems |
Memory Trick: PIE - Persuade, Inform, Entertain
Additional Purposes
| Purpose | Goal | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Describe | Create a mental picture | Travel writing, nature essays |
| Explain | Make something clear | How-to guides |
| Express | Share feelings/emotions | Personal narratives, poetry |
Identifying Author's Purpose
Ask yourself:
- Is the author trying to change my mind? → Persuade
- Is the author teaching me facts? → Inform
- Is the author telling a story for enjoyment? → Entertain
Author's Tone
Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject. It's conveyed through word choice, sentence structure, and details.
Common Tones:
| Category | Tone Words |
|---|---|
| Positive | Optimistic, hopeful, enthusiastic, admiring |
| Negative | Critical, pessimistic, angry, sarcastic |
| Neutral | Objective, informative, matter-of-fact |
| Formal | Serious, professional, academic |
| Informal | Casual, conversational, friendly |
| Emotional | Passionate, nostalgic, sorrowful |
Identifying Tone Through Word Choice
Example 1: "The brilliant sunset painted the sky in magnificent shades of orange and pink." Tone: Admiring, appreciative
Example 2: "The sun set. The sky turned orange." Tone: Neutral, objective
Purpose and Tone Working Together
| Purpose | Common Tones |
|---|---|
| Persuade | Urgent, passionate, concerned, critical |
| Inform | Objective, neutral, matter-of-fact |
| Entertain | Humorous, suspenseful, whimsical |
Practice Analysis
"Every child deserves access to quality education. Without proper funding, our schools are crumbling, teachers are leaving, and students are falling behind. We must act now to save our educational system!"
Purpose: Persuade (urging action) Tone: Urgent, concerned, passionate
Classroom Application
Help students identify purpose and tone by:
- Creating anchor charts with purpose and tone examples
- Asking "Why did the author write this?"
- Discussing how word choice affects tone
- Comparing texts with different purposes on the same topic
- Using tone word banks for vocabulary development
What is the primary purpose of a science textbook?
Which word best describes the tone: "Despite facing impossible odds, the team never gave up. Their determination inspired everyone who watched them."