Page 4 - Identifying the Author Purpose – Reading in English – ESL Library

Identifying the Author’s Purpose

Reading in English

Identifying the Author’s Purpose

Now let’s review some clues that can help you find the author’s purpose.

A. Clues

1. Persuade

Function Features

• persuasive language
• convincing examples
to convince the reader of something • emotional tone
• adjectives & adverbs
• different font styles for emphasis (e.g., bold, italics, caps)

2. Inform

Function Features

• neutral voice
• author is an expert on the topic
to explain or describe something • non-fiction
that the reader may not know
• formatted or in paragraph form
• statistics, dates, times, and locations

3. Entertain

Function Features

• enjoyable content
• funny, sad, mysterious (causes reader to feel emotion)
to bring enjoyment to the reader • may be fictional
• often paired with visuals and video
• informal language

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