3. Author's Purpose and Point of View

Every passage is written for a reason. Understanding the author's purpose and point of view helps you answer questions about why the author includes certain details, uses specific words, or structures the text a particular way.

The three main purposes:

• To inform — presents facts, explains a concept, or describes a process. Tone is neutral and objective. (textbooks, news articles, encyclopedia entries)
• To persuade — argues for a position or tries to change the reader's mind. Tone is opinionated; includes emotional appeals and loaded language. (editorials, speeches, ads)
• To entertain — engages the reader with narrative, humour, or vivid description. (short stories, memoirs, personal essays)

Point of view is the author's perspective or position on the topic. Even informational texts reveal a point of view through word choice and what details the author includes or omits.

Reading for tone:
Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject. Clue words that signal tone:

• Positive tone: innovative, crucial, remarkable, vital
• Negative tone: reckless, misguided, alarming, wasteful
• Neutral tone: reported, stated, indicated, noted

Bias occurs when an author presents only one side of an issue or uses emotionally loaded language to sway the reader. A biased source may still contain true facts, but it selects and frames them to support one conclusion.

⚠️ Common mistake: confusing the author's purpose with the passage's topic. The purpose is WHY it was written, not WHAT it is about.

💡 Tip: to identify purpose, ask 'What does the author want me to think, feel, or do after reading this?' Inform = know something. Persuade = believe/do something. Entertain = experience something.