Learn the three primary purposes for writing: to persuade, to inform, and to entertain. This stack covers the basic 'PIE' acronym and how to identify each purpose in a text.
Give two examples of writing primarily meant to persuade.
Advertisements, political speeches, argumentative essays, and opinion editorials (op-eds).
What textual features suggest an author's purpose is to inform?
The presence of facts, statistics, definitions, expert citations, and objective, unbiased language.
Give two examples of writing primarily meant to inform.
Textbooks, encyclopedias, scientific journals, and news reports (that are not editorials).
What is the goal of an author whose purpose is 'to entertain'?
The author aims to provide enjoyment, amusement, and imaginative engagement for the reader.
What is the goal of an author whose purpose is 'to inform'?
The author aims to provide factual information, explain a concept, or teach the reader about a topic in an objective manner.
What are the three main reasons an author writes, often recalled with the acronym 'PIE'?
To Persuade, to Inform, and to Entertain.
What is the goal of an author whose purpose is 'to persuade'?
The author aims to convince the reader to adopt a certain viewpoint, believe an idea, or take a specific action.
What textual features suggest an author's purpose is to persuade?
The presence of opinions, biased language, emotional appeals (pathos), supporting arguments, and often a 'call to action'.
What textual features suggest an author's purpose is to entertain?
The presence of story elements like plot and characters, humor, suspense, imaginative descriptions, and literary devices.
Give two examples of writing primarily meant to entertain.
Novels, short stories, poems, screenplays, and humorous essays.
Can a single text have more than one authorial purpose?
Yes. A text can have a primary purpose and secondary purposes. For example, a historical novel entertains while also informing the reader about a time period.
How does identifying the 'primary purpose' help on standardized tests?
It helps you understand the author's main goal, which provides context for answering questions about main idea, tone, and specific details. It's the 'why' behind the 'what'.
