1. Why Did They Do It? A closer look at author’s purpose…

2. What is author’s purpose? The author’s purpose is why they wrote what they did. Authors always have a reason to write what they do, but sometimes they might not tell you. You have to figure it out!

3. Authors write to… …Entertain! …Inform! …Persuade! …Explain!

4. Writing to Entertain Good writers have great imaginations. Writers that entertain tell stories that they think we will enjoy. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and The Watsons Go to Birmingham are fantastic stories that entertain us!

5. Entertain Example The flying elephant landed in the middle of Bryant-Denny Stadium just in time for Mark Ingram to jump on his back. Together, they flew away so they could discuss how to defeat the evil tiger that had been terrorizing Tuscaloosa.

6. Writing to Inform Some writers like to study things and share what they find. Writers that inform tell us important facts about places, animals, events, and many other things! A great example of this is Who Were the Beatles?

7. Inform Example The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Texas Longhorns in the National Championship Game held at the Rose Bowl on January 7th, 2010. The score was 36-21. Mark Ingram scored two touchdowns.

8. Writing to Persuade Some writers feel very strongly about some topics and situations. They feel so strongly that they want you to agree with them! Writers use a combination of their opinions (and facts to support them) to persuade you!

9. Persuade Example The University of Alabama is the best university in the country. Their football team won the National Championship this year. They also have beautiful buildings, great academic programs, and tons of fun things to do! If you’re applying to college this year, Bama should be on your list!

10. Writing to Explain Some writers like to help people do or understand things. A writer might give directions to a house, or give directions on how to make the best cookies in the universe.

11. Explain Example To get to Bryant-Denny Stadium from Birmingham, AL, take the Interstate 20/65 and exit McFarland Street. Go down to University Avenue, take a right (it swings you up), and follow it for 3.8 miles. You can’t miss the stadium on your left!

12. Quick Check! Ready to put your knowledge to the test?

13. Haiti Earthquake On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti at 4:53 p.m. Thousands of people have died, and even more have lost homes. In fact, 15% of Haiti’s population was displaced.

14. The author wrote this to… …INFORM!

15. The Evil Fairy The little fairy, dressed all in black, hovered over Samantha’s head, whispering a spell. All of a sudden, whiskers began to grow out of her face! When she opened her mouth, all that came out was “Meow!”

16. The author wrote this to… ENTERTAIN!

17. How to Make an iTunes Playlist Open up iTunes on your computer. Go up to the top left, and click “File”. You will then see “New Playlist”. Click on this, and name your new playlist. Then, scroll through your music library to choose songs. When you find a song you want, click and drag it into the playlist!

18. The author wrote this to… EXPLAIN!

19. The Worth of Teachers Teachers are important people in our society. Without teachers, there would be no scientists, no CEOs, no doctors, no nurses, the list goes on! Because their job is so important, teachers should be paid more. We pay people lots of money to do important jobs like try court cases, why not pay teachers what they are worth?

20. The author wrote this to… PERSUADE!

21. What’s the purpose? Holes Who Was Albert Einstein? How Things Work Three Cups of Tea

22. Answers Holes (Entertain) Who Was Albert Einstein? (Inform) How Things Work (Explain) Three Cups of Tea (Entertain/Inform/Persuade)