What Is Author's Purpose?
Author's purpose is the reason an author wrote a text. Every piece of writing exists for a purpose — and understanding that purpose helps a reader make better sense of what they are reading.
The three main purposes — PIE
A widely taught framework uses the acronym PIE:
P — Persuade: The author wants to convince you of something.
- Advertisements, opinion essays, book reviews, editorials
- Look for: strong opinions, reasons and evidence, calls to action
I — Inform: The author wants to teach you something or share facts.
- Textbooks, news articles, encyclopedias, how-to guides
- Look for: facts, definitions, explanations, data
E — Entertain: The author wants you to enjoy the experience of reading.
- Stories, novels, poems, jokes, comics
- Look for: characters, plots, humor, vivid description
Many texts blend purposes
Real writing often has more than one purpose. A science article may inform you about volcanoes while also being written in an entertaining style. A novel may entertain while also persuading you to think differently about an issue.
The question is not "Which one purpose is this?" but rather "What is the primary purpose?"
How to identify author's purpose
Ask these questions:
- Is the author trying to change my mind about something? (Persuade)
- Is the author teaching me facts I did not know? (Inform)
- Is the author telling a story or trying to make me laugh or feel something? (Entertain)
- What type of text is this? (Genre gives strong clues.)
Why it matters for comprehension
When a child knows the author's purpose, they read differently — and more effectively:
- Reading a persuasive text, they can look for the argument and evaluate whether the evidence is strong
- Reading an informational text, they can focus on key facts and organize the information
- Reading a story, they can engage with characters and follow the plot
Understanding purpose is part of being a critical, thoughtful reader — not just a decoder.
Beyond PIE
As children mature, they encounter more nuanced purposes:
- To describe: painting a picture with words (descriptive essays, poetry)
- To explain: showing how or why something works
- To reflect: sharing personal thoughts and experiences (memoirs, journals)
PIE is a great starting framework, but reading grows richer when children learn to see the full range of reasons people write.
Related concepts
- What Is Reading Comprehension?: author's purpose is a key comprehension skill
- What Is Text Structure?: structure often reflects purpose
- What Is Tone vs Mood?: the author's attitude connects to purpose
- What Is Point of View in Literature?: who is telling the story and why