Understanding an Author’s Implicit Purpose

Every piece of writing exists for a reason. Someone sat down to write it because they wanted the reader to do, feel, or know something. Often the writer never states that reason out loud, so it is your job to figure it out.

An author’s purpose is the reason a text was written — usually to inform, to persuade, or to entertain. When the purpose is implicit, the author does not announce it, so you infer it from the content, tone, and details. Asking “Why did the author write this?” is how you uncover it.

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The Three Main Purposes

Most writing serves one of three main purposes. A text that means to inform explains facts and teaches something, like a news report or an article on how bees make honey. A text that means to persuade tries to convince you to think or act a certain way, like an editorial urging you to vote. A text that means to entertain aims to amuse or move you, like a funny story or a suspenseful tale. Some writing blends purposes, but usually one leads. A quick way to sort them is to notice the payoff: did you learn a fact, get pushed toward an opinion, or simply enjoy a story? That payoff points straight at the author’s main goal.

Reading an Implicit Purpose

When the purpose is implicit, you become a detective, gathering clues from the writing itself. Look at the content: heavy on facts and steps suggests informing, while heavy on opinions and emotional appeals suggests persuading. Look at the tone: neutral usually means informing, passionate or one-sided means persuading, playful means entertaining. Look at the details the author chose to include or leave out; a writer who only shows one side of an issue is likely trying to persuade. For example, an article titled “Ten Reasons Our Town Needs a New Park” that piles up benefits and ignores costs is persuading, even though it never says “I want to convince you.” Match the clues to a purpose, and you have your answer.

Watch: A Short Video Lesson

Khan Academy gives a clear overview to go with this lesson:

A Routine for Finding Purpose

1. Ask, “Why did the author write this?”
2. Notice the payoff: did you learn, get persuaded, or get entertained?
3. Check the tone — neutral, passionate, or playful.
4. See whether the author shows one side or many.

Practice

1. What is an author’s purpose?
2. Name the three main purposes.
3. What does it mean for a purpose to be implicit?
4. What tone usually signals an intent to inform?
5. How can the details an author includes reveal the purpose?
6. What is the best question to ask when the purpose is not stated?

Answers

1. The reason a text was written.
2. To inform, to persuade, and to entertain.
3. The author does not state it, so you infer it.
4. A neutral tone.
5. Showing only one side suggests an intent to persuade.
6. “Why did the author write this?”

Where This Fits in Your RLA Prep

Finding purpose leads directly into purpose vs. point of view and rhetorical techniques. See every topic on the Language Arts Prep Hub.

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