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Communication of ideas comes in many forms, or media. Authors write books, short stories and poems. Artists create paintings, sculptures and photographs. Composers write lyrics and musical compositions. Politicians give speeches and create campaign ads. Companies use commercials and catchy jingles.
- What do all of these types of media have in common?
There are three main purposes for communicating:
- to persuade,
- to inform,
- and to entertain.
We can use the acronym P.I.E. to help us remember them.
Now, let’s examine clues to help us understand an author’s purpose. Notice what the tabs spell out below:
P – Persuade
Authors often write to persuade readers, listeners or viewers. They want the audience to do something or to believe something.
Persuasive writing is meant to appeal to your logic, your emotion or your morals or beliefs.
For example, politicians give campaign speeches to convince voters to vote for them.
Common Types of Media Used to Persuade:
- advertisements
- campaign speeches
- persuasive letters
- book reviews
- protest signs
I – Inform
When authors wish to inform their readers, they focus on facts. Even though the presentation may be entertaining, the purpose is to teach the readers something.
For example, a cookbook is designed to teach the reader how to create specific recipes.
Common Types of Media Used to Inform:
- research papers
- encyclopedias
- instruction manuals
- cookbooks
- newspapers
E – Entertain
Oftentimes, authors wish to entertain their readers. This does not mean that the stories or poems will always be happy or funny. Dramas and tragedies are also meant to entertain readers.
Common Types of Media Used to Entertain:
- short stories
- novels
- poems
- movies
- songs
- cartoons
Author’s Purpose
When attempting to determine the author’s purpose, it is helpful to ask yourself these questions:
- What type of media is being used?
- Remember that different forms of media are used to persuade, to inform or to entertain.
- Is the information mostly factual?
- Authors must use facts to inform their readers, viewers and listeners.
- Is the author trying to convince the reader to do something or to think something?
- When an author attempts to change the audience’s minds or to cause the audience to act, he is using persuasion.
