Reading: Author's Tone, Purpose & Attitude
B1 Lesson 1: Identifying the Author's Main Purpose
Before You Read 🧠
Key Vocabulary
Remember P.I.E. 🥧
Every text is written for a reason. An easy way to remember the three main purposes is to think of the word PIE.
The Three Main Purposes:
- P = Persuade: The author wants you to believe or do something.
- I = Inform: The author wants to give you facts and information.
- E = Entertain: The author wants to tell you a story.
Recognizing the Three Main Purposes
Let's look at how the same topic, Bokor Mountain, can be written about with three different purposes.
Clues: Contains opinions, strong adjectives (best, amazing), and suggestions (you should).
You absolutely should visit Bokor Mountain on your next trip to Kampot. It is the most beautiful place in the province to see the sunset, and the cool mountain air is a perfect escape from the city heat. Don't miss this amazing experience!
Clues: Contains facts, numbers, dates, and neutral, objective language.
Bokor Mountain is located in Preah Monivong National Park, approximately 37 kilometers west of Kampot town. Its peak rises 1,081 meters above sea level. The area was first developed as a hill station resort by French colonists in the 1920s.
Clues: Contains characters, a setting, a plot (events), and dialogue.
One afternoon, Dara and his friend decided to ride their moto up the winding road to Bokor Mountain. The journey was long, and as they got higher, a thick fog rolled in. "Wow, I can't see anything!" shouted Dara. Suddenly, through the mist, they saw the dark shape of an old, abandoned building.
Practice What You Learned 🎯
Quiz: What is the Purpose?
Text 1: "To make perfect iced coffee, first brew some strong coffee. Next, let it cool completely. Then, pour the coffee into a tall glass full of ice. Finally, add sweetened condensed milk and stir."
What is the main purpose? → To Inform. The text gives factual steps and instructions.
Text 2: "Forget iced tea! The only drink you need on a hot day in Kampot is fresh sugarcane juice. It is the most refreshing and delicious drink available. You are wasting your time if you choose anything else!"
What is the main purpose? → To Persuade. The text uses strong opinions ("the only drink," "most refreshing") to convince you.
Key Vocabulary Reference
- Author's Purpose The main reason that an author decides to write about a topic.
- To Persuade To convince the reader to agree with an opinion or to do something.
- To Inform To give facts and objective information about a topic.
- To Entertain To tell a story or create an enjoyable experience for the reader.
Your Reading Mission ⭐
Be a Purpose Detective!
Look for three different short English texts this week from online sources, books, or newspapers.
- Find one text whose purpose is To Persuade (like an advertisement).
- Find one text whose purpose is To Inform (like a news report).
- Find one text whose purpose is To Entertain (like a short story).
For each text, write down its purpose and the clues that helped you decide.