Reading: Recognizing Author's Tone, Purpose & Attitude (Basic): B1 Lesson 1: Identifying the Author's Main Purpose

Reading: Recognizing Author's Tone, Purpose & Attitude (Basic)

B1 Lesson 1: Identifying the Author's Main Purpose

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Why Did the Author Write This?

Every text is written for a reason. This reason is called the Author's Purpose¹. Understanding the purpose helps you understand the writer's main message and viewpoint.

The three main purposes are easy to remember with the acronym PIE:

• P = to Persuade² (to make you agree)
• I = to Inform³ (to give you facts)
• E = to Entertain⁴ (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.

Purpose 1: To Persuade

Clues: Contains opinions, strong adjectives (best, amazing), and suggestions (you should).

Example:

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!

Purpose 2: To Inform

Clues: Contains facts, numbers, dates, and neutral, objective language.

Example:

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.

Purpose 3: To Entertain

Clues: Contains characters, a setting, a plot (events), and dialogue.

Example:

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.

Your Turn! What is the Purpose?

Practice Quiz

Read the short text and identify the author's primary 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 purpose? (Persuade / Inform / Entertain)

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Answer: To Inform. The text gives factual steps and instructions on how to do something.

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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 purpose? (Persuade / Inform / Entertain)

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Answer: To Persuade. The text uses strong opinions ("the only drink," "most refreshing") to convince you to agree.

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Author's Purpose (noun phrase)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: គោលបំណងរបស់អ្នកនិពន្ធ
   The main reason that an author decides to write about a topic. ↩ back to text
2. To Persuade (verb)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: ដើម្បីបញ្ចុះបញ្ចូល
   To try to convince the reader to agree with an opinion or to do something. ↩ back to text
3. To Inform (verb)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: ដើម្បីជូនដំណឹង
   To give facts and objective information about a topic. ↩ back to text
4. To Entertain (verb)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: ដើម្បីកំសាន្ត
   To tell a story or create an enjoyable experience for the reader. ↩ back to text

Homework Task

Be a Purpose Detective!

Look for three different short English texts this week. You can find them online, in books, or in newspapers.

1. Find one text whose purpose is To Persuade (like an advertisement or a review).
2. Find one text whose purpose is To Inform (like a news report or a fact file).
3. Find one text whose purpose is To Entertain (like a short story or a comic strip).

For each text, write down its purpose and the clues that helped you decide.