Reading: Recognizing Author's Tone, Purpose & Attitude (Basic): B1 Lesson 1: Identifying the Author's Main Purpose
CEFR Level: B1 (Intermediate)
Target Reading Sub-skill: Recognizing Author's Tone, Purpose & Attitude (Basic)
Specific Focus: Identifying the Author's Main Purpose (to inform, entertain, persuade - simple cases)
What You Will Learn
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Understand that authors write for different reasons or purposes.
- Identify three common author's purposes: to inform, to entertain, and to persuade.
- Recognize clues in a text that help you understand the author's main purpose.
- Determine the main purpose of simple B1-level texts.
Hello Cambodian Learners!
Why does someone write a story, an article, or an advertisement? Every writer has a reason, or a purpose, for writing. Understanding this purpose helps you understand the text better. For example, a news article about a new bridge in your province, perhaps near Battambang, is written to give you information. A funny story is written to make you laugh. An advertisement for a local restaurant tries to convince you to eat there!
Common Author's Purposes
Let's look at three common reasons why authors write. Click on the text samples to hear them.
1. To Inform (to give information or facts)
This text gives facts and information about Tonlé Sap Lake. Its purpose is to inform.
Clues: Factual details, explanations, descriptions.
2. To Entertain (to tell a story, be amusing, or create enjoyment)
This text tells a story with characters and events. Its purpose is to entertain.
Clues: Story elements (characters, plot), humor, interesting events.
3. To Persuade (to convince you to do, buy, or believe something)
This text tries to convince you to visit Angkor Cafe. Its purpose is to persuade.
Clues: Strong positive words (delicious, best), direct address (You should...), call to action (Come and experience...).
Practice Time!
Activity 1: What's the Author's Purpose?
Read each short text. Then choose the author's main purpose for writing it.
Quick Quiz!
Great Job!
Understanding the author's purpose is a key reading skill. It helps you know what to expect from a text and how to interpret the information presented.