Purpose for Writing
The purpose for writing refers to the reason an author creates a piece of writing. Understanding the purpose behind a text helps readers comprehend the author's message and intention.
Types of Writing Purposes
There are several common purposes for writing:
- Informative: The author's goal is to provide information or explain a topic to the reader.
- Persuasive: The author aims to convince the reader to adopt a certain viewpoint or take a specific action.
- Entertaining: The writer's purpose is to engage and amuse the reader, often found in stories, poems, and creative writing.
- Expressive: The author expresses personal thoughts, feelings, or experiences, often found in personal essays, diaries, and memoirs.
Identifying the Purpose for Writing
When reading a text, it's important to consider the following questions to help identify the purpose for writing:
- What is the author trying to achieve with this piece of writing?
- Is the author trying to inform, persuade, entertain, or express personal thoughts and feelings?
- What evidence or clues in the text support the identified purpose?
Study Guide
To understand the purpose for writing, consider the following study guide questions:
- What is the purpose of the text?
- How does the author's tone and language support the identified purpose?
- What are the main points or arguments presented by the author?
- What effect does the text aim to have on the reader?
[Purpose For Writing] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:
.◂English Language Arts Worksheets and Study Guides Sixth Grade. Purpose for Writing
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Purpose for Writing 
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Purpose for Writing Worksheet/Answer key
Purpose for Writing
Worksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyThe resources above cover the following skills:
Students read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres to build an understanding of the many dimensions (e.g., philosophical, ethical, aesthetic) of human experience. (NCTE)
Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes. (NCTE)
Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities. (NCTE)
Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information). (NCTE)