Three Reasons for Writing. Write 3 sentences… To give me information about making a pie. I’ve never made anything in the kitchen, so I’ll need detailed.

Three Reasons for Writing

Write 3 sentences…

• To give me information about making a pie. I’ve never made anything in the kitchen, so I’ll need detailed instructions.

Write 3 sentences…

• To argue that blueberry pie is the best pie in the world. Try to convince me that it beats all other types of pie.

Write 3 sentences…

• To tell a story about a person named Pat. This person can be a man or a woman. The story must involve pie.

Writing to Inform

Informative writing shows or explains facts.

Examples:

• Biography of Barack Obama

• News report about a shooting

• Note to a friend

• Essay about “killer bees”

• Speed Limit rules clip

Writing to PersuadePersuasive writing tries to influence or convince the reader, so it usually makes an argument.

Examples:

•Political speeches

•Advertisements

•An essay urging readers to recycle

•Car commercial

Writing to Entertain

Writing for entertainment means there is a story or a poem involved.

Examples:

•Harry Potter books

•Poems about love

•Narrative essay about the big game

•Script for a TV show

•Finding Nemo Clip

Is it a story, poem, or drama (script)?

Entertain

Yes No

Does the text make arguments?

InformPersuade

Yes No

Does the text give facts?

Yes No StartOver

Review

• Informative writing provides facts and general information about a topic.

• Persuasive writing expresses an opinion or argument (may use facts to support).

• Writing for entertainment means there must be a story or a poem involved.

Practice

1. I will describe a piece of writing. Think

about each author’s purpose.

2. You will write the author’s purpose on

your white board: to inform, persuade,

or entertain.

1

The story of a teenage boy learning to understand and live with his father, who is a Vietnam war veteran.

2

A list of the 25 richest athletes in the world.

3

An article arguing why Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever.

4

An “X-men” comic book.

5

The story about a young woman with low self-esteem learning to accept herself.

6

A National Geographic article about the eating and breeding habits of the endangered bald eagle.

7

A website saying that a new shopping mall should not be built because it threatens an endangered bald eagle’s home. The website also lists other reasons why the mall should not be built.

8

A poem about bald eagles.

9

A magazine ad telling you to buy Nike Hyperdunk shoes because you’ll jump higher.

10

A sign saying, “Rest Stop Five Miles Ahead.”

Answers1. Entertain2. Inform3. Persuade4. Entertain5. Entertain6. Inform7. Persuade8. Entertain9. Persuade10. Inform

Partner Practice

• Sort each of these forms of writing into the correct column.

Why does this lesson matter?

– As an audience member, it is useful to understand the intentions and motives behind the message.

– What made him/her write this thing?

– If it was to inform, you can take the facts and use them however you want.

– If it was to persuade, you should look carefully at the material before making a decision based on it.

– If it was to entertain, you can enjoy or dismiss it.

Author’s PurposePractice Exercises