Audience
The person or group a text is written for.
Audience
The reason an author writes a text.
Author's purpose
A text explains why something happened and what happened as a result.
Cause and effect
Give your puppy fresh water every day. Feed it regularly and spend time playing with it. Giving your puppy attention will help it learn that you are a friend. Who is the audience?
Someone getting/caring for a new puppy
The author wants the reader to believe something or take a certain action.
Persuade
Passage 1:
Heavy rain can cause rivers to rise quickly. When a river becomes too full, water may spill over its banks and flood nearby land. Floodwater can damage roads, homes, and other buildings.
Passage 2:
Flooding can make roads unsafe for drivers. One way communities can help solve this problem is by building levees along rivers. Levees create barriers that help keep rising water from reaching nearby roads and homes.
How are the two passages organized?
Passage 1: Cause and effect
Passage 2: Problem and solution
Place your strawberry plants in a sunny spot. Water them every morning during hot weather and keep weeds from growing around them. Who is the audience?
People who want to grow strawberries
Our school should have a longer recess. Extra time outside would give students more opportunities to exercise and play. Students may even return to class more focused and ready to learn.
What is the Author's purpose?
Persuade
Our playground gets muddy after it rains. Adding mulch around the equipment would cover the wet ground and give students a drier place to play. What is the structure?
Problem and solution
These waterproof shoes have insulated soles and extra cushioning. They will keep your feet comfortable during long walks on rocky trails, even when it rains. Who is the audience?
People who like to hike
Jamal slowly opened the closet door.
“Did you hear that?” he whispered.
Another BANG came from inside.
Jamal jumped backward just as his cat rolled out of the closet wrapped in a blanket.
What is the author's purpose?
Entertain
Snowshoeing is similar to walking, while skiing requires learning how to balance and control skis. Snowshoeing does not require a lift ticket, but downhill skiers often need one. What is the structure?
Compare and Contrast
Before your first soccer practice, make sure you bring cleats, shin guards, and a water bottle. Arrive a few minutes early so you have time to meet your coach and teammates. Most importantly, be ready to listen, learn, and have fun!
Who is the audience?
students getting ready for their first soccer practice
Owls are amazing hunters. Their large eyes help them see in low light, and their sharp claws help them grab prey. Some owls can even locate animals by sound. What is the author's purpose?
Inform
Passage 1: When air is trapped inside soapy water, a thin skin forms around it. When that skin touches something dry or sharp, it breaks and the bubble pops.
Passage 2: If your bubbles pop too quickly, add corn syrup to the mixture. Corn syrup makes the bubble skin stronger so it lasts longer.
How are the two passages organized?
Passage 1: cause and effect; Passage 2: problem and solution