An introduction to Purpose and Tone

An Introduction to Purpose and Tone

Every written piece of information is created by an author who has a specific reason for writing. This reason for writing is known as the author's purpose. Effective readers read to understand the author's purpose.
Understanding purpose is closely related to the ability to identify the tone of a passage. Tone is the emotion or mood of the author's written voice. Purpose and tone are established with word choice.

Purpose isthe reason the author writes about a topic
Tone is the author's attitude toward the topic

Purpose

Many reasons can motivate a writer to write. The writer’s reasons can range from the need to take a stand on a hotly debated issue to the desire to entertain an audience with an amusing story. In general, the author's purpose falls into one of three general categories:

• To inform. When setting out to inform, a writer gives information about a topic. Authors use facts to teach or explain the main idea to readers. Most textbook passages are written to inform.
         The following topic sentences reflect the writer’s desire to inform:
  
  Lou Gehrig’s disease causes the body to shut down while the mind remains sharp and clear.
  
  Preparing garden beds for spring planting requires several steps.
  
  
• To persuade. A writer who sets out to persuade tries to convince the reader to agree with his or her view on the topic. Authors combine facts with emotional appeals to sway the reader. Politicians and advertisers often write and speak to persuade.
         The following topic sentences reflect the writer’s desire to persuade:
  
  Someone you know or love will die from Lou Gehrig’s disease unless a cure is found, so make a generous donation to the Lou Gehrig’s Disease Foundation.
  
  Chemicals that control weeds in gardens, such as dioxin, should be banned from use because they are human health hazards.
  
  
• To entertain. A writer whose purpose is to entertain sets out to amuse the audience. Authors appeal to the reader’s senses, emotions, and imagination. Both fiction and nonfiction writers seek to entertain.
         The following topic sentences reflect the writer’s desire to entertain:
  
  It is pleasant even to be ill when you know that there are people who are looking forward to your convalescence as to a holiday.
  
  —Anton Chekhov, The Story of an Unknown Man.
  
  
  In preparing the soil for planting, you will need several tools. Dynamite would be a beautiful thing to use, but it would have a tendency to get the dirt into the front-hall and track up the stairs.
  
  —Robert Benchley, “Gardening Notes.”