Reading Skill
RECOGNIZING THE WRITER’S INTENTION
Authors rarely state their intentions of writing in a concise statement. Authors usually imply their intentions and you must infer them from the passage. Authors’ intentions of writing can be divided into the following 5 categories:
1. To inform
These passages attempt to teach or explain something to you. They will explain a point, a certain process,or a concept. Usually, when a passage’s purpose is to inform, you will find objective language and facts.The passage should not contain opinions or bias language.
2. To persuade
These passages attempt to convince the reader, to argue a position, or to prove a point. In this type of passage, authors are trying to get your support for their position or belief. They want you to agree with them and will word their passages accordingly. Since the writer’s intention is to persuade you, the passages usually contain a mixture of facts and opinions.
3. To narrate
These passages recount a sequence of events or tell a story to the reader. The events in the passage may be either fact or fiction. Since the author is telling you about an event or about a series of events. Most of these passages are in some form of time order.
4. To describe
These passages make some appeal to your five senses—hearing, sight, smell, touch, or taste. In these passages, you will often be given information that will form a picture or an image of the topics discussed.
5. To entertain
These passages are supposed to amuse the reader. The passages are written to be humorous and entertaining.