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Explore the slideshow below to learn how to identify the author's purpose and the various text structures that authors use to serve their overall purpose. Throughout the module, you will determine the text structures used and draw conclusions about the author's choices within paragraphs, among sections, and within the text as a whole. Finally, you will analyze the effectiveness of the author's choices in presenting the information related to the scientific mystery of popcorn.


Speaker plays audio

Author's Purpose and Text Structure

The words Central Idea and Author's Purpose appear on a photograph of a student working on a computer.

Begin by reading the text and thinking about the author's purpose. Ask yourself:

  • What does the author want me to understand?
  • What is the author's central idea?
  • Is the central idea stated directly in the text or is the central idea implied throughout?
The phrase Title of the Text appears on a photograph of a student working on a computer.

Throughout the body of a text, authors choose the text structure(s) to serve their central idea. It is important for readers to be able to identify the various text structures that authors choose. These structures include:

  • Sequence or Chronology
  • Description
  • Compare and Contrast
  • Cause and Effect and
  • Problem and Solution
Text structure with arrows pointing to paragraphs

Text structure may vary throughout the text. Authors may have an overall structure to present their central idea. However, within the text, authors may use a variety of structures to serve their overall purpose. Therefore, text structures can be used as follows:

  • Within a single paragraph.
  • Between two paragraphs to show a relationship between the ideas or concepts presented.
  • Within a major section of text that may contain several paragraphs.
Girl reading on digital tablet and writing

As you continue reading, think about how the author's central idea is revealed. Ask yourself about the structure(s) the author is choosing:

  • What is the purpose of this section?
  • What is the structure of this section?
  • Is the author using more than one structure within this section? If so, why?
Wheel cogs purpose central idea conclusion

Draw conclusions about how the relationship among the major sections adds to the development of the author's purpose. Ask yourself:

  • How does the purpose of a particular section fit the overall purpose of the article?
  • How is the author choosing to organize the information within the major sections to serve the central idea?
How and why speech bubbles

Analyze the effectiveness of the structure in presenting the information. When you analyze a text, you are explaining HOW and WHY the author chose the text structure. Follow these steps:

  • Make a claim that identifies the author's choice of text structure and how it contributes to the overall purpose.
  • Justify your claim with evidence from the text.
  • Use reasoning to show how the evidence supports your claim about the author's choice of structure to reveal the overall purpose in the text.