When you begin reading a text,

your mind must go to work

immediately trying to determine
who wrote the text, who the text is
for, and why the piece was
written.

This information can change how

you interpret (or understand) the
text.

When you do this, you're thinking

about the most basic elements of
a reading: author, audience, and
purpose.
 the person who wrote the text

It is important to understand the

author of a text as it will change
how you interpret the text.

FOR EXAMPLE:
If you are looking for information
about a medical condition, a friend
may give some good advice, but if
it contradicts the advice that you
get from a well-regarded medical
professional, you might want to
consider disregarding the
information from your friend.
who the writer expects to read
the text

You may not be the main audience

for a text. The audience for a text is
not always the same as the people
who are reading it because authors
cannot always control who reads
their work.

However, when an author writes

something, they do so with a
specific type of reader in mind.
When the author knows who the
audience is, they can use specific
language, details, and examples to AUDIENCE: AUDIENCE:
speak directly to that audience. TEENAGE GIRLS EDUCATORS & ADMINISTRATORS
 why the writer chose this topic

Every writer has a reason (purpose)

for writing about a topic.

You can determine the purpose of a

passage by asking yourself:

WHY IS THE WRITER TELLING ME

ABOUT THIS?

WHAT DOES THE WRITER WANT

ME TO KNOW OR DO AFTER
READING THIS?
 REMEMBER:
BECAUSE WRITERS OFTEN INCORPORATE MULTIPLE
PURPOSES IN ONE PIECE OF WRITING, IT IS IMPORTANT TO
FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON THE AUTHOR’S MAIN PURPOSE.

FOR EXAMPLE, A WRITER WILL FREQUENTLY INCLUDE

INFORMATION IN A PERSUASIVE PIECE OR TRY TO MAKE AN
INFORMATIVE PIECE ENTERTAINING FOR THEIR READERS.