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Explore why authors write non-fiction and how their goal shapes the message.
Imagine you receive a text message saying, 'The movie starts at 7:00.' Now imagine it says, 'You MUST see this movie at 7:00!' Why did the sender change the words, and how does it change your reaction?
Every piece of non-fiction is written for a reason. We use the acronym PIE to remember the main purposes: Persuade, Inform, and Entertain. When an author wants to Persuade, they try to get you to do or believe something. When they Inform, they provide facts and data to teach you. Even in non-fiction, authors may write to Entertain, using humor or storytelling to keep you engaged. Understanding which 'slice' of the pie you are reading helps you decide if the information is biased or purely factual.
Quick Check
If you are reading a textbook chapter about the water cycle, which 'slice' of PIE are you consuming?
Answer
Inform
To identify the purpose, look for clues in the text. Informative texts use statistics, dates, and clear headings. They avoid 'I' statements and focus on 'what is.' Persuasive texts use emotional language, call-to-action verbs (like 'Support' or 'Stop'), and opinions disguised as facts. Entertaining non-fiction, like a travel blog or a funny memoir, uses vivid descriptions, dialogue, and suspense to hold your attention. By looking for these markers, you can 'see through' the text to the author's true goal.
Consider a recipe for chocolate cake: 1. It lists specific measurements like cups of flour. 2. It uses imperative verbs like 'Mix' and 'Bake.' 3. There are no opinions about why this cake is 'better' than others.
Purpose: To Inform (how to make the cake).
Quick Check
What is a major clue that a text's purpose is to Persuade?
Answer
The use of opinions, emotional language, or a call to action.
The author's purpose acts as a filter for their diction (word choice). If an author's purpose is to inform you about a storm, they might use the word 'precipitation.' If they want to persuade you to stay inside, they might call it a 'fearsome downpour.' The first word is neutral and factual; the second is loaded with emotion. This shift in tone is the most powerful tool an author has to influence how you feel about the subject matter.
Compare these two sentences about a new park: 1. 'The city opened a -acre park on Tuesday.' (Purpose: Inform) 2. 'The city finally gifted us a much-needed green sanctuary.' (Purpose: Persuade/Entertain)
Notice how 'gifted' and 'sanctuary' create a positive feeling that 'opened' and 'park' do not.
A writer creates an article titled 'Why We Should All Live Without Electricity.' They use funny stories about stumbling in the dark and losing their phone. 1. The tone is humorous (Entertain). 2. The underlying message mocks our tech-obsession (Persuade).
Purpose: This is a 'dual-purpose' text where the author entertains to make a persuasive point.
An advertisement for a new smartphone is primarily written to:
Which word choice best fits an author whose purpose is to INFORM?
A non-fiction text can have more than one purpose at the same time.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to recall the three parts of the PIE acronym and one clue for each.
Practice Activity
Find a news article online. Highlight three 'factual' words and three 'emotional' words. Does the author want to inform you or persuade you?