Purpose, audience and viewpoint · Year 7
Every text is written for a reason (its purpose), for someone (its audience), and often shows what the writer thinks (their viewpoint). Asking why, who for and what the writer thinks helps you understand any text.
Key facts
- The main purposes: to inform (give facts), to persuade (change what you think or do), to entertain (amuse or excite), to instruct (tell you how to do something).
- Clues to the purpose: facts and numbers inform; commands and steps instruct; opinions, strong words and questions persuade; characters and events entertain.
- The audience is who the text is for. Look at the subject, the words used and how the writer speaks to the reader: a text for young children uses short, simple sentences.
- The viewpoint is what the writer thinks. Look for opinion words (I think, should, best, terrible) and what the writer asks the reader to do.
- A text can have more than one purpose: an advert can inform you about a product and persuade you to buy it. Ask which purpose matters most.