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Comprehension · Guide 5 of 6

Author's purpose and structure

Why did the writer write this, and why did they put it in this order? Purpose and structure questions look at the whole text, not just single words.

  • Ages 9 to 11
  • 11+ Comprehension
  • Worked examples

What is it?

Purpose is the reason a text was written: to entertain, inform, persuade, explain, instruct, describe or warn. A story mostly entertains; a leaflet might persuade; a recipe instructs.

Structure is how the text is built: how it opens, where new paragraphs start, where short or long sentences are used, and how it ends. Writers plan these choices to grab and hold the reader.

The passage used in these guides

Passage

The Harbour

1The storm had been building all afternoon. By the time Maya reached the harbour, the sky had turned the colour of a bruise, and the fishing boats were tugging at their ropes like restless dogs.

2She pulled her coat tighter and scanned the quay for her grandfather's red boat. It wasn't there.

3Her stomach tightened. Grandad always came back before four o'clock; he said the sea kept its promises only until teatime. Maya checked her watch: ten past five.

4Behind her, the lighthouse blinked awake, sweeping its long white arm across the waves.

How to spot it

  • 'Why has the writer written this?', 'What is the purpose of…?', 'Who is the text written for?'.
  • 'Why does the writer start a new paragraph here?', 'Why is this sentence so short?', 'How does the opening/ending…?'.

Step-by-step method

  1. Step 1: For purpose, ask: is this text trying to make me enjoy, learn, act or do something?
  2. Step 2: Look at clues: a story with characters (entertain), facts and figures (inform), 'you should' (persuade), numbered steps (instruct).
  3. Step 3: For structure, find the part the question is about: the opening, a paragraph break, a short sentence, the ending.
  4. Step 4: Ask what the writer wants the reader to feel or notice at that point.
  5. Step 5: Explain the effect: building tension, changing time or place, a surprise, a cliffhanger.

Worked examples

Example 1: a short sentence

Question: Why does the writer use the short sentence 'It wasn't there.'?
  1. Step 1: It comes straight after a long sentence about Maya searching.
  2. Step 2: Short sentences make the reader stop. This one delivers the shock all at once.

Answer: To create a sudden shock and build tension: the reader realises at the same moment as Maya that Grandad hasn't come back.

Example 2: the purpose of the text

Question: What is the main purpose of the passage?
  1. Step 1: It's a story with a character, a setting and a problem.
  2. Step 2: It describes the storm in detail and keeps us wondering what happened to Grandad.

Answer: To entertain the reader by building suspense.

Example 3: the ending

Question: Why do you think the writer ends with the lighthouse coming on?
  1. Step 1: The lighthouse switching on shows that night has come, so even more time has passed.
  2. Step 2: It leaves the problem unsolved: we don't find out where Grandad is.

Answer: It shows night falling and Grandad still missing, leaving the reader worried and wanting to read on (a cliffhanger).

Common traps

  • Describing instead of explaining

    'The sentence is short' is only half an answer. Say why the writer made it short and what it does to the reader.

  • One purpose only

    Texts can have more than one purpose. A story can entertain and describe; an advert can inform and persuade.

  • Forgetting the reader

    Structure questions are about the reader's experience. Use phrases like 'the reader feels…' or 'this makes us…'.

Top tips

  • New paragraphs in stories usually mean a change of time, place, person speaking or topic.
  • Openings often hook the reader with action, a question, dialogue or a striking description.

Practice questions

Read the passage

The Harbour

1The storm had been building all afternoon. By the time Maya reached the harbour, the sky had turned the colour of a bruise, and the fishing boats were tugging at their ropes like restless dogs.

2She pulled her coat tighter and scanned the quay for her grandfather's red boat. It wasn't there.

3Her stomach tightened. Grandad always came back before four o'clock; he said the sea kept its promises only until teatime. Maya checked her watch: ten past five.

4Behind her, the lighthouse blinked awake, sweeping its long white arm across the waves.

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