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  1. ISEE Lower Level Reading Comprehension

  3. Identify the author's purpose for writing a passage.

📖🔍✏️💡📝📚
ISEE LOWER LEVEL • READING COMPREHENSION

Identify the author's purpose for writing a passage.

Learn to figure out WHY an author wrote something — a key skill for the ISEE!

SECTION 1

Why Do Authors Write?

Have you ever thought about why someone writes something? Every time a person picks up a pen or sits at a computer, they have a reason. That reason is called the author's purpose.

People have been writing for thousands of years. Over time, readers figured out that most writing fits into a few main categories. Let's look at how this idea grew!

3000 BC
Ancient Writing Begins
People in ancient Mesopotamia wrote on clay tablets. They mostly wrote to inform others — keeping records of food and trades.
800 BC
Stories and Poems
The ancient Greeks wrote epic poems like the Odyssey to entertain people with exciting adventure tales.
300 BC
Persuasive Speeches
Greek thinkers like Aristotle taught people to write speeches to persuade (convince) others to agree with them.
Today
The ISEE Tests This!
On the ISEE, you will read passages and figure out the author's purpose. It's one of the most common question types!

So, the big question is: How do you figure out why an author wrote a passage? That's exactly what this lesson will teach you. Let's go!

SECTION 2

The Three Main Purposes: PIE

Here's a fun trick to remember the three main reasons authors write. Think of the word PIE! Each letter stands for one purpose.

1

P = Persuade

The author wants to convince you to think, feel, or do something. Look for opinions and strong words like "should," "must," or "best."
2

I = Inform

The author wants to teach you something new. Look for facts, dates, and details. The writing sounds like a textbook or encyclopedia.
3

E = Entertain

The author wants to amuse you or tell a story. Look for characters, dialogue, fun descriptions, and adventures.
🥧 KEY TAKEAWAY
Think of PIE like ordering at a bakery. You always choose one main flavor. An author always has one main purpose — to Persuade, Inform, or Entertain. Your job is to figure out which slice of PIE the author is serving!
💡 ISEE Test Tip
On the ISEE, you might also see the purpose described with words like "describe," "explain," or "narrate." "Describe" and "explain" mean to inform. "Narrate" means to tell a story (entertain). Don't let fancy words trick you!
SECTION 3

The Author's Purpose Decision Tree

Here is a handy flowchart to help you decide the author's purpose. Start at the top and follow the arrows by asking yourself simple questions about the passage.

Read the PassageDoes the author use opinionsand try to convince you?YESNOPERSUADE"should," "must," "best"Does it mostly teach factsand give information?YESNOINFORMfacts, dates, explanationsENTERTAINstories, characters, humor💡 Remember: PIE = Persuade, Inform, EntertainAsk these questions every time you read a passage on the ISEE!
Start at the top and follow the arrows. Ask yourself: Does the author use opinions? Does the passage teach facts? If neither, the purpose is probably to entertain!

Use this flowchart like a map. First, check for opinion words like "should" or "best." If you find them, the purpose is to persuade. If there are no opinions, ask if the passage is full of facts. If yes, it's to inform. If it's a story with characters, it's to entertain.

SECTION 4

How to Spot Each Purpose — Clue Words

Great detectives look for clues. You can be a reading detective! Each author's purpose has special clue words (words or phrases that hint at the purpose). Let's learn them.

Clue Words for PERSUADE

  • Opinion words: should, must, best, worst, need to
  • Strong feeling words: important, terrible, amazing, unfair
  • The author is trying to change your mind or get you to do something.

Clue Words for INFORM

  • Fact words: studies show, according to, in the year, research found
  • Teaching words: for example, this means, one type of, the reason is
  • The tone sounds like a textbook — calm and neutral.

Clue Words for ENTERTAIN

  • Story words: once upon a time, she said, he walked, they felt
  • Description words: bright blue sky, thundering waves, creaky old door
  • There are usually characters, a setting, and a plot (a problem to solve).
⏱️ ISEE Test Strategy
On the ISEE, read the questions FIRST, before you read the passage. If you see a question about the author's purpose, you'll know to look for clue words as you read. This saves time!
SECTION 5

What Each Purpose Looks Like

Let's look at three short passages. Each one shows a different author's purpose. Study them carefully — this is exactly what you'll see on the ISEE!

Three Passages — Three PurposesPERSUADE"Every student shouldjoin a sport. Playing sportsis the best way to stayhealthy and make friends.Schools must offer moresports programs."Clue words:should, best, mustPINFORM"Dolphins are mammalsthat live in the ocean.They breathe air througha blowhole on top oftheir heads. Scientistshave found over 40 species."Clue words:facts, scientists, speciesIENTERTAIN"Mia crept down the darkhallway. The floor creakedbeneath her feet. She hearda soft whimper comingfrom behind the door andpushed it open slowly."Clue words:character, setting, actionE🔍 How to Tell Them ApartPersuade = opinions + strong words | Inform = facts + neutral tone | Entertain = story + charactersAsk yourself: "Is the author trying to change my mind, teach me, or tell me a story?"Common ISEE Question Wording"The author's main purpose is to...""The author most likely wrote this to...""Why did the author write this passage?"All three ask the same thing — what is the author's purpose?
Compare the three example passages above. Notice how different they look and sound. The persuade passage uses opinion words. The inform passage shares facts. The entertain passage tells a story.

Notice the box at the bottom of the diagram. Those are the exact ways the ISEE asks about author's purpose. Whenever you see those question types, use your PIE skills!

SECTION 6

Worked Example: Finding the Author's Purpose

Let's practice together! Read this short passage, then follow the steps to find the author's purpose.

📖 Sample Passage
The Arctic fox is one of the most amazing animals on Earth. Its thick fur changes color with the seasons — white in winter and brown in summer. This helps it blend in with its surroundings. Arctic foxes can survive in temperatures as low as −58°F. They have small ears, which help them keep body heat from escaping.

Question: What is the author's main purpose for writing this passage?

Step 1 — Look for Opinion Words

Scan the passage for words like "should," "must," "best," or "worst." The word "amazing" sounds like an opinion, but the rest of the passage is full of facts. One opinion word is not enough. The main purpose is probably not to persuade.
❌ Not Persuade

Step 2 — Check for Story Elements

Is there a character? A setting for a story? Dialogue? No — there's no character named anyone, and nobody is talking. This is not a story.
❌ Not Entertain

Step 3 — Check for Facts and Information

Does the passage share facts? Yes! It tells us the fur changes color, foxes survive in −58°F, and they have small ears. These are all facts the author is teaching us.
✅ This is Inform!

Step 4 — Choose Your Answer

The author's main purpose is to inform the reader about Arctic foxes. On the ISEE, you would look for the answer choice that says something like "to give information about" or "to describe" or "to explain."
Answer: The author wrote this passage to inform the reader about Arctic foxes.
🧠 REMEMBER THIS!
Go through the PIE checklist like a detective checking clues. Rule out each purpose one by one. Usually two choices won't fit at all, and the right answer will be clear!
SECTION 7

Comparing the Three Purposes

Sometimes it can be tricky to tell purposes apart. This table shows you exactly how to compare them. Study it carefully!

Use this chart to compare the three purposes side by side.
FeaturePersuadeInformEntertain
What it doesTries to change your mindTeaches you somethingTells a story or amuses you
ToneStrong, passionateCalm, neutral, factualFun, descriptive, emotional
Clue wordsShould, must, best, need toStudies show, according to, for exampleOnce, she said, the wind howled
ExamplesAds, speeches, editorialsTextbooks, articles, reportsNovels, short stories, poems
ISEE answer words"convince," "argue," "encourage""explain," "describe," "inform""tell a story," "amuse," "narrate"
⚠️ TRICKY PASSAGES
Sometimes a passage does two things at once — like a story that also teaches you facts about animals. When this happens, ask: What is the MAIN purpose? The ISEE asks for the main or primary purpose. Focus on what the author does MOST in the passage.
SECTION 8

Beyond PIE — Other Purpose Words on the ISEE

The ISEE won't always use the words "persuade," "inform," or "entertain." Sometimes the answer choices use fancier words. Don't worry — you already know what they mean! Here's a cheat sheet.

Keep this list in mind when you see tricky answer choices on the ISEE.
ISEE Answer Choice WordIt Really Means...PIE Category
to describeto paint a picture with wordsInform
to explainto help you understand somethingInform
to narrateto tell a storyEntertain
to convinceto make you agreePersuade
to argueto give reasons for an opinionPersuade
to share an experienceto tell about something that happenedEntertain

As you get older, you'll learn even more purpose categories. For now, PIE is all you need for the ISEE Lower Level. Master these three, and you'll be ready!

✂️ Process of Elimination
Remember, there's no penalty for wrong answers on the ISEE. Always answer every question! If you're unsure, cross out any choice that doesn't match the passage. Even eliminating one wrong choice helps a lot.
SECTION 9

Practice Problems

Time to test your skills! Read each mini-passage carefully. Then pick the best answer. Remember to look for clue words and think about PIE. You've got this!

PROBLEM 1 — CONCEPTUAL
Read this passage: "Recycling is important because it helps protect our planet. Everyone should recycle paper, plastic, and glass. If we don't recycle, our landfills will overflow. We must start recycling today!" What is the author's main purpose? A) To inform readers about what recycling is B) To persuade readers to start recycling C) To entertain readers with a funny story about trash D) To describe the history of recycling
PROBLEM 2 — BASIC
Read this passage: "The African elephant is the largest land animal on Earth. Adult males can weigh up to 14,000 pounds. Elephants use their long trunks to pick up food, spray water, and greet other elephants. They live in family groups led by the oldest female." The author most likely wrote this passage to — A) convince readers to protect elephants B) tell an exciting story about an elephant C) give information about African elephants D) argue that elephants are the best animals
PROBLEM 3 — INTERMEDIATE
Read this passage: "Liam stared at the old map spread across the dusty table. 'This is it,' he whispered to his sister. 'Grandpa's treasure.' Maya's eyes grew wide. She grabbed a flashlight and said, 'Let's go find it before dark!' Together, they rushed out the back door and into the woods." Why did the author write this passage? A) To explain how treasure maps are made B) To convince readers to explore the woods C) To inform readers about a brother and sister D) To entertain readers with an adventure story
PROBLEM 4 — APPLIED
Read this passage: "The Nile River is the longest river in Africa. It flows over 4,100 miles from central Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. For thousands of years, farmers have used the Nile's water to grow crops. The river floods each year, leaving behind rich soil that is perfect for farming." A student says: "The author wrote this to persuade readers that the Nile is the best river." Is the student correct? A) Yes, because the passage says the Nile is the longest river B) Yes, because the passage says the soil is "perfect" C) No, the author's main purpose is to inform readers about the Nile River D) No, the author's main purpose is to entertain readers with a story about farming
PROBLEM 5 — CRITICAL THINKING
Read this passage: "Last summer, my family visited Yellowstone National Park. We saw a huge geyser called Old Faithful shoot water high into the sky. My little brother screamed with excitement! A park ranger explained that geysers are caused by underground water being heated by hot rocks. I couldn't believe how powerful nature could be." This passage has both story elements and facts. What is the author's PRIMARY purpose? A) To persuade readers to visit Yellowstone B) To inform readers about how geysers work C) To share a personal experience about a family trip D) To explain why Yellowstone is the best national park
SUMMARY

Let's Review: Author's Purpose

Every author writes for a reason. The three main purposes are Persuade (convince you to think or do something), Inform (teach you facts), and Entertain (tell a story or amuse you). Remember the word PIE to keep them straight!

To find the purpose on the ISEE, look for clue words like "should" and "must" (persuade), facts and dates (inform), or characters and dialogue (entertain). Always ask: What is the MAIN purpose? Use process of elimination to cross out wrong answers, and always answer every question. You've got this!

Varsity Tutors • ISEE Lower Level • Identify the author's purpose for writing a passage.