Text Analysis Practice: Author’s Purpose, the Modes of Writing, and Main Idea
Directions: Read each of the following selections. As you go use SPIED! and inductive reasoning to determine the
author’s purpose, mode of writing, and main idea. Go back and mark the details that allowed you to come to make
your decision. Yes, you must do this last part. 
1.
Kate Barlow’s Prize Winning Spiced Peaches
5 cups brown sugar
6 inches of stick cinnamon
Pinch of nutmeg
2 cups white vinegar
2 tablespoons whole cloves
4 quarts peeled whole peaches
Cook sugar, vinegar, and spices over low heat for 20 minutes. Add peaches
and cook until boiling hot. Serve over ice cream.
Author’s Purpose(s)? to inform
Mode of Writing? Informational/Expository
The main idea of this selection is… to inform the audience how to cook a recipe using spiced peaches.
Details? It’s a recipe. Recipes explain a process.
2.
Author’s Purpose? to persuade
Mode of Writing? persuasive
The main idea of this selection is…to persuade the audience to buy and
use the product.
Details? It’s an advertisement. Advertisements are persuasive.
3.
Essay (May contain errors; written by a 5th grader.)
Owning a pet from the pound or Animal Rescue League has many advantages. First of all, a child feels good about rescuing an
abandoned or abused animal and giving it a whole new life. Besides, if the animals from the pound aren’t adopted right away, they might
be put to sleep. Having a pet also means lots of responsibilities. A child has to feed, clean up after, brush, and exercise the pet.
Another great advantage of having a pet from the pound is the price of these cute and cuddly animals. Pets from the pound cost
only a few dollars while pets at a fancy pet store can cost hundreds of dollars.
Once you adopt a pet from the Animal Rescue League, it will quickly become a part of your family. If you are thinking of adopting a
pet, you might consider choosing a dog or a cat. Dogs and cats can bring lots of happy times to a family, and they can be excellent
companions for a person who lives alone or someone who has lost a loved one. Dogs are also a wonderful source of protection. Cats are
funny, and they may help to calm people down when they are sad or mad.
Please consider adopting an animal. If you remember all of the advantages of adopting a pet from the pound, you might find the
bird, mouse, hamster, dog, or cat of your choice.
Author’s Purpose(s)? to persuade (and to inform)
Mode of Writing? persuasive
The main idea of this selection is… to persuade readers to consider adopting a pet from an animal shelter.
Details: This piece has many pieces of supporting evidence for a claim/thesis. It also has a call to action.
3.
Latvia is a country in northeastern Europe. It is bordered by Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south.
Russia and Belarus are to the east. The Baltic Sea borders Latvia to the west. Located on the northern shore, the city
of Riga is Latvia’s capital. Significantly, 41% of the country is covered with forest. Within this European nation are
12,000 small rivers and over 3,000 lakes.
Author’s Purpose(s)? to inform
Mode of Writing? Informational/Expository
The main idea of this selection is… to inform the audience about the geography of Latvia.
Details: the piece contains all facts about the geography of a country.
4.
To make a diorama of the Texas desert, you will need the following materials: a shoebox, construction
paper, sand, clay, plastic animals, and cactus. First, cover the inside of the shoebox with construction paper to make
the sky. Next, place a layer of sand to make the desert floor. Plant a cactus in the sand. Finally, add plastic animals
or animals made from clay to your desert scene.
Author’s Purpose(s)? to inform (or explain)
Mode of Writing? informational/expository
The main idea of this selection is… to inform the audience how to create a diorama of the Texas desert.
Details: it’s a step by step process including many details.
5.
Author’s Purpose(s)? to persuade
Mode of Writing? persuasive
The main idea of this selection is… to persuade the audience to buy (or at least learn more) about
“Breakfast Essentials”.
6.
Matt Ryan won’t play in Pro Bowl, could have in Super Bowl
Had the Falcons advanced to the Super Bowl, Matt Ryan would have
played.
This weekend’s Pro Bowl, not so much.
Falcons coach Mike Smith said Monday that his quarterback suffered
a sprained AC joint in his left (non-throwing shoulder), according to D.
Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Smith said the recovery time for the injury would be three to four weeks.
With Ryan out, the NFC is sending the B-team of passers to Hawaii, as Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Redskins
quarterback Robert Griffin III are already out of the game with injuries, having been replaced by Eli Manning and Drew
Brees.
So while we debate whether certain quarterbacks are elite or not, you only have to be in the top 37.5 percent of your
conference to call yourself an NFC Pro Bowler; or, technically speaking, not a Cardinal.
Author’s Purpose(s)? to inform (and to entertain)
Mode of Writing? informational/expository
The main idea of this selection is… to inform the audience that after missing a chance at the Super Bowl,
Matt Ryan won’t participate in the Pro Bowl due to an injury.
Details: Title basically states informative main idea. Lots of facts and details.
7.
Shrek 2 Review
June, 2004
The continuation of the trilogy-in-progress (Shrek 3 is coming in 2006), where Shrek (Mike Myers), Princess Fiona (Cameron
Diaz) and Donkey (Eddie Murphy) meet the parents (Fiona's, voiced by John Cleese and Jule Andrews). Antonio Banderas
has been added as a would-be buccaneer/assassin-cat and comic relief pitcher.
I didn't see the first one, so we'll skip the comparative bit, but Shrek 2 fits the classic animated film formula; create a story
easy enough for kids to understand and add jokes with the following mixture—two parts low-brow kid comedy, one part
adult reference humor ("hey, there's a Starbuck's"), which throws a bone to the parents and gives them the added
satisfaction of getting one their kids don't.
Author’s Purpose(s)? to persuade (and to inform)
Mode of Writing? persuasive
The main idea of this selection is… to persuade the audience that they should see Shrek 2.
Details: Movie reviews are naturally persuasive as they show an author’s opinion: Shrek 2 is a decent film.
8.
Author’s Purpose(s)? to inform
Mode of Writing? informational/expository
The main idea of this selection is… to inform the audience
about the parts of the brain through colorful diagram
with labels.
Details: the image is a diagram. Diagrams are informative.
9.
Author’s Purpose(s)? to inform (and to entertain)
Mode of Writing? informational/expository
The main idea of this selection is… to inform the audience in an entertaining way about Mitt Romney’s
location during President Obama’s inauguration.
10.
The Slim-O-Matic will help you lose pounds and inches from your body in
only one month. This amazing machine has already helped thousands of
Americans lose weight because it helps you exercise correctly! If you buy
now, you will also receive an easy video to show you the proper way to
exercise. Send $75.99 and begin exercising today!
Author’s Purpose(s)? to persuade
Mode of Writing? persuasive
The main idea of this selection is… to persuade the audience to
buy a Slim-O-Matic by presenting evidence.
Details: the piece is an advertisement. There’s a price and a pitch.
Contains a claim/thesis and evidence/incentives
11.
The object of the game is to advance across the board in order to capture or block
your opponent's checkers until they can't make any more moves. Try to make it all the way
to the other side of the board - there are rewards for getting there. A checkerboard is eight
squares by eight squares. The squares alternate colors, one dark, and the next light.
Arrange your board, so that a light corner square is to each player's right. Place twelve
pieces of one color on the first three rows of alternating dark squares. Repeat with the
other twelve pieces on the other side of the board, again putting all pieces on the dark
squares.
Author’s Purpose(s)? to inform
Mode of Writing? informational/expository
The main idea of this selection is… to inform the audience about the game of checkers.
12. Essay (May contain errors; written by a 5th grader.)
Chloe’s Day
The first thing I do when I wake up is lick myself with my pink, scratchy tongue. Then I get up and stretch. First, I stretch my front
legs, and then I stretch my back legs. Next, I go wake up Erin’s mom by scratching on her door. Sometimes she sprays me with a squirt
bottle filled with water to stop me, but mostly she gives me my favorite smelly salmon cat food with medicine in it. Then I sleep until lunch.
When I wake up again, my stomach is growling, so I meow for more food. Usually Erin’s mom gives me more, but sometimes she
tells me to go eat my hard, dry cat food. After lunch, I look out the patio door for birds, chipmunks, and squirrels. Sometimes, if I’m lucky, a
chipmunk comes to the door and says hi. Then I lunge at the window to say hello back, but he scurries away with his tail up in the air. Next,
I go into the den and lie on the floor for a rest. Then I notice a fuzzy twitching thing right next to me, and I start to chase it. After people
start laughing at me, I realize that it is my own tail! After all that, I go into the living room and sleep again.
When I wake up, it is supper time, and I am hungry. I want to eat again. Erin or her mom serves me some more scrumptious,
smelly salmon cat food. Ahh! That tastes good. Then it’s time to go outside. I have an exciting time avoiding the sly coyotes and chasing
after little night creatures.
Finally, Erin’s dad opens the door to let me in. I go to Erin’s bed and sleep the rest of the night. Then a new day arrives, and my
adventures start all over again.
Author’s Purpose(s)? to entertain (and to describe)
Mode of Writing? narrative OR descriptive
The main idea of this selection is… to entertain the audience by telling a story from the perspective of a
dog.
Details: The daily story of a dog named Chloe. Imagery is prevalent – specifically sight.
13.
Calligraphy is a form of handwriting . A special pen must be used. Letters are formed using up and down
strokes. Most old documents were written in this form. Diplomas, certificates, and other awards are often written
in calligraphy.
Author’s Purpose(s)? to inform
Mode of Writing? informational/expository
The main idea of this selection is… to inform the audience about calligraphy.
14.
Katrina and her brother, Jesse, were playing with the water hose outside one day. Jesse ran to the house to
hide from Katrina so she wouldn't squirt him with the water. The back door opened, and Katrina pointed the water
hose toward the door ready to squirt Jesse. To Katrina’s surprise it was Mom who was now dripping wet!
Author’s Purpose(s)? to entertain
Mode of Writing? narrative
The main idea of this selection is… to entertain the audience by telling a story about a brother and a
sister getting into a funny situation.
15.
Author’s Purpose(s)? to entertain and to share feelings
Mode of Writing? narrative
The main idea of this selection is… to entertain the
audience by sharing an insight on life.
16.
Wednesday, November 6
On the road to Soweto — South Western Township, South Africa
We barter and buy masks and cloths. Wonderful carvings. I'm quick to learn a signal — a thumbs up, meaning "I need a ride to
Jo'burg! (Johannesburg)" and has come to also mean freedom, "Arriba, South Africa!" "Onward and upward, South Africa!" I
use the sign to people, point to my camera and they absolutely love posing! People call out — "USA! Michael Jordan!" Africans
are free people. They go where they want. They can work where they can find jobs.
We ride our buses through the vast and endless (80 km) Soweto community. We see stores, strip malls, beer establishments.
We eat at a legal Sheibeen, an eating establishment where African and white African businesspeople eat. I will not forget this
soon . . . great houses, shanties, side by side. It didn't matter at the time of apartheid. Rich or poor, if you were black, you lived
here, sometimes, no roads. Other times, paved roads. But now, people are free. We see women building houses! The men are
off to other work. But it is so amazing to see women doing all the building. We give the thumbs up. We watch the trains
bringing men home from the mines. We see the former home of Nelson Mandela, now, Winnie Mandela's home. We walk
around, followed by a group of children. The large house is surrounded by a high wall. One of the striking sites of South Africa
is the walls that enclose every decent home. Who is being kept out — or in?
Author’s Purpose(s)? to describe, to share
Mode of Writing? descriptive
The main idea of this selection is… to describe and share a meaningful day on a trip in South Africa.
Details: Imagery is used frequently. The perspective is definitely first person and is personal.
17.
Author’s Purpose(s)? to inform
Mode of Writing? informational/expository
The main idea of this selection is… to inform the audience about tall tales using a definition
Details: The piece is a definition and looks like it might be from a textbook