Why was it written? Remember PIE
| Purpose | The writer wants to… | You’ll find… |
|---|---|---|
| Persuade | make you think or do something | opinions, questions to the reader, strong words, “you”, exclamation marks |
| Inform | teach you facts | facts, dates, numbers, headings, diagrams |
| Entertain | give you enjoyment | a story, characters, description, humour |
Why did the writer choose that?
Questions often ask why a writer used a word or feature. Think about the effect on the reader.
| Feature | Why writers use it |
|---|---|
| A question to the reader (Have you ever…?) | to make the reader imagine or think about it |
| Strong or emotional words (terrible, destroy) | to make the reader feel something |
| Facts and numbers | to give evidence and make an argument believable |
| An exclamation mark | to show strong feeling and make a point powerful |
| Short sentences | to create drama or make a point stand out |
Watch out! “To make it longer” or “because it’s the end” are never good reasons. Always think about the reader.
Top tip: ask “What does the writer want me to think, feel or do?”
📖 Save Our Park!
1Dear Councillor Walsh,
2I am writing to ask you to save Riverside Park. I have heard that the council plans to build a car park on it, and I think this would be a terrible mistake.
3Have you ever watched children playing on the swings on a sunny afternoon? Riverside Park is the only green space in our town where families can play, picnic and walk their dogs. Without it, where would we go?
4The park is also home to wildlife. Ducks nest by the pond every spring, and our class has counted over twenty different kinds of birds there. A car park would destroy their homes forever.
5Please visit the park this weekend and see for yourself how special it is. Our town needs green spaces, not more concrete!
6Yours sincerely, Niamh O’Neill (age 11)