An author’s main reason for writing is usually explicit, or clear. Details in the text will help you determine that purpose. Read the sentence:
He is a person who lived in obscurity for most of his life but who, at the age of 59, became an internationally known protector of rainforests.
The author’s explicit purpose is to inform readers about a renowned person. The writer’s choice of details about this person makes that purpose clear. But the author may also have implicit, or implied, reasons for writing a story about this person’s life. Consider the underlined details below.
He is a person who lived in obscurity for most of his life but who, at the age of 59, became an internationally known protector of rainforests.
From these details, you might infer that the author will use this biography to persuade readers about the power of determination or the importance of rainforests.
As you read, ask yourself, “Why does the author include these details? What do they tell me about the author’s purpose?”