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Primary English · Year 4Chapter 10 · Reading non-fiction
Year 4 English · Reading non-fiction · Lesson 10.2

Year 4 English: Purpose and audience

Part of the Year 4 English reading non-fiction chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

10.2

Purpose and audience

Year 4
Identify the purpose of a text: to inform, instruct, persuade or entertain (RC1b), Identify the audience of a text, and the features that show the purpose and audience (RC1b, RC3)
Story. Ruby sees a poster on the wall of the school library. Before she reads it, she asks herself who the poster is for, and why it was written.

Every non-fiction text has a purpose, which is the reason the writer wrote it. A text may inform (give facts), instruct (tell the reader how to do something), persuade (try to make the reader agree or act) or entertain. Its audience is the group of readers it is written for.

A writer shows the purpose and audience with features. Common features include commands (words such as Ask or Bring), the word you to speak to the reader, questions, exclamation marks and bullet points.

Read the poster in the box. Then answer the questions in exercise 10B.

Join the Reading Club!

Do you love a good story? Are you looking for a new adventure? Then come to the Reading Club in the school library on Thursday lunchtimes.

Why join?
  • Read books you have never tried before.
  • Share your favourite stories with friends.
  • Earn a sticker for every book you finish.

Everyone is welcome, from Year 3 to Year 6. You do not need to be a fast reader. You only need to enjoy books and be willing to share your ideas.

How to sign up
  • Ask at the library desk.
  • Bring a book you have finished.
  • Sign the list by the door.

Don't wait! Sign up before the next meeting, and bring a friend with you. There is no cost to join.

Key ideas

  • Purpose is the reason for writing: to inform, instruct, persuade or entertain.
  • Audience is the group of readers that a text is written for.
  • Commands and the word you show that the writer wants the reader to act.
  • A feature is a clue, such as a bullet point or an exclamation mark, that helps you see the purpose.
Worked example 10.2.1
What is the purpose of the poster Join the Reading Club!? Answer in one word.

Method. Look for what the writer wants the reader to do.

  1. Read the title and first lines. The poster asks the reader to join a club.
    join the Reading Club
  2. Look for commands and reasons. Ask, Bring and Sign are commands, and the bullet points give reasons to join.
    commands and reasons
  3. Decide the purpose. A text that tries to make the reader take action is persuasive.
    persuade
  4. Write the answer.
    persuade

Check. The writer tries to make the reader join. ✓

Worked example 10.2.2
Who is the audience of the poster? Name the group of readers.

Method. Find who the poster is written for.

  1. Find who is welcome. The poster says everyone is welcome, from Year 3 to Year 6.
    from Year 3 to Year 6
  2. Check the words used. The writer speaks to you and your friend, so the readers are pupils.
    you, your friend
  3. Name the group. The audience is the pupils in those year groups.
    pupils from Year 3 to Year 6
  4. Write the answer.
    pupils from Year 3 to Year 6

Check. The audience is the group the writer speaks to. ✓

Worked example 10.2.3
Give one feature that shows the poster wants the reader to act.

Method. Look for words that tell the reader what to do.

  1. Look at the bullet points. Under How to sign up, each bullet starts with a verb.
    Ask, Bring, Sign
  2. Name the feature. A verb at the start of a sentence, telling the reader to do something, is a command.
    command
  3. Give an example. Ask at the library desk tells the reader what to do.
    Ask at the library desk
  4. Write the answer.
    commands, such as Ask at the library desk.

Check. The commands show that the reader should act. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: a text can have more than one purpose. This poster gives information about the club, but its main purpose is to persuade pupils to join.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask your child who the poster is for, and how they know. Then ask: "What does the writer want you to do?" Accept any sensible answer that points to words on the page.

Exercise 10B  Practice: purpose and audience

1
FWhich year groups are welcome at the Reading Club?
2
FWhere and when does the Reading Club meet?
3
FWhich small word shows that the writer is talking straight to the reader?
4
FWhat is the first word of the command under How to sign up?
5
FWhich mark shows strong urgency in Don't wait!?
6
FWhich question does the poster ask to catch the reader's attention?
7
FIn any non-fiction text, what is a bullet point list usually for? Answer in one short sentence.
8
PSWhich phrase shows the audience? Copy the words that say who is welcome.
9
PSWrite one command from the poster.
10
PSA writer wants a cautious reader to join a club. Name one way the writer could reassure them, and say why it helps.
11
RExplain how two features can show that a text is persuasive.

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