Author's Purpose
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Lesson overview
Identifying the writer's intention in comprehension.
Go to lesson quiz →Exam guidance · WAEC WASSCE Paper 1 + Paper 2 Lens
Core idea (Evidence-Based Reading, Tone & Logical Inference): Every valid inference must be directly anchored in passage text — eliminate options with extreme quantifiers ('always', 'never') or out-of-scope leaps.
Pacing
Objective speed on Paper 1 + structured step-by-step method marks on Paper 2 Theory/Practical.
How WAEC marks this
Examiners award method marks (M1) for stating the formula/definition and accuracy marks (A1) ONLY when SI units are written.
Watch out for
Writing bare numbers without working or omitting SI units loses up to 50% of Paper 2 marks even when the final value is right.
Lesson content
Overview — Author's Purpose
Identifying the writer's intention in comprehension. This lesson is at the advanced level — by the end, you'll be able to recognise this question type, apply a reliable method, and avoid the traps that cost marks.
Key Concept
Author's purpose is WHY a piece of writing was created — commonly to inform, persuade, entertain, or describe — and it shapes the tone and structure of the whole passage.
Why It's Tested This Way
WAEC tests author's purpose at Advanced level because identifying it requires synthesising the whole passage's tone and content, not just one detail — a genuinely higher-order reading skill.
Method
Look at the overall tone (emotional/persuasive, neutral/informative, or vivid/descriptive?) and what the passage seems to want the reader to DO or FEEL by the end.
Worked Example
Worked example: A passage full of statistics and neutral language about rainfall patterns is written to INFORM.
Second Worked Example
Second worked example: A passage using emotional language and calling readers to 'act now before it's too late' about climate change is written to PERSUADE.
Common Traps
Common trap: confusing the TOPIC of a passage (what it's about) with its PURPOSE (why it was written).
Lesson Summary
Remember: (1) identify what is being asked, (2) apply the WAEC strategy, (3) check against the traps. Complete the 10-question quiz below to unlock the next lesson — you need at least 60% to pass.
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