2. Basic elements of writing
2.2. Purpose
A way to think about purpose is to consider why you are writing or what
you want a piece of writing to accomplish. The very basic purposes of writing
are these: to explain, to convince, and to entertain.
Some writing, such as a textbook or a set of directions, has a very strong focus on explanation.
Writing with a primary purpose to explain is sometimes called expository writing. Other writing—such as advertisements, editorials, and political speeches—has a strong intent to persuade or to convince readers to take action or change their way of thinking. A great deal of writing—
such as gossip magazines, comics, and fiction—simply entertains us.
However, once you start digging more critically into the purposes of those
documents, the picture becomes more complicated. While a set of directions can
be pretty boring and strictly expository, the authors have carefully chosen a format
and organization that they think will make the directions easier to follow.
So while the primary purpose may be to provide an explanation, the people who
write instructions also think about how to make the format pleasing and simple.
Sure, businesses use advertisements to convince consumers to spend
money and buy products. However, advertisements also explain or provide
information about a product. In addition, some of the best advertisements
try to be funny or shocking so people will remember them.
Likewise, while a short story may be entertaining to read, it can also
explain people, places, problems, issues, and ideas.