INFORM | PERSUADE | ENTERTAIN | EXPRESS | PROCESS
If youre done the Identifying Purpose Type exercises, then you should be a pro, but heres an extra challenge to test your mad skillz. I betcha cant do it! Identify the purpose types in the following list:
1. Timpanogos Cave National Monument.
2. Bats.
3. Hyperventilation.
4. Democracy.
5. Alternative energy.
ANSWER: These four items CONTAIN NO PURPOSE. They are nothing more than TOPICS. They do not state what you plan to accomplish by writing about them. Your purpose statement should include a verb describing exactly what you will do or accomplish. Another word for purpose is goal. What will your writing accomplish?
Your purpose should always contain verbs describing what you will do with your topic.
Identify which of the following items is a purpose and which is merely a topic:
- Timpanogos Cave
- Entertain readers and tell the pros and cons of visiting the cave.
- Tell the history of Timpanogos Cave National Monument.
- Peanut allergies
- Make readers understand peanut allergies.
- Make readers take peanut allergies more seriously.
- Blog about a funny (in hindsight, at least) peanut allergy experience.
- Sharks!
- Debunk myths about sharks.
- Make readers hearts beat faster by telling my shark diving story.
- Energy Work
- Teach basic energy work skills.
- Tell how energy work can compliment other Western medicine.
- Persuade readers to try energy work along with other treatments.
- Vampires
- Compare vampire styles from literature and Twilight.
- Uncle Elgin
- Make readers laugh until they cry by telling Uncle Elgs antics.
- DNA
- Explain how DNA works.
- Get a good grade on my biology paper.
- National Debt
- Clarify the how the national debt works and its impact on daily life.
[Answer key below]
Youre getting smarter all the time! Only one more step will complete your understanding of planning powerful purpose statements: Purpose and Audience.
Answer key: are you serious? That is WAY too easy to need an answer key. You can do it! I believe in you.