6.9A - The student is expected to explain the author's purpose and message within a text.

• Author's purpose refers to an author's main goal in a piece of writing. You are expected to explain that the author's purpose is reflected in the way the author writes about a topic. For example, if the author’s aim is to amuse, the author will probably use jokes or anecdotes. If the author’s goal is to inform or teach, it is likely that the author will include facts, descriptions, and reasonable explanations.
• The message of a text refers to the fundamental or basic idea explored or expressed by an author in a text. Sometimes the message is explicit and straightforward; but in other cases, the message is embedded in the text and may require that students infer it. You are expected to use evidence to justify your understanding of the main point or idea being conveyed to the reader.