How to identify purposes of texts for Functional Skills English (Level 1 & 2)
We communicate ideas and information in a variety of ways and for a range of purposes.
In Functional skills English, you will come across different types of texts such as letters, emails, web forums, articles, leaflets and reports.
These text types differ in their form (layout), purpose and language.
Purpose
Purpose is the reason or intention of something. It is the reason why a text has been written.
Audience
Every text has a specific audience. An audience is who the text is aimed at. The audience will determine the type of language used. For example, if the audience is children, the language will be simple and easy to read.
Functional Skills English explores the following purposes of texts:
Inform
Explain
Describe
Persuade
Argue
Advise
Inform
Texts that inform usually provide information with the intention to increase the reader’s knowledge about an issue or topic. The texts will consist mainly of facts and statistics - information which can be proven to be true.
Types of texts which fall into this category are news reports, leaflets, letters, emails and articles.
Inform: language features
Facts and figures
Neutral tone or authoritative tone
No emotive language
Quotes from experts and or, witnesses
Explain
Explanatory texts provide answers to the following questions: who, what, where, when, how and why. Its purpose is to transmit facts to the reader.
It’s slightly different to informative writing because informative texts only provide the facts, whereas explanatory texts explain how something occurred and the reason why and the effects (causes).
Newspaper and magazine articles, reports and instruction manuals or booklets both write to inform and explain.
Explain: language features
Facts
Past or present tenses
Connectives
Descriptive detail
Technical information
Explaining how and why
Describe
Descriptive writing is when the writer uses language to describe a real or imagined event, person, place or thing to create a vivid image in the reader’s mind. Language such as sensory detail, that is the five senses, metaphors, similes, adverbs, verbs, and adjectives are used.
Novels, travel writing, autobiographies, articles are just some of the types of texts that use descriptive detail.
Describe: language features
Extensive use of verbs, adverbs and adjectives
The five senses: touch, taste, smell, sight and sound
Metaphors, similes, personification, alliteration etc.
Persuade
Every day we are bombarded with adverts, emails, letters, articles, TV adverts etc., attempting to convince us to buy a product, sign up to a service or agree with an opinion. The texts are often one-sided, but when alternative viewpoints are conveyed, they are usually criticised and distorted.
Features of persuasive texts
Alliteration
Emotive language
Rule of three
Repetition
Direct address
Personal tone
Facts/statistics and figures used as justification and evidence
Present tense
Metaphors
Similes
Anecdotes (a short personal story)
Advise
“It’s recommended you drink plenty of water and take regular exercise.” This sentence gives advice, which is to offer a suggestion based on information provided. Sometimes texts that advise are similar to instructive texts in its use of language because they tell you how to do something.
Advise: language features
Use of modal verbs ‘should’ or ‘could’ to make suggestions
Clear and direct language
Bullet points or a numbered list
Use of facts and statistics as evidence
Quotes from experts
Instruct
These texts tell you how to do something. It could be to assemble a piece of furniture, to follow a recipe or directions.
Instruct: language features
Bullet points or numbered list
Imperative sentences or commands e.g., wash the rice
Clear and direct language
Argue
Texts that argue, attack or defend a particular issue or topic. Argumentative and persuasive texts are similar because they both want the reader to agree with a point of view. Opinion pieces in newspapers and magazines, formal letters of complaint, and articles are often written to argue.
Argue: language features
A strong or memorable opening
Facts, statistics and figures
Quotes from experts as evidence
Examples to support position
Formal and serious tone
Sophisticated vocabulary
Critique of counter-argument
Acknowledgement of different viewpoints but dismissive
Logical structure with linking words to signpost an argument
Formal style, serious tone and sophisticated vocabulary
Remember that texts can also have more than one purpose.
It’s important to be able to identify the different purposes of text, not just for exams, but for everyday life too. Once you’ve mastered this skill, it will help you to become more analytical readers.
EXAMPLES
Inform
15-year-old children in the UK are the unhappiest in Europe, according to the Good Childhood Report from the Children’s Society. Fear of failure was found to be one of the leading causes of children’s unhappiness, in addition to low satisfaction with schools, friends and sense of purpose. Only 64% experienced high life satisfaction, the lowest figure in Europe of the 24 countries surveyed by the OECD.
The above text uses facts and statistics. It is based on a report. There are no opinions.
Explain
15-year-old children in the UK are the unhappiest in Europe, according to the Good Childhood Report from the Children’s Society. Fear of failure was found to be one of the leading causes of children’s unhappiness, in addition to low satisfaction with schools, friends and sense of purpose. Only 64% experienced high life satisfaction, the lowest figure in Europe of the 24 countries surveyed by the OECD.
Young children fear failure because they are under pressure by schools to perform well in exams. As a result of this, many students feel stressed and are suffering from anxiety, which has contributed to the low levels of happiness.
Texts that explain tell the reader how or why something happened. They use linking words such as ‘because’ and phrases such as ‘as a result’ to show cause and effect.
Persuade
Reading can save your life
Reading books saves lives. Yet only 37% of the adult population read one book last year. Shocking! How does it save lives? Here’s how:
It reduces stress
We all know that stress is a silent killer. In fact, it’s the number one killer of adults in the UK.
It helps improve sleep
Lack of sleep leads to a range of illness, some resulting in death.
It helps to alleviate depression
Reading self-help books can help provide coping mechanisms and fiction can help with feelings of low mood and anxiety.
It makes you live longer
Those who read are 25% likely to live longer than those who don’t.
Do you want to save your life? Join our library service today and get 50% off your first month’s subscription. Sign up today!
Argue
Social media is bad for your health
Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat cause low self-esteem, anxiety and depression in teenagers. While not all teenagers who use social media suffer with low self-esteem, there has been a dramatic rise in numbers since its inception. Reports have shown a 100% increase in anxiety and poor self-image among Instagram users aged 15-25 between 2010 and 2019.
An argument tends to acknowledge the opposite opinion while providing counter-arguments against it.
Instruct
How to cook Jerk Chicken
Blend the onion, chillies, garlic, salt, pepper and allspice in a blender.
Pour the marinade into a large bowl or dish.
Coat the chicken in the marinade.
Leave the chicken in the oven overnight.
Cover in foil and cook on gas mark 6 for 40 minutes.
Describe
Hampshire is one of the most sought-after counties in the UK. Located in the Southeast of England on the coast of the English Channel, it is home to two National Parks of outstanding beauty. Golden sandy beaches surround the coastal areas making it a popular destination for holiday makers and day trippers.
Advise
How to stay warm this winter
Winter is coming and with the rise in energy prices you should think about ways to cut down on the costs.
Here are some money saving tips to help you stay warm this winter:
Think about investing in a good quality hot water bottle to warm the bed.
You could buy yourself a warm and cosy onesie to keep your body warm while you curl up on the sofa.
If you haven’t got double glazing, now is a time to consider getting a quote because double glazing will save you hundreds of pounds on your energy bills.
Now you’ve read about the purposes of texts, it’s time to learn about the language features of texts.
Click the link to download a free worksheet: purposes of text
