What is the significance of the author's purpose in reading comprehension?

The significance of the author's purpose in reading comprehension centers on its role in enhancing critical thinking skills through analysis. Understanding the author's purpose—a writer's intention behind creating a text—enables readers to engage more deeply with the material. It prompts them to ask questions like why the author chose specific words, what message they aim to convey, and how they structure their arguments or narratives to persuade, inform, or entertain.

When readers analyze the author's purpose, they develop skills such as inference-making, evaluating evidence, and recognizing biases and assumptions. This analytical process helps them go beyond surface-level comprehension, allowing for a richer understanding of the text's deeper meanings, implications, and the author's perspective.

In contrast, memorizing texts focuses on recall without promoting deeper engagement or understanding. Claiming that author's purpose is unimportant for comprehension disregards a key element that influences interpretation and perspective. Focusing on vocabulary alone limits the scope of comprehension to word meanings without connecting them to the overall message or intention of the text.