Purpose and Pacing Anchor Chart
TEKS 7.9(A) & 7.10(D)(i-ii) WRITER'S BLUEPRINT
PURPOSE & PACING ANCHOR CHART
A master reference for identifying author intent, analyzing central messages, and mastering pacing and flow.
1. Author's Purpose & Message (TEKS 7.9A)
Writer's Intent
Purpose vs. Message
Purpose is the author's reason for writing (why). Message is the central takeaway or theme (what).
The PIEE Framework
P Persuade
I Inform
E Entertain
E Express
Ask Yourself: What action, belief, or emotion does the author want to spark in the reader?
| Intent Mode | Core Rhetorical Clues | Typical Genres & Styles |
|---|
| Persuade | Opinions, calls-to-action, emotional appeals, and logical arguments with claims. | Editorials, speeches, commercials, debate pieces, reviews. |
| Inform | Facts, statistics, historical dates, clear explanations, and a neutral, objective tone. | Textbooks, science reports, news articles, instructions. |
| Entertain | Suspenseful plotlines, character dialogue, humor, conflict, and descriptive narrative. | Novels, short stories, poems, theater scripts, comics. |
| Express / Reflect | First-person emotions, personal observations, self-discovery, and reflective thoughts. | Memoirs, journal entries, personal blogs, lyrics, essay essays. |
TIMELINE & VOICE MECHANICS
2. Verb Tense & Voice Masterclass (TEKS 7.10D)
Pacing & Flow
Verb Tense Consistency
Do not jump through time unless the actions actually occur at different times! Inappropriate tense shifts disrupt chronological pacing.
Inconsistent Shift
"The hero ascends the tower and slewed the dragon."
Jumps from Present to Past!
Consistent Timeline
"The hero ascended the tower and slew the dragon."
Consistently set in Past Tense.
Timeline Choice: Use Past for standard storytelling (thoughtful/reflective) and Present to heighten fast-paced, high-stakes actions.
Active vs. Passive Voice
Use active voice to keep your narrative writing dynamic, quick, and emotionally engaging.
Active Voice STRONG & DIRECT
[Subject performs action] ➔ [Verb] ➔ [Object]
"The lightning struck the bell tower."
Passive Voice SLOW & DELAYED
[Object] ➔ [Auxiliary Verb] ➔ [by Subject]
"The bell tower was struck by lightning."
The Zombie Rule: If you can append "by zombies" to the end of a sentence and it still makes sense, you are using the passive voice!
TEKS 7.9(A) Author's Purpose & TEKS 7.10(D) Standard English Conventions
NARRATIVE MECHANICS & PURPOSE BLUEPRINT