Purpose: why did they write this?

Every piece of information is written with a purpose or intention, even if it’s not apparent as you read it.

Investigate the reason behind the information by considering:

Is the author trying to inform, educate, persuade or perhaps sell something?

Is it a balanced piece or does it show obvious bias?

Is the website sponsored or influenced by advertising revenue?

4.2.5.1 Activity - Purpose

The piece below is the 'Declaration of platform and principles' (opens in new tab) from the Pirate Party (opens in new tab). Read the declaration and explore the rest of the page and think about what the purpose of the information is, then answer the questions below. 

Declaration of platform principles
Pirate Parties have been founded all over the world with a shared purpose: to protect civil and digital liberties and create a more inclusive and creative culture. We seek to build a vibrant digital society in Australia, underpinned by freedom of culture and speech, personal privacy, institutional transparency, creativity and enterprise.

The following platform presents a detailed blueprint of reforms which implement these principles. The reforms include:

• Greater protection for speech, privacy and personal sovereignty;
• An end to the encroachment of stifling intellectual and state monopolies and creation of a freer and more participatory culture;
• Educational reforms with a focus on developing creativity and life skills;
• State systems which embody principles of secularism and non-discrimination;
• Improved government transparency and re-casting of state institutions; we seek a state which supports and enables, rather than one which controls and constrains;
• A simpler tax code and basic income guarantee which removes disincentives from the poor and increases the rewards for work enterprise and efficiency;
• Greater transparency and respect for human rights in our international engagement;
• Investment in digital connectivity, community-based clean energy generation, and a strong national science plan – the critical components of an innovative 21st economy;

Our policies focus on opening up space for creative civil society rather than expanding the state: consequently, the financial cost of our reforms is minimal and wholly offset by savings encompassed within the policies themselves.
As part of an international movement, we seek not only to reform national laws, but to reform perceptions and effect worldwide change. We seek to bring about change democratically, through activism, lobbying and parliamentary elections

After reviewing the article, answer the questions below.

Note - Please make sure you check your answers to complete the activity and record your result. Use the arrows to move between questions.

Declaration and platform principles (opens in new tab)