Final answer:
The correct answer is c) Purpose, which refers to the reason an author writes a text, distinct from tone, style, and genre. An author's purpose is generally to inform, persuade, or entertain.
Step-by-step explanation:
An author’s purpose is his or her reason for writing a text. This contrasts with tone, which refers to the attitude of the writer towards the subject or the audience, style, which is the unique way in which an author writes, and genre, which is the category of literature or writing. Understanding an author's purpose is crucial as it guides how the text should be interpreted and what the author wants to convey. The author's purpose is typically categorized into three main types: to inform, to persuade, or to entertain.