The author’s purpose is his or her reason for writing a text, paragraph, or line. There are many reasons why people write paragraphs or lines, but when we look at why people write texts, there are three main reasons. These are to entertain, persuade, and inform. Examples of text written to entertain include stories, poems, and dramas. Examples of texts written to persuade include essays and ads. And examples of texts written to inform include encyclopedia entries and text books.
It’s important to note that the study of author’s purpose is not so much a science as it is an art. In other words, the author’s purpose can be to inform and persuade in some cases, or to entertain and inform. In the following worksheets I have tried to include only clear examples. You may want to discuss the more ambiguous ones in your classroom, however. It may make for a great discussion. Click here for to learn more about author’s purpose and watch an informational video.
Author’s Purpose Worksheet – Read the descriptions of the texts and determine whether the author’s purpose was to inform, persuade, or entertain. Students should explain their answers.
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 1 | RTF
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 1 | PDF
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 1 | Preview
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 1 | Answers
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 1 | Ereading Worksheet
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 2 – Additional practice with author’s purpose. Students read descriptions of texts and identify the author’s purpose based on clues.
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 2 | RTF
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 2 | PDF
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 2 | Preview
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 2 | Answers
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 2 | Ereading Worksheet
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 3 – Thirteen problems to help your students better understand the author’s purpose in a variety of texts. Â From comic books to directions to the mall, this activity sheet will get your students thinking.
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 3 | RTF
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 3 | PDF
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 3 | Preview
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 3 | Answers
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 3 | Ereading Worksheet
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 4 – Ten more author’s purpose problems. Students consider the author’s purpose in a variety of texts and explain their answers.
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 4 | RTF
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 4 | PDF
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 4 | Preview
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 4 | Answers
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 4 | Ereading Worksheet
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 5 – Are you looking for additional practice with author’s purpose? This worksheet has ten more practice problems.
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 5 | RTF
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 5 | PDF
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 5 | Preview
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 5 | Answers
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 5 | Ereading Worksheet
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 6 – This worksheet has eleven additional practice problems about author’s purpose. Students read the descriptions of the texts and determine whether the authors is attempting to entertain, inform, or persuade readers.
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 6 | RTF
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 6 | PDF
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 6 | Preview
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 6 | Answers
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 6 | Ereading Worksheet
Author’s Purpose Scavenger Hunt – Students find texts written to inform, persuade, and entertain in their text books. Activity sheets will work with your text books too.
Author’s Purpose Scavenger Hunt RTF
Author’s Purpose Scavenger Hunt PDF
Preview Author’s Purpose Scavenger Hunt in Your Web Browser
Author’s Purpose Lesson – Slide show presentation on author’s purpose and modes of writing. Includes a 10 questions review activity after the lesson.
Author’s Purpose Lesson PPT
Author’s Purpose Lesson 2 – I revised my original presentation to make what I believe is an improved version. This slide show also contains ten practice problems after the lesson.
Author’s Purpose Lesson 2 PowerPoint
Answers
Author’s Purpose Lesson 3 – Here is yet another PowerPoint presentation teaching author’s purpose. This one is concise and well-designed. It includes ten new practice problems after the lesson.
Author’s Purpose Lesson 3 PowerPoint
Author’s Purpose Quiz – Fifteen questions testing students’ ability to identify the author’s purpose in a variety of texts.
Author’s Purpose Quiz RTF
Author’s Purpose Quiz PDF
Preview Author’s Purpose Quiz in your web browser
Answers
Author’s Purpose Quiz 2 – Here are fifteen more multiple choice problems about author’s purpose. Students read a description of a text and determine whether it was written to entertain, inform, or persuade the reader.
Author’s Purpose Quiz 2 | RTF
Author’s Purpose Quiz 2 | PDF
Author’s Purpose Quiz 2 | Preview
Author’s Purpose Quiz 2 | Answers
Common Core State Standards Related to Author’s Purpose
Expand to View All Common Core State Standards Related to Author's PurposeCCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.6 – Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.4 – Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.4 – Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Reading: Informational Text Standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.6 – Identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to answer, explain, or describe.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.6 – Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.6 – Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author distinguishes his or her position from that of others.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.6 – Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.6 – Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance that point of view or purpose.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.11-12.6 – Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is particularly effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the power, persuasiveness or beauty of the text.
View Source
Common Core Lesson and Unit Plans
Understanding Common Core State Standards
Looking For More Reading Worksheets?
Point of View Worksheets
Text Structure Worksheets
All Reading Worksheets
Jill
/ January 21, 2020This is a very nice website where I can help my child understand where we both can learn and teach each other thank you
Rae Stokes
/ October 17, 2019Hello Mr. Morton,
I love your website. The lessons are exemplary! Thank you so much for your dedication to this invaluable service.
Previously, you had a link on your page that provided the order you personally use in teaching this content. I am unable to locate it now. Will you please direct me to it?
Thank you!
Ms. Rae
Mr. Morton
/ October 17, 2019Hello. Thanks for visiting my site. Here is the page for which you are looking: https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/e-reading-worksheets/reading-unit-and-lesson-plans-aligned-with-common-core-state-standards/
Sadly, I never finished writing it. Yet production on my latest, greatest game, Idiom Unicorn, continues.
Best wishes.
Karen
/ February 20, 2019These resources have changed the way I teach my son. Every execerise I need is right here. This was a well thought out plan to help both the child and parent or teacher. I am eternally grateful.