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Author's Purpose Worksheets
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 1
Here's a great activity to get started with finding the author's purpose. Students read the descriptions of ten texts and determine the author's purpose: inform, persuade, or entertain. Students explain how they got their answers.
Author's Purpose Worksheet 2
Here's another effective activity to give students lots of practice with finding the author's purpose. Students read the descriptions of the texts and determine whether the author's purpose is to inform, persuade, or entertain. Then they explain their answers.
Author's Purpose Worksheet 3
Here are thirteen more problems to give students practice identifying the author's purpose in a variety of texts. The texts range from comic books to directions to the mall, so this activity sheet will get your students thinking. There is also an online version available.
Author's Purpose Worksheet 4
Here are ten more author's purpose problems. Students consider the author's purpose in a variety of texts and explain their answers, adding an element of critical thinking to this reading activity.
Author's Purpose Worksheet 5
Are you still looking for practice with identifying the author's purpose in a variety of texts? Look no further. Here are ten more practice problems. Students are also required to think about and explain their answers.
Author's Purpose Worksheet 6
This author's purpose worksheet has eleven additional practice problems. Students read the descriptions of the texts and determine whether the author is attempting to entertain, inform, or persuade readers. Then, they explain their answers.
Author's Purpose Scavenger Hunt Activity
Here's a fun activity to get students moving and give them practice with identifying the author's purpose. Students search through a library of books to find examples of books written to entertain, inform, and persuade. This will give students practice with finding the author's purpose in real texts.
Author's Purpose PowerPoint Lesson 1
Want to teach or learn about finding the author's purpose? Here is an animated slideshow presentation. It includes 10 review questions after the lesson.
Author's Purpose PowerPoint Lesson 2
Here is another PowerPoint slideshow on Author's Purpose. This one is a revised and improved version of my first Author's Purpose lesson.
Author's Purpose PowerPoint Lesson 3
Here is yet another PowerPoint presentation teaching author's purpose. This one is concise and well-designed. I recommend using this author's purpose lesson for teaching your students. It also includes ten new practice problems after the lesson not found in the other lessons.
Author's Purpose Quiz 1
Want to evaluate how well your students understand author's purpose? Check out this author's purpose quiz. It has fifteen multiple-choice questions. Students must recognize the author's purpose in a variety of texts.
Author's Purpose Quiz 2
Looking for another quiz on author's purpose? Here are fifteen more multiple-choice problems. Students read a description of a text and determine whether it was written to entertain, inform, or persuade the reader.
It's hard to start if you don't know why you are writing.
Author's Purpose
Common Core State Standards
Author's Purpose Anchor Standards
R.6 - Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.RI.2.6 - Identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to answer, explain, or describe.
RI.6.6 - Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Click to VIEW Grade Level Standards for R.6
W.4 - Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
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.
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/ November 26, 2012Thank you so much for this website! I have a group of at-risk students who need to spend 9 consecutive weeks working with author’s purpose, and I was running out of material. Your practice pages and quiz have saved the day! Wonderful! Thanks again.
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Mr. Morton
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/ February 29, 2012Fantastic stuff here. We constantly struggle with Author’s Purpose at our school and where to find resources to use. This is terrific and I’m happy to have found this material! Thanks for all of your hard work!
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/ February 11, 2012May the Chinese dragon year bring you great health and energy. Thanks a million for sharing!
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/ February 7, 2012How do you justify posting subjects such as teen pregnancy and abortion as relevant topics for grammar school children??? I had to have a conversation with my 9 year old about these topics because of a teacher sloppily cut and pasting from your website. Please remove these topics IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!
Mr. Morton
/ February 13, 2012These passages refer to things that occur.
You will not solve the problem by destroying the referent;
you will conceal it.
Perhaps your time is better spent supporting causes rather than attacking references.
I’m happy that you talked with your child about these things.
Parents should inform their children of the dangers of the world.
Thanks for visiting,
but just as I will not censor your views,
I will not censor these materials.
Sonja Miller
/ January 26, 2012I love your website. I am the chairperson of our English department and after sharing this site with our team, several of the teachers are using your powerpoints and worksheets! Is there anyway to get a PDF version of slide 6 in the author’s purpose powerpoint so I can use it as a classroom poster? (the chart of decision making for author’s purpose)
Mr. Morton
/ January 31, 2012Easy peazy! I’m a wiz at this stuff: Author’s Purpose Flow Chart
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/ January 22, 2012Oh my gosh! This lesson plan on author’s purpose is amazing. I just told my husband I wanted to find out who wrote it and buy them a present!!!
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grandmother
/ November 2, 2011The author’s purpose quiz is really good. I took the quiz myself; however, I would like to check my responses. Please send the key for the quiz.
Mr. Morton
/ November 7, 2011Here, try these out:
Author’s Purpose Quiz 1
Author’s Purpose Quiz 2
Stephanie
/ November 1, 2011Thank you so much! This site has more resources to help my students understand author’s purpose more…and it doesn’t hurt to add some writing into the lesson!
This is great!
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/ October 10, 2011I like your website; however, I found some of the activities inappropriate for young children. Specifically speaking, Author’s Purpose: Activity Three refers to two scenarios that are centered around the topic of teenage pregnancy. I don’t think topics of this matter is appropriate for any school age child.
Mr. Morton
/ October 10, 2011I understand your position. Personally, I feel that education is preferable to ignorance. Therefore, young people should be introduced to such issues as a discussion point and education opportunity, but I understand your position as well. Thank you for posting your apprehensions and informing users of subject matter that they may find questionable.
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camille
/ September 21, 2011I love the Authors Purpose rtf3 but can’t find the answer key. Can someone please direct me to it?
Mr. Morton
/ September 22, 2011I’m sorry.
But none currently exists.
Oh wait:
1. entertain
2. inform
3. entertain
4. inform
5. persuade (Isiah Thomas actually came to our school. This is a reference to that visit. It was pretty cool.)
6. inform
7. inform
8. entertain
9. persuade
10. inform
11. persuade/inform (both can be argued. Read their arguments.)
12. entertain
13. persuade/inform (both can be argued. Read their arguments.)
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/ March 29, 2011Great worksheets! Could you please direct me to when I may find the answer key? Thank you
Robyn Daigle
/ February 25, 2011I would love to have an answer key for the fabulous worksheets on author’s purpose. Can you email them to me?
Mr. Morton
/ February 25, 2011Answers have been added. Thank you for your interest.
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Mr. Morton
/ February 13, 2011It’s my pleasure, Karen. Thank you for taking the time to comment.