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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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Lin
/ January 6, 2019Oh, my goodness, this is a great website and great lessons! I am so glad I’ve located it and you guys are sharing the love and the why of reading in such simple lessons. Thanks so!
Beverly Compton
/ July 11, 2018Thank you for the helpful resources, Mr. Morton. I appreciate the site and being able to use them for my adult education and literacy class.
Naing
/ May 6, 2018This is a wonderful resource for me to use it in my 8th grade thru 10 in Myanmar.
I have found it while searching for reading comprehension materials to do so.
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Leigh Sutherland
/ December 12, 2017I found this site while searching for 5th grade lesson plans. When I looked at the worksheets on author’s purpose, I found them similar to others I previously used. I do not understand how yours can be intended for older students. I have taught author’s purpose to second grade students and was surprised to see the topic as a result for the 5th grade for which I had searched. When I read the article I was surprised further to find the age level at which you teach this topic. Is this a review or is it presented as new information? Please understand this question is not asked with negativity. I am truly interested at the discrepancy and your answer.
Mr. Morton
/ December 13, 2017Hello. Where did you find these other sheets?
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/ September 20, 2015I’m teaching resource room this year and we’re focusing on Common Core skills.
This site is such an amazing resource. I can’t thank you enough!
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/ August 29, 2015I am an English teacher and facilitator at Puerto Rico. I would like to use your resources to reinforce students for College Board test, is very important to me have your approval. I really think your work and effort in doing these worksheets is amazing. I have enjoyed going reading and know that the students will be able to understand and benefit from this material. I will present the bibliography and give credit from where it was taken. I’ll be waiting for you answer?
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Mr. Morton
/ March 23, 2017Hello. My name is Donald E. Morton. I appreciate your desire to give attribution to your sources.
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/ May 4, 2015Mr. Morton,
I am a junior English teacher in New Zealand. I have just discovered your resources and have shared the web page with colleagues.
Your materials are fantastic.
I do have a question for you – you comment about “access to a literature textbook” – could you please tell me the name of the textbook, authors and publishers?
Thank you for your time.
Sam
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/ April 8, 2015Mr. Morton,
I am a history teacher who found myself taking over an English class mid-year. I was asked to help prepare the kids for their 8th grade reading test. I did not know where to start. Your resources saved my bacon. Thank you!
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/ January 7, 2015I love the worksheets on Authors Purpose, however is possible that you can create some that are age (subject/ content) appropriate for lower/primary grades? This is a very big standard for 2nd grade Common Core standards. However, I do love the site. sometimes it’s just hard to find things that are appropriate for the little ones.
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/ December 8, 2014Thank you so much for inventing this website. it is of great help to me and my students.
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/ October 6, 2014I reaching people in areas that I can only dream of visiting. Thank you for taking the time to comment, and may your year go smoothly and profitably as well.
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/ September 25, 2014I love you!, you saved my life!
leuis
/ March 14, 2014Morton / September 22, 2011
Iām 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.)
Reply
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jhaiiheeim
/ December 17, 2013Thanks for making this website it helps a lot
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/ October 3, 2013Thank you for sharing!
Stephanie
/ September 25, 2013I always struggle to find mini-lessons for my 6th grade reading class. Thank you for sharing your hard work!
Janet
/ June 12, 2013I would like to use your resource but want to give you credit for your work. What is the correct way to site this information?
Mr. Morton
/ September 28, 2013I’m not too particular. Credit me in anyway that you think is appropriate if you think that it is appropriate.
Glenda Munoz
/ April 28, 2013I’m a 6th grade teacher, and I’m trying to teach Author’s purpose and this year we added “To Express”. Would you have lesssons to teach.
Thank you.
Mr. Morton
/ May 1, 2013Not currently, although I will consider adding this in the future. Thank you for the suggestion.
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/ January 26, 2013looking for reading skills worksheets to use for a student remediation program, I’ve found this valuable resource, many thanks for the person who shared it online.
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/ January 21, 2013this website can help alot of people
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/ December 5, 2012Thank you for creating this great website. Very informative. Blessings. Arelis
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Teaching in a rural town named Upington in South Africa and appreciate the treasure that I have come across today!
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Mr. Morton
/ January 5, 2013The world is an amazing place.
Joyce Clemons
/ April 18, 2014These free worksheets are worth every penny! We have particular interest in the ones being used inappropriately by teachers showing poor judgement regarding age-appropriate content.
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/ November 29, 2012I really enjoy using all of these materials in my 6th grade Literacy class.