author's purpose writing assignment

The Author’s Purpose for students and teachers

What Is The Author’s Purpose?

When discussing the author’s purpose, we refer to the ‘why’ behind their writing. What motivated the author to produce their work? What is their intent, and what do they hope to achieve?

The author’s purpose is the reason they decided to write about something in the first place.

There are many reasons a writer puts pen to paper, and students must possess the necessary tools to identify these reasons and intents to react and respond appropriately.

Understanding why authors write is essential for students to navigate the complex landscape of texts effectively. The concept of author’s purpose encompasses the motivations behind a writer’s choice of words, style, and structure. By teaching students to discern these purposes, educators empower them to engage critically with various forms of literature and non-fiction.

Author’s Purpose Definition

The author’s purpose is his or her motivation for writing a text and their intent to Persuade, Inform, Entertain, Explain or Describe something to an audience.

Author’s Purpose Examples and Types

It is universally accepted there are three base categories of the Author’s Purpose: To Persuade, To Inform , and To Entertain . These can easily be remembered with the PIE acronym and should be the starting point on this topic. However, you may also encounter other subcategories depending on who you ask.

This table provides many author’s purpose examples, and we will cover the first five in detail in this article.

Author’s Purpose Teaching Unit

Teach your students ALL ASPECTS of the Author’s Purpose with this fully EDITABLE 63-page Teaching Unit.

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Author’s Purpose 1: To Persuade

Definition: This is a prevalent purpose of writing, particularly in nonfiction. When a text is written to persuade, it aims to convince the reader of the merits of a particular point of view . In this type of writing, the author attempts to persuade the reader to agree with this point of view and/or subsequently take a particular course of action. 

Examples: This purpose can be found in all kinds of writing. It can even be in fiction writing when the author has an agenda, consciously or unconsciously. However, it is most commonly the motivation behind essays, advertisements, and political writing, such as speech and propaganda.

Persuasion is commonly also found in…

• A political speech urges voters to support a particular candidate by presenting arguments for their suitability for the position, policies, and record of achievements.
• An advertisement for a new product that emphasizes its unique features and benefits over competing products, attempting to convince consumers to choose it over alternatives.
• A letter to the editor of a newspaper expressing a strong opinion on a controversial issue and attempting to persuade others to adopt a similar position by presenting compelling evidence and arguments.

How to Identify: To identify when the author’s purpose is to persuade, students should ask themselves if they feel the writer is trying to get them to believe something or take a specific action. They should learn to identify the various tactics and strategies used in persuasive writing, such as repetition, multiple types of supporting evidence, hyperbole, attacking opposing viewpoints, forceful phrases, emotive imagery, and photographs.

We have a complete persuasive writing guide if you want to learn more.

Strategies for being a more PERSUASIVE writer

To become a persuasive writer, students can employ several strategies to convey their arguments and influence their readers effectively. Here are five strategies for persuasive writing:

• Understand Your Audience: Know your target audience and tailor your persuasive arguments to appeal to their interests, values, and beliefs. Consider their potential objections and address them in your writing. Understanding your audience helps you create a more compelling and persuasive piece.
• Use Strong Evidence and Examples: Support your claims with credible evidence, statistics, and real-life examples. Persuasive writing relies on logic and facts to support your arguments. Conduct research to find reliable sources that strengthen your case and make your writing more convincing.
• Craft a Persuasive Structure: Organize your writing clearly and persuasively. Start with a compelling introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and states your main argument. Use body paragraphs to present evidence and supporting points logically. Finish with a strong conclusion that reinforces your main message and calls the reader to take action or adopt your viewpoint.
• Appeal to Emotions: Persuasive writing is not just about logic; emotions are crucial in influencing readers. Use emotional appeals to connect with your audience and evoke empathy, sympathy, or excitement. Be careful not to manipulate emotions but use them to reinforce your argument authentically.
• Anticipate Counterarguments: Acknowledge and address potential counterarguments to show that you have considered different perspectives. By addressing opposing viewpoints, you demonstrate that you have thoroughly thought about the issue and strengthen your credibility as a persuasive writer.

Bonus Tip: Use Persuasive Language: Pay attention to your choice of words and language. Use compelling language that evokes a sense of urgency or importance. Employ rhetorical devices, such as repetition, analogy, and rhetorical questions, to make your writing more persuasive and memorable.

Please encourage students to practice these strategies in their writing in formal essays and everyday persuasive situations. By mastering persuasive writing techniques, students can effectively advocate for their ideas, inspire change, and have a greater impact with their words.

Author’s Purpose 2: To Inform

Definition: When an author aims to inform, they usually wish to enlighten their readership about a real-world topic. Often, they will do this by providing lots of facts. Informational texts impart information to the reader to educate them on a given topic. 

Examples: Many types of school books are written with the express purpose of informing the reader, such as encyclopedias, recipe books, newspapers and informative texts…

• A news article reporting on a recent event or development provides factual details about what happened, who was involved, and where and when it occurred.
• A scientific journal article describes a research study’s findings, explaining the methodology, results, and implications for further analysis or practical application.
• A travel guidebook that provides detailed information about a particular destination, including its history, culture, attractions, accommodation options, and practical advice for visitors.

How to Identify: In the process of informing the reader, the author will use facts, which is one surefire way to spot the intent to inform.

However, when the author’s purpose is persuasion, they will also likely provide the reader with some facts to convince them of the merits of their particular case. The main difference between the two ways facts are employed is that when the intention is to inform, facts are presented only to teach the reader. When the author aims to persuade, they commonly mask their opinions amid the facts.

Students must become adept at recognizing ‘hidden’ opinions through practice. Teach your students to beware of persuasion masquerading as information!

Please read our complete guide to learn more about writing an information report.

Strategies for being a more INFORMATIVE writer

To become an informative writer, students can employ several strategies to effectively convey information and knowledge clearly and engagingly. Here are five strategies for informative writing:

• Conduct Thorough Research: Before writing, gather information from credible sources such as books, academic journals, reputable websites, and expert interviews. Use reliable data and evidence to support your points. Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of your information is essential in informative writing.
• Organize Information Logically: Structure your writing clearly and logically. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to organize information into easily digestible chunks. A well-structured piece helps readers understand complex topics more quickly.
• Use Clear and Concise Language: Aim for clarity and avoid unnecessary jargon or complex language that might confuse your readers. Use simple and concise sentences to deliver information effectively. Make sure to define any technical terms or concepts unfamiliar to your audience.
• Provide Real-Life Examples: Illustrate your points with real-life examples, case studies, or anecdotes. Concrete examples make abstract concepts more understandable and relatable. They also help to keep the reader engaged throughout the piece.
• Incorporate Visual Aids: Whenever possible, use visual aids such as charts, graphs, diagrams, and images to complement your text. Visual elements enhance understanding and retention of information. Be sure to explain the significance of each visual aid in your writing.

Bonus Tip: Practice Summarization: After completing informative writing, practice summarizing the main points. Being able to summarize your work concisely reinforces your understanding of the topic and helps you identify any gaps in your information.

Encourage students to practice these strategies in various writing tasks, such as research papers, reports, and explanatory essays. By mastering informative writing techniques, students can effectively educate their readers, share knowledge, and contribute meaningfully to their academic and professional pursuits.

Author’s Purpose 3: To Entertain

Definition: When an author’s chief purpose is to entertain the reader, they will endeavour to keep things as interesting as possible. Things happen in books written to entertain, whether in an action-packed plot , inventive characterizations, or sharp dialogue.

Examples: Not surprisingly, much fiction is written to entertain, especially genre fiction. For example, we find entertaining examples in science fiction, romance, and fantasy.

Here are some more entertaining texts to consider.

• A novel that tells a compelling story engages the reader’s emotions and imagination through vivid characters, evocative settings, and unexpected twists and turns.
• A comedy television script that uses humour and wit to amuse the audience, often by poking fun at everyday situations or societal norms.
• A stand-up comedy routine that relies on the comedian’s storytelling ability and comedic timing to entertain the audience, often by commenting on current events or personal experiences.

How to Identify: When writers attempt to entertain or amuse the reader, they use various techniques to engage their attention. They may employ cliffhangers at the end of a chapter, for example. They may weave humour into their story or even have characters tell jokes. In the case of a thriller, an action-packed scene may follow an action-packed scene as the drama builds to a crescendo. Think of the melodrama of a soap opera here rather than the subtle touch of an arthouse masterpiece.

Strategies for being a more ENTERTAINING writer

To become an entertaining writer, students can use several strategies to captivate their readers and keep them engaged. Here are five effective techniques:

• Use Humor: Inject humour to tickle the reader’s funny bone. Incorporate witty remarks, funny anecdotes, or clever wordplay. Humour lightens the tone of your writing and makes it enjoyable to read. However, be mindful of your audience and ensure your humour is appropriate and relevant to the topic.
• Create Engaging Characters: Whether you’re writing a story, essay, or any other type of content, develop compelling and relatable characters. Readers love connecting with well-developed characters with distinct personalities, flaws, and strengths. Use descriptive language to bring them to life and make them memorable.
• Craft Intriguing Beginnings: Grab your reader’s attention from the very first sentence. Start with a compelling hook that sparks curiosity or creates intrigue. An exciting beginning sets the tone for the rest of the piece and encourages the reader to continue reading.
• Build Suspense and Surprise: Incorporate twists, turns, and surprises into your writing to keep readers on their toes. Building suspense creates anticipation and makes readers eager to discover what happens next. Surprise them with unexpected plot developments or revelations to keep them engaged throughout the piece.
• Use Imagery and Vivid Descriptions : Paint vivid pictures with your words to immerse readers in your writing. Use sensory language and descriptive imagery to transport them to different places, evoke emotions, and create a multisensory experience. Readers love to feel like they’re part of the story, and vivid descriptions help achieve that.

Bonus Tip: Read Widely and Analyze: To become an entertaining writer, read a variety of books, articles, and pieces from different genres and authors. Pay attention to the elements that make their writing engaging and entertaining. Analyze their use of humour, character development, suspense, and descriptions. Learning from the work of accomplished writers can inspire and improve your own writing.

By using these strategies and practising regularly, students can become more entertaining writers, captivating their audience and making their writing a joy to read. Remember, the key to entertaining writing is engaging your readers and leaving them with a positive and memorable experience.

Author’s Purpose 4: To Explain

Definition: When writers write to explain, they want to tell the reader how to do something or reveal how something works. This type of writing is about communicating a method or a process.

Examples: Writing to explain can be found in instructions, step-by-step guides, procedural outlines, and recipes such as these…

• A user manual explaining how to operate a piece of machinery or a technical device provides step-by-step instructions and diagrams to help users understand the process.
• A textbook chapter that explains a complex scientific or mathematical concept breaks it into simpler components and provides examples and illustrations to aid comprehension.
• A how-to guide that explains how to complete a specific task or achieve a particular outcome, such as cooking a recipe, gardening, or home repair. It provides a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, and tips to ensure success.

  How to Identify:   Often, this writing is organized into bulleted or numbered points. As it focuses on telling the reader how to do something, often lots of imperatives will be used within the writing. Diagrams and illustrations are often used to reinforce the text explanations too.

Read our complete guide to explanatory texts here.

Strategies for being a more EXPLANATORY WRITER

To become a more explanatory writer, students can employ several strategies to effectively clarify complex ideas and concepts for their readers. Here are five strategies for explanatory writing:

• Define Technical Terms: When writing about a specialized or technical topic, ensure that you define any relevant terms or jargon that might be unfamiliar to your readers. A clear and concise definition helps readers grasp the meaning of these terms and facilitates better understanding of the content.
• Use Analogies and Comparisons: Use analogies and comparisons to relate complex ideas to more familiar concepts. This technique makes abstract or difficult concepts more relatable and easier to understand. Analogies provide a frame of reference that helps readers connect new information to something they already know.
• Provide Step-by-Step Explanations: Break down complex processes or procedures into step-by-step explanations. This approach helps readers follow the sequence of events or actions and understand the logic behind each step. Use numbered lists or bullet points to make the process visually clear.
• Include Visuals and Diagrams: Supplement your explanatory writing with visual aids such as diagrams, flowcharts, or illustrations. Visuals can enhance understanding and retention of information by visually representing the concepts being discussed.
• Address “Why” and “How”: In explanatory writing, go beyond simply stating “what” happened or what a concept is. Focus on explaining “why” something occurs and “how” it works. Providing the underlying reasons and mechanisms helps readers better understand the subject matter.

Bonus Tip: Review and Revise: After completing your explanatory writing, review your work and assess whether the explanations are clear and comprehensive. Consider seeking feedback from peers or teachers to identify areas needing further clarification or expansion.

Please encourage students to practice these strategies in writing across different subjects and topics. By mastering explanatory writing techniques, students can effectively communicate complex ideas, promote better understanding, and excel academically and professionally.

Author’s Purpose 5: To Describe

Definition: Writers often use words to describe something in more detail than conveyed in a photograph alone. After all, they say a picture paints a thousand words, and text can help get us beyond the one-dimensional appearance of things.

Examples: We can find lots of descriptive writing in obvious places like short stories, novels and other forms of fiction where the writer wishes to paint a picture in the reader’s imagination. We can also find lots of writing with the purpose of description in nonfiction too – in product descriptions, descriptive essays or these text types…

• A travelogue that describes a particular place, highlighting its natural beauty, cultural attractions, and unique characteristics. The author uses sensory language to create a vivid mental picture in the reader’s mind.
• A painting analysis that describes the colors, shapes, textures, and overall impression of a particular artwork. The author uses descriptive language to evoke the emotions and ideas conveyed by the painting.
• A product review that describes the features, benefits, and drawbacks of a particular item. The author uses descriptive language to give the reader a clear sense of the product and whether it might suit their needs.

How to Identify: In the case of fiction writing which describes, the reader will notice the writer using lots of sensory details in the text. Our senses are how we perceive the world, and to describe their imaginary world, writers will draw heavily on language that appeals to these senses. In both fiction and nonfiction, readers will notice that the writer relies heavily on adjectives.

Strategies for being a more descriptive writer

Becoming a descriptive writer is a valuable skill that allows students to paint vivid pictures with words and immerse readers in their stories. Here are five strategies for students to enhance their descriptive writing:

• Sensory Language: Engage the reader’s senses by incorporating sensory language into your writing. Use descriptive adjectives, adverbs, and strong verbs to create a sensory experience for your audience. For example, instead of saying “the flower was pretty,” describe it as “the delicate, fragrant blossom with hues of vibrant pink and a velvety texture.”
• Show, Don’t Tell: Use the “show, don’t tell” technique to make your writing more descriptive and immersive. Rather than stating emotions or characteristics directly, use descriptive details and actions to show them. For instance, instead of saying “she was scared,” describe how “her heart raced, and her hands trembled as she peeked around the dark corner.”
• Use Metaphors and Similes: Integrate metaphors and similes to add depth and creativity to your descriptions. Compare two unrelated things to create a powerful visual image. For example, “the sun dipped below the horizon like a golden coin slipping into a piggy bank.”
• Focus on Setting: Pay attention to the setting of your story or narrative. Describe the environment, atmosphere, and surroundings in detail. Take the reader on a journey by clearly depicting the location. Let your words bring the setting to life, whether it’s a lush forest, a bustling city street, or a mystical castle.
• Practice Observation: Practice keen observation skills in your daily life. Take note of the world around you—the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. Observe people, places, and objects with a writer’s eye. By developing a habit of keen observation, you’ll have a rich bank of sensory details to draw from when you write.

Bonus Tip: Revise and Edit: Good descriptive writing often comes through revision and editing. After writing a draft, go back and read your work critically. Look for opportunities to add more descriptive elements, eliminate unnecessary adjectives or cliches, and refine your language to make it more engaging.

By applying these strategies and continually honing your descriptive writing skills, you’ll be able to transport readers to new worlds, evoke emotions, and make your writing more captivating and memorable.

Free Author’s Purpose Anchor Charts & Posters

Author’s Purpose Teaching Activities

The Author’s Purpose Task 1. The Author’s Purpose Anchor Chart

Whether introducing the general idea of the author’s purpose or working on identifying the specifics of a single purpose, a pie author’s purpose anchor chart can be an excellent resource for students when working independently. Compiling the anchor chart collaboratively with the students can be an effective way for them to reconstruct and reinforce their learning.

The Author’s Purpose Task 2. Gather Real-Life Examples

Challenging students to identify and collect real-life examples of the various types of writing as homework can be a great way to get some hands-on practice. Encourage your students to gather various forms of text together indiscriminately. They then sift through them to categorize them appropriately according to their purpose. The students will soon begin to see that all writing has a purpose. You may also like to make a classroom display of the gathered texts to serve as examples.

The Author’s Purpose Task 3. DIY

One of the most effective ways for students to recognize the authorial intent behind a piece of writing is to gain experience producing writing for various purposes. Design writing tasks with this in mind. For example, if you are focused on writing to persuade, you could challenge the students to produce a script for a radio advertisement. If the focus is entertaining, you could ask the students to write a funny story.

The Author’s Purpose Task 4. Classroom Discussion

When teaching author’s purpose, organize the students into small discussion groups of, say, 4 to 5. Provide each group with copies of sample texts written for various purposes. Students should have some time to read through the texts by themselves. They then work to identify the author’s purpose, making notes as they go. Students can discuss their findings as a group.

Remember: the various purposes are not mutually exclusive; sometimes, a text has more than one purpose. It is possible to be both entertaining and informative, for example. It is essential students recognize this fact. A careful selection of texts can ensure the students can discover this for themselves.

 Students need to understand that regardless of the text they are engaged with, every piece of writing has some purpose behind it. It’s important that they work towards recognizing the various features of different types of writing that reveal to the reader just what that purpose is.

Initially, the process of learning to identify the different types of writing and their purposes will require conscious focus on the part of the student. Plenty of opportunities should be created to allow this necessary classroom practice.

However, this practice doesn’t have to be exclusively in the form of discrete lessons on the author’s purpose. Simply asking students what they think the author’s purpose is when reading any text in any context can be a great way to get the ‘reps’ in quickly and frequently.

Eventually, students will begin to recognize the author’s purpose quickly and unconsciously in the writing of others.

Ultimately, this improved comprehension of writing, in general, will benefit students in their own independent writing.

This video is an excellent introductory guide for students looking for a simple visual breakdown of the author’s purpose and how it can impact their approach to writing and assessment.

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21 Awesome Author’s Purpose Activities 

December 6, 2022 //  by  Lauren Jannette

Get ready to read! These exciting activities help students build skills in reading comprehension, creative writing, and critical thinking. Give your students instructions for each activity, and watch as they get excited about reading! Grab a selection of joke books, reference books, and maybe a picture of a book or two. Then read the different types of texts to figure out why the author wrote the book!

1. P.I.E. Chart

Before you start your author’s purpose lessons, plan a review with students. Go over categories of purpose: Persuade, Inform, and Entertain. Then have them fill in which genres of literature go under each category. Make miniature versions for a handy graphic organizer. 

Learn more: Indulgy

2. Author’s Purpose Printable Worksheet

This printable author’s purpose worksheet is perfect for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-grade students. Have your students read the book covers and color each according to the author’s reason for writing the book!

Learn more: The Moffat Girls

3. Author’s Purpose Game

A great interactive author’s purpose activity! After your kids have picked their piece, spin the spinner and determine why the author wrote their short story. If they guess right, they get to move ahead. If they’re wrong, they go back to the number of spaces they spun.

Learn more: Room Recess

4. Reading Comprehension Worksheet

Start the week off with this easy activity. Choose a book from your classroom library. After reading a passage, have students complete the exercises. The worksheet is a chance for students to demonstrate their comprehension of the passage.

Learn more: Fourth & Ten

5. Scavenger Hunt

A fun and interactive activity for students of all ages! Send your kids on a scavenger hunt at your local library to find books fitting each category. This great alternative to worksheets makes learning active and exciting!

Learn more: Use My Mind Save Your Time

6. Not “As Easy as P.I.E.”

This activity is a harder task for students. To create this graphic organizer, students begin by deciding the author’s purpose. They then have to uncover the author’s thesis ideas and supporting evidence. This type of writing assignment is great for middle school students.

Learn more: Cultivating Critical Readers

7. Author’s Purpose Recipe Card

Perfect for small-group learning! Have your students read aloud texts of different genres. Then have them write down the details listed on the recipe. Follow the instructions closely. Finish by “cooking up” the main ideas to discover the reasons authors wrote their books. 

Learn more: The Simple Classroom

8. Task Cards

This task card set is the perfect introduction to the topic of the author’s purpose. Read the description on each card. Then have your students choose the correct category for each one. Turn it into a partner vs. partner game for even more fun!

Learn more: Staying Cool in the Library

9. Digital Task Cards

If you’re teaching digitally, this resource is for you. These task cards make quizzing simple, easy, and fun! As students take the quiz, they receive detailed information to help plan their next lessons. Have students use the examples on task cards to create their own!

Learn more: Book Units Teacher

10. Anchor Chart

Help your students remember the key points of an author’s purpose with this poster. It clearly outlines the author’s and reader’s jobs. Have students create their own mini anchor charts to refer to throughout the year. An awesome addition to your classroom writing center!

Learn more: The Classroom Key

11. Color By Code

Kids love coloring and finding hidden messages! This printable worksheet combines both for a fun author’s purpose activity. Do the first few together. Then have your students pair off and complete the rest by themselves. Have learners come back together afterward to discuss their decisions.

Learn more: The Tahoe Teacher

12. The Checklist

Give your students a selection of reading passages for this activity. As they read the passages, have them complete the checklist to find out why the author wrote what they did. Ask older students to write an analytical paragraph for each passage explaining their choice.

Learn more: Read Like a Rock Star

13. Easy As P.I.E. Song

This is perfect for younger elementary students. Make up a tune and teach your kids the lyrics. Sing it at the beginning of each lesson about the author’s purpose to make sure they remember. Ask them to pick a book for each stanza and hold it up when they sing it!

Learn more: Blog Lovin’

14. P.I.E. Plates

These easy-to-create anchor charts are perfect for students of all ages. Grab a paper plate and divide it into sections. Label each section with each type of author’s purpose and its characteristics. Pin book titles to each category throughout the year!

Learn more: Teach Junkie

15. Flip Book

Write book titles on pieces of construction paper. Create the outer cover for each flip book of P.I.E. Have your kids sort and glue the books into the correct categories. Add a new page for every book your kids read during the year!

Learn more: Upper Elementary Snapshots

16. Start at the Beginning

Ask your kids about their writing. Why do they write? Make a list of their reasons and the types of writing they do. Then sort each one into a corresponding author’s purpose category.

Learn more: Use My Mi nd Save Your Time

17. Purpose Puzzle

Entertain your puzzle lovers with this activity! Cut and laminate the pieces for each author’s purpose. Help your students put the correct pieces together. Add more categories, details, and descriptions to challenge older students.

Learn more: Teach Starter

18. Upper-Level Student Worksheet

Integrate this worksheet into your older students’ author’s purpose activities. The comprehensive worksheet has students provide evidence for their choice about the author’s motivations. A great way to start reading reflection activities!

Learn more: Christian Homeschool Hub

19. Sort Books

A simple way for kids to visualize the author’s purpose is to sort the books themselves! Grab a stack of books or a scholastic book magazine. Then place each book in the correct category. Divide the books into two piles and make it a race!

20. Multiple Choice Questions

Start your students off with this easy exercise. Read the short passages provided and then have them decide the author’s intent for writing. The additional questions are a great way to test their reading comprehension skills.

Learn more: Unmisravle

21. Sentence Writing Game

Create task cards containing different people, places, and things. Mix them up and place them face down. Then have your kids spin the spinner and pick up a card. Have everyone write a sentence using the topic and image! The funniest sentence wins a prize!

• Grades 6-12
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Free Attendance Questions Slideshow ✨

Going Beyond PIE: 5 Ways to Teach Students How to Find the Author’s Purpose

Plus, 3 ways to teach kids how to identify bias.

If you teach students about author’s purpose, you probably already know about the acronym PIE (persuade, inform, entertain) and the related cutesy anchor charts.

SOURCE: Teacherific Fun

While those are good umbrella categories, the actual reasons that authors write nonfiction are often more nuanced. Textbook authors write to educate. Bloggers write because they’re passionate about a topic. Journalists write to disseminate information.

Today’s students are surrounded by information. The ability to figure out exactly why authors write—and not accept every opinion as fact—is a key skill. In particular, as students read, they’ll need to figure out the author’s purpose, identify bias, and draw their own conclusions.

As students get more advanced in their work with informational text, these five strategies will teach them how to figure out why authors really write.

1. Start with why.

“Why did the author write this piece?” is the core question asked to identify author’s purpose. To help students expand their understanding of “why,” post various types of nonfiction (an advertisement, opinion article, news article, etc.) around your classroom and have students quickly identify a purpose for each. Or keep a running author’s purpose board with a list of the various reasons why authors write.

2. Talk about structure.

Authors use different structures—sequence, problem and solution, compare and contrast—for different purposes. For example, one author may use sequence to explain an event, while another author uses compare and contrast to put that event into perspective.

3. Get to the heart.

Often when authors write, they’re trying to get readers to feel a certain way. Perhaps the author of an article about whale conservation wants readers to feel sad about the plight of whales. Or the author of a letter may want to make the recipient feel better about a situation. After students read a text, stop and ask: How do you feel? And how did the author get you to feel this way?

4. Connect to students’ own writing.

Writing and reading go hand in hand. Expand students’ awareness of why people write by having them write for different purposes. When students are charged to write about a topic that they think everyone should know about, to explain a procedure, or to share a personal memory, they’ll become more aware of how authors approach writing.

5. Observe how purpose changes within a text.

Author’s purpose is often studied through the text as a whole, but authors have different reasons for writing within texts as well. For example, an author may include a funny anecdote to draw in the reader. Then, they may launch into a list of facts that make the reader feel frustrated about the situation. And finally, they may conclude with an appeal. Take a short article and break it apart, identifying the different purposes so that students see how author’s purpose changes as they read.

Bonus: Three ways to teach kids how to identify bias

Right now, your students may take every nonfiction reading at face value, but as they develop as readers (and consumers of information), they need to learn how to evaluate bias.

1. Mind the gap.

When authors are writing to convince their readers of something, they’re choosing evidence that best makes their case. Have students read for an eye toward what information isn’t there. For example, if an author is writing in support of keeping horse-drawn buggies in New York City legal, they may include examples of the benefits (e.g., tourism) and leave out the drawbacks (e.g., horses holding up traffic).

2. Review the experts.

Have students pull out the names and titles of the people cited in an article. What can students learn from whom was included? And how credible is each expert?

3. Seek out stats.

Pull out statistics, images, facts, graphics, and other numbers to paint another picture of how the author is thinking. Based on the information, what does the author want readers to remember? What was included? What wasn’t included?

Every time kids read, they engage in conversation with the author, and knowing the author’s purpose makes that conversation that much richer.

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15 Activities to Reinforce the Author’s Purpose

Identifying an author’s purpose for writing can be a tricky skill for some students.  Help them out by providing opportunities to write in different ways.  The ideas below offer some quick and easy ways to reinforce the difference between writing to inform, entertain, and persuade.  They’re perfect to use in your classroom writing center or as activities for early finishers.

Ideas for Writing to Inform

• Write a letter telling about the routine of their day.
• Create a description of an item found in a catalog or magazine…or in the classroom!
• Make a brochure containing facts about a subject being studied (history, science, math, etc.).
• Create a recipe and outline the steps needed to make the food.
• Write a news story about something happening in the school or the community.

Ideas for Writing to Persuade

• Create a radio advertisement encouraging people to buy a product.
• Write a speech encouraging people to vote for you for class president.
• Work with a partner and create a skit about a salesperson trying to sell a reluctant buyer something.
• Write an essay about something you would like to see changed and why it should get done.
• Write a review of a book encouraging someone to read it.

Ideas for Writing to Entertain

• Write a funny story.
• Create a joke book.
• Describe an event that made you laugh.
• Write a funny poem about an animal.
• Write a short story from the perspective of an inanimate object in the classroom (i.e. – the stapler, the dry erase markers, etc.).

What are some of your favorite writing lessons for students?  Leave a comment and share with us!

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June 22, 2011 at 8:09 am

I have cut out and laminated a wide variety of pictures from magazines. A few times a week I randomly select three pictures and place them on the board. I have students create a story using all three of the pictures. Even my least motivated writers loved this activity because often the pictures were humorous items like a turkey dinner, an elephant, and a baby doctor.

June 22, 2011 at 10:51 am

We do voice mini-lessons where they take the perspective of two inanimate objects and give them voice (much like your idea in writing to entertain). I LOVE this lesson because the kids remember it and REALLY get what voice is and how it is easily confused with “dialogue” which are not always the same, as they soon discover!

I’ve had older students (5th grade) write a short narrative between a pencil and a paper (or any two classroom objects of choice) where one is REALLY nice and one is REALLY snooty. It’s a fun lesson and the kiddos remember it all the rest of the year as they write. It’s great!

June 22, 2011 at 2:51 pm

I LOVE this poster. It gives the students a great visual and mnemonic device to remember.

June 22, 2011 at 2:53 pm

I like to have a “round table” with my kids and talk to them their life and their interests and wants as well as their dislikes. My kids (especially my boys) like to be funny- so the kids like to come up with funny things they can write informative pieces on, persuade their parents to do something they like or don’t like, and to create funny stories by pulling words out of a jar. Sitting with them on their level brings all sorts of great ideas out and helps those struggling writers as well.

June 22, 2011 at 2:56 pm

This is one area my students struggle with. Thanks for the ideas!

I have shown a picture. Then, I have the students write three different stories based on the picture. One to inform, one to persuade and one to entertain. It is wonderful to see what their imaginations come up with.

June 22, 2011 at 3:00 pm

I have trouble getting some of my kids to write and be able to figure out what the authors purpose is. This gives me more ideas and things to try with them.

I am creating a new unit for next year with writing and am going to use this to this to help my students. I am hoping that it will help motivate my students to write in different styles and assist them in identifing them.

I really like the fact this poster is laminated, it is a big help.

My favorite writing lesson is whem my kids free write, go through the writing steps (editing, proofing, etc.,) and end up creating a book that they are proud of.

June 22, 2011 at 3:01 pm

We create videos for persuade, short stories to entertain, and news clips to inform. The kids love it!!

June 22, 2011 at 3:03 pm

It’s difficult to fit in writing these days with such a strong push on math and reading. I am fortunate to at least have one big focus writing per month. I use a different area of focus and tie it in with a monthly theme. September is a narrative recap of their summer vacation. In October they have to do a descriptive writing of their favorite costume. In November, they do a structured writing of what they are thankful for and why. December is a winter trickster tale. January is another structured writing about resolutions and February is a persuasive about why someone should “like” or “love” something. March is a narrative about a time they were lucky or unlucky. In April, for preparation for Open House, the students have to create a persuasive dialogue and create a commercial for a fictional product. I think between that and the daily journal (for writing fluency) have helped create a good balance despite the lack of time.

I teach middle school and one of my favorite activities is the “Sock Activity”. I pretend that I am an “alien” and gather the students around me and they have to tell me specifically how to put on a sock. I follow EXACTLY what they say. It can get quite funny! This teaches them that they have to be careful when they are writing informative pieces and giving directions. Afterward, they have to write about how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, in which I demonstrate EACH set of given directions. It’s messy and fun and teaches informative writing.

June 22, 2011 at 3:07 pm

We review examples of each type of writing and create a sort of “sou-eee” call to P.I.E.E. They love calling out the author’s purpose call! Students have also drawn a purpose and a random topic and written a story. For example, they may pull “to inform” and “Babysitting your brother” and then will write an informational piece on babysitting your brother. Another student might get this with “persuade” and have to persuade someone to babysit…it is a lot of fun to see the same topic written for different reasons. 🙂

June 22, 2011 at 3:11 pm

I’ve used pictures to prompt writing before–anything from scenic pieces of our local area to those funny animal pictures you get in your email. The stories or informative pieces (like news articles) they come up with are wonderful!

I also love having students choose a word or phrase out of a bucket and then have them craft a piece of their choosing based on that word or phrase. Last year a student wrote an entire persuasive piece on why socks should be respected and not simply discarded to the rag pile when their useful life is over. It was great 🙂

I also enjoy using the literature that we read in reader’s workshop as a springboard for their writing–take two characters who haven’t met in the story and put them at a Starbucks table. What happens? Create a product that the characters in your story would find useful–write a script for a TV ad for it (including stage directions).

We did a unit on autobiographies at the end of the year this year. I told the kids to choose an event in their lives that was a turning point–something significant. The beautiful pieces the kids wrote were so much more than I expected!! I’d expected things like the first day of school, or reading a book/seeing a movie, a family trip somewhere. One student wrote about her fleeting, yet important, relationship with a shape she drew on Doodle Day. Another wrote about his first baseball game. One wrote about when he realized that he wanted to study ecology and human impact on the environment (he’s 9.) Another wrote about how his addiction to playing Halo has changed his life. One created a slideshow about Lego NXS (this is a child who had not completed an assignment ALL YEAR). And one chose to write (and share with the class voluntarily) how the sudden death of his father when he was very little has impacted his growth as a human being. I was absolutely amazed.

Perhaps the most important thing I have learned this year is to allow what my students see as important to be the focus of their writing. When it’s meaningful to them, they really get into it and write much better than they would if I had given them a random prompt (*cough* standardized tests) that meant nothing to them or to those things they value.

June 22, 2011 at 3:17 pm

I teach 3rd grade. I teach persuasive writing in December. We use the Structures and persuasive language to persuade our family to get a particular gift. Students may also choose why a certain pet would be the best idea. I also send a note home apologizing for teaching their student to use their persuasive abilities.

June 22, 2011 at 3:21 pm

I love teaching writing and am always on the look out for new ideas. With the Common core standards having been adopted this year in my state, more opinion, reflective and persuasive writing will be required of students in all grades. But, two of my favorite pieces of writing this year that I did with my kids were “Secret” stories and magazine articles. We ended our personal narrative writing unit with writing “Secrets of Second Graders”. It is amazing what funny, cute ideas and great supporting details they had to things that have happened to them that they have never told anyone! Our magazine articles were informative paragraphs on happenings throughout the year. I put those into a magazine on Publisher that kids got to keep as a Second Grade momento at the end of the year.

June 22, 2011 at 3:23 pm

What a great visual for students. I love reading the ideas others have shared…writing is a tough one to teach for me personally. Wish I knew of a way to make it really fun and interesting for students.

June 22, 2011 at 3:27 pm

At the beginning of the year with 2nd graders we do the typical getting-to-know-you activities. As a part of this I tell them all about my dog, describing all the cute, sweet, funny things she does, but I leave out any reference to what kind of dog she is or what she looks like. Then I pass out drawing paper and ask each of them to draw me a picture of my dog. It’s funny to watch different groups grapple with this problem. Some kids just go ahead and draw “any” dog, others will draw their own dog. I collect the papers and act very surprised that none of the pictures look like my dog! There’s always someone who points out the fact that I didn’t tell them what she looks like. So I’ll say, “Oh, that’s right. OK,she is brown.” A few more of these revelations and they begin to see that it’s important to use details, not only in their drawings, but we extend that idea to their writing.

June 22, 2011 at 3:31 pm

One of my favorite writing activities is to have students write letters of request to their parents. We always do this after the Christmas holidays so they aren’t asking for presents. Students have to state their request, give at least 3 reasons why it is reasonable and then what they are willing to do or give up if the request is granted. The other part of the assignment is for the parents to write back and send it into the class. Every year I have almost 100% participation from parents! One year, I had a student ask her parents for a pet monkey and her dad responded with a very formal letter stating that they had already given her a monkey – in the form of her older brother! Of course some of the letters are asking for iPods, video games, etc. – but there are always some that will break your heart as kids are asking for more family time, one on one time, or simply for parents to stop arguing. It’s a great way to open up some communication between parents and kids while teaching organization in writing and persuasion.

June 22, 2011 at 3:37 pm

Ideas for Elementary Write to… Persuade by… convincing their parents that they must have a slumber party. Entertain by.. writing short skits and then perform for another class. Inform by creating…Powerpoint presentations on a science or social studies topic.

June 22, 2011 at 5:49 pm

Wow I love this poster. Author’s purpose is a hard concept for kids. This is a great visual to help them remember the three purposes. I love the ideas for each wiring purpose as well. Writing is not the easiest thing to teach but products like this really help!

June 22, 2011 at 5:55 pm

I love the poster. I would be great way to introduce the types of writing to my students, K-1. It gives a great visual image and it will be really easy to remember.

June 22, 2011 at 6:20 pm

I have a difficult time with writing in my second grade classroom. We are always talking about Author’s Purpose when we read our weekly stories. This is a great poster and it would be beneficial to have in the classroom.

June 22, 2011 at 6:24 pm

This was helpful for me because my students this year dreaded writing. The ideas shared here were great for my teacher toolkit!

June 22, 2011 at 6:25 pm

I like this poster! I actually use PIE in my classroom for learning Author’s Purpose. I made my own large “pie” and wrote these on it. Unfortunately it faded from being in the sun! I also have a sheet with 3 little pies on it and we write Persuade, Inform, Entertain on them. I always let them read short stories I have to see examples of these first. They read short stories and on a worksheet I made have to write which one it is (persuade, inform, entertain) and support with reasons why they know this is the authors purpose. After we see a few examples in print and are familiar with it, i let them try to write one of their own by picking P I or E out of a bag. After they write their piece, they read it to a partner and see if the partner can guess which one they did! The kids always remember PIE, its a great device!

June 22, 2011 at 6:28 pm

I teach this concept to my students by having them act out a “commercial” in the front of the class. I choose an item from the room, take the student out in the hall, and assign them a purpose. When they return to the room after a few minutes to prepare they present their “commercial” to the class. The class decides whether it was informative, persuasive, or entertaining! They love this lesson and every student wants to get up and act out a purpose:)

June 22, 2011 at 6:32 pm

What I love about this article is that is suggests ways to have children write for different purpose and through their own writing they learn the difference and therefore should be able to decide purpose for another author’s writing. My first graders struggled with author’s purpose this year, probably because we simply discussed the purpose and they were not able to apply it themselves. I did not make the clear connection between writing for enjoyment and an author writing for us to read for enjoyment. Love the ideas and I can not wait to put them into place next year!!!

June 22, 2011 at 6:33 pm

We love writing DonorsChoose thank you notes!

June 22, 2011 at 6:36 pm

I bring goldfish crackers for a fun snack. Students then have to write about the fish in detail (inform), persuade someone to buy the fish, or entertain an audience with a story about the fish. They love the fun and filling visual that comes with this lesson.

June 22, 2011 at 6:37 pm

I love all of these ideas! One thing I do to engage my students with persuasive writing is to select a topic very relevant to them. As 6th graders, they have lots of opinions (and of course theirs is always the right one!), so we

June 22, 2011 at 6:41 pm

Lots of great ideas! I can’t wait to try some with my class next year!

June 22, 2011 at 6:42 pm

I give them mini-lessons and then they write in their journals.

June 22, 2011 at 6:46 pm

One of my favorite writing assignments to have the students complete is writing to persuade. I teach them what it means to persuade their reader, and we go through the writing process together. Students choose a topic, and we write a letter to the principal trying to persuade her to allow the class to do something (with teacher guidance, of course!) Then the students can write letters of their own to someone of their choosing.

June 22, 2011 at 6:50 pm

I like to teach fact and opinion right alongside authors purpose. Teaching that authors who are writing to inform use facts more than anything really helps students make those connections. We then talk about how opinions fuel a persuasive piece, but that facts are more convincing. We look at various advertisements and decide whether the author has used more facts and more opinions, and how effective the advertisement is as a result. This really helps them remember what persuasive texts look like. For entertaining pieces, we discuss the ways factual information and opinions can be used in a way that is entertaining. I take this as an opportunity to discuss with the students that using hurtful opinions in writing might be funny to some but won’t be funny to the person or group of people that are being hurt. We read fiction picture books during this time and find facts and opinions in them and talk about why the author’s purpose was to entertain.

June 22, 2011 at 6:53 pm

These are wonderful ideas to add everyone’s bag of tricks. I often have students write letters and a special event, such as a field trip. The students enjoy this activity and it gives an opportunity to mix letter writting into other writing skills taught.

June 22, 2011 at 6:58 pm

These are great ways to help the students write. We do a lot or writing in third grade and these will come in handy for next year. They are in my writing file idea folder. Thank you.

June 22, 2011 at 7:02 pm

I have a bookbag loaded with a stuffed monkey, a journal, crayons and a pencil. The first grade children each get a turn to take the bag home for the weekend.He has to go everywhere with the student that weekend. Before they return to school on Monday, they must write a journal entry from the monkey’s perspective.They then share their writing during morning meeting. He’s been to dance class, airplanes, and even met a professional basketball player!

June 22, 2011 at 7:04 pm

I think that it’s very important for the teacher to model all of the purposes for writing and then to support students as they use the same crafts and formats with their own interesting ideas in their writing each day.

June 22, 2011 at 8:41 pm

The poster is a good visual to reinforce this skill. will read more!

June 22, 2011 at 8:46 pm

I love this poster! It’s a great visual for students. I’ve taught the “PIE” acronym before in reading, but I love the suggested writing topic ideas grouped by purpose in this article.

I have PIE pieces laminated that I pass out to students. I also pass out different examples of persuasive, informative, and entertaining pieces. They have to find the partner that matches their piece. After they’ve identified the purpose, they use the same topic and write for a different purpose. (If they had an informative piece about whales, they would write an entertaining or persuasive piece about whales.) The students have to think about identifying and applying different purposes for writing.

June 22, 2011 at 9:02 pm

I had my students write a commercial using propaganda. I wanted them to persuade me to buy their cereal. I think using a real world object in with a lesson is a great lesson.

June 22, 2011 at 9:25 pm

Thanks for the ideas! I also gleaned many more ideas through the comments!! 🙂

June 22, 2011 at 9:36 pm

These ideas are great!

June 22, 2011 at 10:34 pm

When my fourth graders are having a hard time expressing themselves, I tell them to put a small object on the corner of their desk. This way they have “someone” to tell their story to, and can write down what they are thinking as they are telling it to their “someone” object. I find that when a student is having a hard time, they can tell me exactly what they want to put on paper. SOOO….. This way all the kids have “someone” to tell their story to and get their thoughts on paper more quickly than waiting for me to come to their desk.

June 22, 2011 at 11:10 pm

“Easy as pie” is a wonderful way to teach this concept. Students can remember the author’s purpose by using this helpful and entertaining acronym. Great ideas:-) Thanks for sharing.

June 22, 2011 at 11:15 pm

I refer to this poster all the time for both reading and writing. Thanks so much for all the wonderful ideas. I especially love Sheila’s idea about having her 2nd graders write about her dog – I’m going to try something similar with my 2nd graders at the start of next school year!

June 23, 2011 at 3:25 am

I once did a schema activity where students listened to “Don’t Laugh At Me” while sketching and writing their reaction to the song. I also flipped through the ilustrations in the book while the song was playing. The song is about kids being made fun for many different reasons. I replayed the song multiple times during their writing. The kids were really able to connect to the characters being made fun of and many drew pictures of themselves being bullied and different speech bubbles of how it made them feel.

June 23, 2011 at 5:37 am

I love the great ideas. When my daughter was four I used to give her a stack of pictures from one day’s events. We would put them in the proper order in a photo album. I would have her tell me about each picture and I’d write what she said. As she matured, her stories became more sophisticated. mommyteaching.com

June 23, 2011 at 8:29 am

Thanks for this great teaching poster! Even the kindergarten and first grade students can relate to the picture of a pie, and can easily apply the information to their understanding!

June 23, 2011 at 8:42 am

So many creative ideas to help kids LOVE writing! To turn writing into service learning, we write and illustrate thinking-of-you cards and take them to the local pharmacy to be attached to prescriptions.

June 26, 2011 at 8:29 pm

Thanks for these great ideas. There are many that I can use with even my Kindergarten writers. I find that some of the most fun and interesting writing that we do involve things like post cards, thank you’s and advertisements. I enjoyed reading many of the comments.

Lesson Planning

How to teach author’s purpose in a fun and engaging way.

Are you struggling to get your students interested in author’s purpose? Teaching this important concept can sometimes be dull or perplexing. But fear not! There are plenty of exciting and enjoyable methods to teach author’s purpose that will capture your students’ attention. In this blog post, we’ll explore ways to help your students comprehend the true intentions behind an author’s writing, improving their skills as readers and writers. Get ready for some fantastic ideas on how to teach author’s purpose. Let’s jump in!

Introducing Author’s Purpose

Why writers write isn’t something many young readers really consider. This is probably because children ages 6-7 are really only thinking through their lens. It takes a lot for younger readers to think about another person’s perspective.  I stick with the PIE (persuade, inform, entertain) acronym although I have seen others include additional purposes.

One question I have been asking myself lately is “Why do I want students to know this?” besides the obvious “because it’s a standard/required”. Answering this question helps me plan and focus on my lesson purpose.

• Understanding the author’s purpose helps students to look at the text more critically. If they realize that an author is trying to persuade, they can approach the text with a bit of skepticism.
• It helps students understand techniques used within different genres
• It connects the reader with what they should know by the end of the text. This supports other comprehension skills like the central message and main idea

When it comes to planning activities to teach author’s purpose, not only do I want students to think about why authors write, but I want them to think about why they write since they are also authors themselves. Establishing a purpose for writing provides a focus and reason making it more meaningful.

First, I introduce the skill by connecting it to books we have already read. We might brainstorm a list or just discuss them. Luckily, we already made a bulletin board for February with the names of a bunch of books we have read this year so we just referred to that.

Hooking Their Attention

Another way to start off the lesson is to show a kid-friendly commercial. Lead a discussion as to why commercials exist. “What is the purpose of the commercial?”  I chose this slime commercial because 1. my students are obsessed with slime 2. it covers all three purposes and 3. Did I mention my students are OBSESSED with slime?

As I introduced the concept using a reference poster, we broke down what “purpose” means. Some students said it means you did something and it wasn’t an accident. I loved that they connected the vocabulary with their experiences. I went through each of the question words and asked “Does purpose answer the question who? what? where? when? why?” Most students knew when I said “why” that purpose was the reason.

Connecting to Text

Next, we take a look at some pretend book covers (some real titles) and sort them into reference posters. I encourage students to use evidence from the cover–the title and the picture–to determine what the purpose might be.

Teaching Persuade with a Mentor Text

The toughest mentor text to find to fit well with is persuade. I scoured Amazon and found a new super adorable, fun, and perfect persuasion text! A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea has a ton of persuasive language but it is also HILARIOUS so it fits entertain, too!

Books to teach Inform

 There are so many great nonfiction texts out there like National Geographic Kids and Scholastic News. My favorite part about choosing books for information is that students can and will read above their “level” when a topic interests them. It’s all about finding books to match the reader. Second graders love reading about animals so Slow, Slow, Sloths was a hit!

I try to focus less on having the right answer as to why the author wrote the book and emphasize more on providing evidence as to why the student chose that purpose.

Teaching Entertain

This is definitely the easiest category! It’s hard to recommend just one or two books. I do like to share with students how “entertain” isn’t just funny or silly. I read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane every year even though it makes me cry! How can crying be entertaining? This is a great learning opportunity to share how books that move us to emotion are what makes them entertaining.

I hope you have found these tips for how to teach author’s purpose useful! Interested in more resources for teaching author’s purpose? Click here or on the picture below!

If you would like to read more blog posts like this one, click here . You can also download the Comprehension Kits guide including suggested mentor texts and links to blog posts by clicking here or on the images below.

If you are interested in all of these materials, you can check out the Comprehension Skill Kits bundle . Or read more blog posts like this one by clicking here .

• Read more about: Comprehension , ELA , guided reading , Reading

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Author’s Purpose Writing Prompts: Explore Literary Intent

My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

Have you ever read a book and wondered why the author wrote it? Or perhaps you’ve been assigned a writing task and had trouble understanding what your own purpose was. Understanding an author’s purpose is a crucial element in analyzing and appreciating literature, as it allows us to delve deeper into the intentions behind the words on the page. In this article, we will explore the concept of author’s purpose and how it can be effectively incorporated into writing prompts. So whether you’re a curious reader or a budding writer, get ready to embark on a journey to decipher the mysteries of literary intent!

Understanding the Importance of Author’s Purpose

Uncovering the key elements of literary intent, exploring different types of author’s purpose writing prompts, analyzing the impact of author’s purpose on literary meaning, utilizing author’s purpose writing prompts to develop critical thinking skills, how to effectively respond to author’s purpose writing prompts, key strategies for excelling at author’s purpose writing prompts, tips for identifying and interpreting author’s purpose in writing, expanding your literary analysis through author’s purpose writing prompts, frequently asked questions, to wrap it up.

Why do authors write?

Understanding the importance of an author’s purpose is crucial when analyzing and interpreting any written piece. Authors have various motives behind their writing, which can range from informing, persuading, entertaining, or expressing personal opinions and emotions. Recognizing why an author crafted a particular work is like uncovering the hidden layers of a story, unravelling its true essence, and gaining a deeper appreciation of its content.

When we comprehend an author’s purpose, we can engage with the text more effectively and critically evaluate its intended message. Here are a few reasons why understanding an author’s purpose is of great significance:

• Enhanced comprehension: By recognizing an author’s intention, we can grasp the main ideas, themes, and underlying messages within a text, facilitating a deeper understanding.
• Contextual interpretation: Understanding an author’s purpose enables us to place the written work within the appropriate cultural, historical, or social context, contributing to a more accurate interpretation.
• Mindful analysis: When we know an author’s purpose, we can assess the effectiveness of their techniques, such as the use of figurative language or rhetorical devices, allowing us to evaluate and appreciate their artistic prowess.

Comprehending an author’s purpose is like unlocking a treasure chest of insight and meaning within a piece of writing. It allows us to delve deeper into the motives behind an author’s creation, transforming reading into an enriching experience.

In the realm of literature, the intentions of authors go far beyond the words on the page. By delving deeper into a literary work, we can unveil the intricate layers of literary intent, which are often rich with meaning, purpose, and symbolism. It is through these key elements that authors effectively communicate their ideas and messages to readers, evoking emotions, challenging beliefs, and providing profound insights into the human experience.

One prominent element of literary intent is characterization . Authors strategically craft the personalities and traits of their characters to serve a greater purpose within the narrative. Whether they are protagonists, antagonists, or supporting figures, characters are often used to represent complex human emotions, embody societal roles, or serve as vessels for moral lessons. By carefully constructing characters, authors can evoke empathy, critique social norms, or explore specific themes in their work.

• Symbolism is another powerful tool employed by authors to convey meaning. By imbuing ordinary objects, settings, or events with deeper significance, authors create symbols that allow readers to interpret their work on a more profound level. A rose, for example, may represent both love and beauty, but its thorns could also symbolize the pain and sacrifice that often accompany those qualities. These symbols enrich the narrative and encourage readers to reflect on universal concepts or explore different layers of interpretation.
• Setting plays a crucial role in establishing the atmosphere and context of a literary work. From a vibrant cityscape to a desolate island, the chosen setting can significantly impact the tone, mood, and overall meaning conveyed by the author. Furthermore, the historical or cultural backdrop within which a story unfolds can offer insights into the author’s intentions, foster a deeper understanding of the characters’ motivations, and illuminate societal issues or transformations.

When it comes to writing prompts, understanding the author’s purpose is crucial in order to deliver a piece of writing that effectively communicates the intended message. Different types of author’s purpose writing prompts can challenge writers to explore various styles, techniques, and emotions. By delving into these prompts, writers can hone their skills and develop a deeper understanding of the power of their words.

One type of author’s purpose writing prompt is the persuasive prompt. These prompts encourage writers to take a stance on a specific issue and persuade their audience to agree with their point of view. Whether it’s advocating for a social cause, arguing for a change in policy, or convincing others to adopt a certain belief, persuasive prompts allow writers to flex their rhetorical muscles and explore the art of persuasion.

• Develop strong arguments supported by evidence and facts.
• Create a clear structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
• Employ persuasive techniques such as emotional appeals and logical reasoning.

Another type of author’s purpose writing prompt is the descriptive prompt. These prompts prompt writers to vividly describe a person, place, object, or experience, transporting readers to a different world through the use of sensory details and imagery. Descriptive prompts challenge writers to tap into the power of observation and paint a compelling picture with their words.

• Use vivid language to create a sensory experience for the reader.
• Utilize metaphors, similes, and other literary devices to add depth and richness to descriptions.
• Organize descriptions in a logical manner to create a coherent and engaging piece of writing.

When delving into the realm of literature, it becomes evident that an author’s purpose holds immense significance in shaping the overall meaning of a literary work. The intentions behind the words penned on a page can drastically alter the way readers perceive and interpret a text. By carefully analyzing an author’s purpose, one can uncover hidden layers of meaning, understand the underlying messages, and gain a deeper appreciation for the literary masterpiece at hand.

An author’s purpose influences various aspects of a literary work, including:

• The choice of themes and topics explored in the text
• The development of characters and their motives
• The use of literary devices to convey ideas
• The overall tone and atmosphere created

By examining these elements, readers can unravel the author’s intentions and the immense power they hold in shaping the overall meaning of the work. The purpose may range from conveying a moral message, arousing emotions, advocating for social change, or even simply entertaining the reader. Ultimately, understanding the author’s purpose allows readers to engage more deeply with the text and gain a richer understanding of its literary meaning.

One effective way to develop critical thinking skills in students is to utilize author’s purpose writing prompts. These prompts are designed to challenge students to think deeply about the intentions and motivations behind a piece of writing, thus fostering their analytical and evaluative skills.

With author’s purpose writing prompts, students are presented with a variety of texts, including articles, essays, and even fiction, and are asked to identify the author’s intended goals. This exercise encourages students to go beyond surface-level comprehension and delve into the underlying message and strategies employed by the writer. By analyzing the purpose of the text, students learn to identify biases, evaluate the effectiveness of persuasive techniques, and develop a greater awareness of the different ways in which authors communicate their ideas.

• Enhances critical thinking skills: By engaging with author’s purpose writing prompts, students are encouraged to question, analyze, and evaluate the perspectives presented in a text. This process develops their ability to think critically and make informed judgments.
• Fosters text comprehension: Understanding the author’s purpose is key to comprehending a text. By focusing on the intentions behind the writing, students are able to extract deeper meaning from the text and make connections to their own knowledge and experiences.
• Promotes empathy and understanding: Through author’s purpose writing prompts, students are exposed to diverse perspectives and viewpoints. This exposure helps foster empathy and understanding towards different cultures, values, and experiences.

Incorporating author’s purpose writing prompts into the curriculum can greatly enhance students’ critical thinking skills while promoting a deeper understanding and appreciation of the written word. By encouraging students to analyze and evaluate the intentions of authors, they are better equipped to navigate an increasingly complex and information-driven world.

When faced with author’s purpose writing prompts, it’s essential to approach them with a solid plan to effectively showcase your understanding of the author’s intention. Here are some strategies that can help you excel in this type of writing assignment:

• Read the Passage Thoroughly: Before jumping into the prompt, take your time to understand the passage’s main ideas, tone, and any persuasive techniques used by the author. This will give you a solid foundation when crafting your response.
• Identify the Author’s Purpose: Determine whether the author’s intention is to inform, persuade, entertain, or a combination of these elements. This analysis will guide the direction of your response.
• Support Your Claims: Use evidence from the text to support your analysis and arguments. Quote specific passages or provide examples that highlight the author’s purpose effectively. This demonstrates a careful reading and strengthens your response.

Remember, effective responses to author’s purpose writing prompts require a combination of comprehension, critical thinking, and writing skills. By utilizing these strategies, you’ll be on your way to crafting thoughtful and engaging responses that showcase your understanding of the author’s purpose.

Understanding an author’s purpose in writing is crucial for comprehending any piece of literature. By identifying the author’s intention behind their words, readers can derive deeper meaning and fully appreciate the message being conveyed. Here are some tips to help you effectively identify and interpret an author’s purpose:

• Analyze the tone: Pay attention to the author’s choice of words and the overall mood created in the writing. Identifying whether the tone is informative, persuasive, entertaining, or emotional can give you insight into the purpose of the text.
• Consider the context: Contextual clues can greatly assist in determining an author’s purpose. Take into account the historical, cultural, and societal backgrounds surrounding the writing. These factors can significantly influence the purpose and intent behind the piece.
• Examine the language used: Look out for specific language techniques employed by the author, such as figurative language, rhetorical devices, or vivid imagery. These stylistic choices often reflect the author’s purpose by evoking particular emotions or emphasizing key points.

Keep in mind that an author’s purpose might not always be explicitly stated, requiring you to read between the lines and infer their intentions. Challenging yourself to uncover the underlying purpose can enhance your critical thinking skills and deepen your understanding of the text.

Enhancing your literary analysis skills entails exploring the depths of an author’s purpose in their writing. Unraveling the intentions behind a writer’s words not only adds depth to your understanding but also offers a fresh perspective on the text. To ignite your critical thinking, we have compiled a set of thought-provoking author’s purpose writing prompts that will expand your literary analysis prowess. These prompts will encourage you to delve into the author’s motives, thematic choices, and narrative techniques.

1. **Exploring Intentions**: Consider the emotions evoked by the protagonist’s actions. How does the author’s purpose in writing these scenes influence your interpretation of the character’s journey? Reflect on the symbolism and underlying messages conveyed through these intentional scenes.

2. **Unmasking Motives**: Identify the possible external factors that may have influenced the author’s purpose. Was the writer inspired by a particular historical event, personal experience, or social issue? Analyze how these hidden motives shape the overall tone and atmosphere of the text.

3. **Deconstructing Literary Techniques**: Pay close attention to the author’s use of literary devices such as metaphors, similes, or foreshadowing. How do these techniques contribute to the author’s purpose? Analyze their impact on character development, plot progression, or the portrayal of themes.

By engaging with these author’s purpose writing prompts, you will unlock unique insights that not only enhance your literary analysis but also stimulate your own creativity as a writer. Remember, the ultimate goal is to unravel the intricate layers of meaning woven within a text, enriching your interpretation and connecting you more deeply with the world of literature.

Q: What are author’s purpose writing prompts? A: Author’s purpose writing prompts are specific questions or statements that encourage writers to explore the intent behind a piece of literature. They help writers dissect and analyze the purpose of the author, providing them with a deeper understanding of the text.

Q: Why is it important to explore literary intent? A: Exploring literary intent allows readers to delve beyond the surface of a text. It helps us understand why an author wrote a particular piece, what message they wanted to convey, and how they intended their audience to interpret the work. Understanding the author’s purpose adds depth and meaning to our reading experience.

Q: How can author’s purpose writing prompts help develop critical thinking skills? A: Author’s purpose writing prompts prompt us to think critically and analyze literature beyond the plot. They encourage us to examine the author’s choices, their storytelling techniques, themes, and overall purpose. This critical thinking exercise helps us develop skills in interpretation, analysis, and evaluation.

Q: Could you provide some examples of author’s purpose writing prompts? A: Certainly! Here are a few examples: 1. What message do you think the author wanted readers to take away from the story? Support your answer with evidence from the text. 2. How did the author’s use of figurative language enhance the story’s overall meaning? 3. Why do you think the author chose to tell the story from a first-person perspective? How does this choice affect the reader’s understanding of the events? 4. What emotions do you think the author wanted to evoke in readers through their descriptive language and imagery? 5. How does the author’s use of symbolism contribute to the overall theme of the story?

Q: Are author’s purpose writing prompts only applicable to fiction? A: No, author’s purpose writing prompts can be used with both fiction and non-fiction texts. While fiction prompts may focus on elements like character development or storytelling techniques, non-fiction prompts may tackle the author’s purpose in presenting facts, argumentation, or persuasion.

Q: How can author’s purpose writing prompts benefit writers of all skill levels? A: Author’s purpose writing prompts can benefit writers at all skill levels. They encourage beginners to think critically about the purpose and meaning behind a piece of literature, helping them develop analysis skills. For more experienced writers, these prompts can provide a fresh perspective, challenge their assumptions, and aid in developing complex themes and narratives.

Q: Are author’s purpose writing prompts useful beyond literature classes or book clubs? A: Absolutely! Author’s purpose writing prompts can be useful in various settings beyond literature classes or book clubs. They can be utilized in writing workshops, creative writing exercises , or personal reflections. Additionally, they can be valuable tools for teachers to engage students in deeper discussions about literature and encourage them to develop their own writing skills.

Q: How can author’s purpose writing prompts be used in a classroom setting? A: In a classroom setting, teachers can use author’s purpose writing prompts to initiate class discussions or encourage individual writing exercises. These prompts can promote critical thinking and help students engage with the text on a deeper level. Additionally, they can be used as ice-breakers or warm-up activities before delving into more complex literary analysis.

Q: How can author’s purpose writing prompts be beneficial for readers? A: Author’s purpose writing prompts offer readers a chance to actively engage with the text and reflect on the author’s intentions. They encourage readers to think beyond the surface level, fostering a deeper connection with the literature. By exploring the purpose of the author, readers can unlock underlying themes, symbolism, and ideas, enhancing their overall reading experience.

Q: In summary, why should we use author’s purpose writing prompts to explore literary intent? A: Using author’s purpose writing prompts to explore literary intent helps us understand the deeper meaning of a text, develop critical thinking skills, and enrich our reading experience. By analyzing an author’s purpose, we gain insights into their message, writing style, and storytelling techniques, allowing us to appreciate literature on a whole new level.

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Author’s purpose: three reasons for writing, 1. writing to entertain.

2. Writing to Inform

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Identifying the Author’s Purpose

1. is the text a poem, play, or story, 2. does the text provide a lot of facts and information, 3. is the text attempting to get the reader to do something, common core state standards related to author’s purpose.

CCSS.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.

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great video and very useful information

morgan waggoner

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Author's Purpose Worksheets

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If you're assigning this to your students, copy the worksheet to your account and save. When creating an assignment, just select it as a template!

Exploring the Use of Author’s Purpose Worksheets in the Classroom

Teaching author's purpose with worksheets provides educational tools that help students understand and identify why an author writes a piece of writing. The author's purpose is the reason why an author decides to write about a specific topic. This purpose can generally be categorized into one or more of the following three main reasons:

• Persuade: The author attempts to convince the reader to adopt a particular viewpoint or to take a specific action through persuasive language.
• Inform: The author presents facts or information to educate the reader about a particular topic.
• Entertain: The author aims to provide enjoyment through storytelling, humor, or other engaging writing techniques.

An author's purpose template provides a structured format to determine an author's intention for writing a text. For instance, a worksheet typically includes a variety of texts such as articles, stories, advertisements, or excerpts. Readers are tasked with examining these texts and then determining the author's primary purpose. These worksheets often contain questions or prompts to guide learners in their analysis, and may include multiple-choice questions, short answer sections, or spaces to provide textual evidence supporting their conclusions.

An activity must be designed to sharpen students' analytical abilities, guiding them to discern the writers intent in various texts. These worksheets are particularly useful in language arts and reading comprehension classes, as they help readers develop critical thinking and analytical skills, enhance their understanding of different writing styles, and improve their ability to discern an author's intentions and messages in a text.

Activity Ideas

• Author's Purpose for Kids PIE Sorting Game: Create a worksheet where kids sort various text excerpts into one of the three main purposes, “persuade,” “inform,” and “entertain” (PIE). This helps learners visually organize and determine the different purposes of texts.
• Point of View and Purpose Analysis: When designing a worksheet middle schoolers can use, create a worksheet that includes texts with distinct points of view. Ask your class to determine both the focus and the narrator's POV, exploring how these elements interact.
• Multiple Choice Quiz: Develop a multiple-choice worksheet where kids read short texts and determine the purpose from provided options. This activity is especially effective for quick assessments.
• Interactive Story Creation: Encourage students to use an online purpose generator to create fiction story prompts. Allow kids to write their own short narratives with the pie approach in mind (persuade, inform, or entertain), fostering creativity and learning.
• Author's Purpose Organizer Activity: Provide kids with a template that includes various texts. They must use the organizer to note down clues from the text that helped them determine the main purposes, aiding in critical thinking and analysis skills.
• Identifying Purpose Worksheet for Advertisements: Tailor a worksheet for younger students where they look at different advertisements and identify the main purposes, audience, and point of view.

Worksheet activities like this are engaging and relate to everyday experiences, making it easier for kids to grasp the material.

Tips for Making an Author's Purpose Worksheet

• Choose Age-Appropriate Content: Start by selecting texts that are appropriate for the age group you are targeting. For instance, when creating a worksheet 2nd grade students can use, choose simpler texts with clear purposes.
• Incorporate a Variety of Texts: Include different types of texts such as narratives, informational articles, and advertisements, or books of different genres such as fiction written to entertain the reader, or nonfiction written to discuss or explain important topics.
• Use an Organizer or Template: Design the worksheet with sections for each text. Include space for your class to write down the focus and provide supporting details from the text.
• Include Multiple Choice and Open-Ended Questions: Although not the most preferred format for in-depth analysis, you can design an author's purpose multiple choice worksheet that is effective for quickly assessing young readers comprehension and reinforcing the basic concepts of identifying an author's intent in various texts. Mix multiple-choice questions for quick assessment with open-ended questions for deeper analysis.
• Tailor for Different Educational Levels: For older students, include more complex texts and integrate additional concepts like point of view. Ensure that the worksheet challenges their analysis, which is a valuable skill.
• Incorporate Technology (optional): Use online author's purpose generators to find or create varied and dynamic fiction or nonfiction prompts, keeping the worksheet fresh and up-to-date.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Author's Purpose Worksheets

Why is understanding the author's purpose important for students.

Understanding the author's purpose enhances reading comprehension and critical thinking skills, allowing students to better engage with and analyze texts.

What is the 'PIE' concept in the author's purpose worksheets?

The 'PIE' concept stands for Persuade, Inform, and Entertain, and is a simple mnemonic to help students remember the different purposes of writing.

How can I make an author's purpose worksheet engaging for kids?

Explaining an author's purpose for kids to understand requires using simple, clear language and familiar examples, often through stories and visuals, to illustrate the ideas of persuading, informing, and entertaining in a way that is easily graspable and engaging for young learners. Incorporating activities like storytelling, sorting games, and relatable examples can make learning more interactive and enjoyable.

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Activities for Author’s Purpose

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Teaching author’s purpose can be one of the most engaging and entertaining skills that you teach! If you do some great activities for author’s purpose, your students will be engaged the entire time and successful at figuring out what the purpose is that the author is trying to write! In this post, I am going to share my top 4 author’s purpose activities with you! These activities to teach author’s purpose are great warm-up activities or simple introduction activities to the skill! 

• Give students a topic like “persuade your parents into buying you a skateboard” or “entertain by showing a scene about a monkey”.
• Give students 10 minutes or less to create a scene.
• Let the groups act out the scenes in front of the class while the class determines the purpose behind it! 

Switch the Story! 

• Read a great picture book! One I would recommend is “Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors?” by Tanya Lee. (Affiliate link when you click on it!)

• Then, as a class, determine the purpose behind writing that story.
• Now let the kids switch the purpose and write a new story of their own to practice a new author’s purpose! 

The PIE activity for author’s purpose! 

If you have been teaching author’s purpose for any time at all, then you have heard the acronym PIE or PIE’ED! Both are great ways to get your kiddos to remember what the different purposes are!

Here are two extra examples of how you can use the idea behind PIE to practice the purpose!

• Get a Pie in the Face game! Give students task cards to complete to practice author’s purpose. Then, when they are done they can do one round with the game Pie in the Face! (pro tip: ask a parent if they have a game that you can use for the day)
• PIE Tins- Grab a bunch of pie tins and have students use newspapers to sort articles based on their purpose! 

Take Students to the Library! 

In this activity for author’s purpose you either want to take your kiddos to the library or use your classroom library. Students will read the back cover of the book and try to determine the purpose of the book using only those details. This will help students master the skill of looking for certain words and simple things to determine what the purpose is!

Want to know exactly how to teach author’s purpose, what to teach, and have all the materials prepped and ready for you?

Grab the entire week’s lesson plan (small group and whole group) here!

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Reading Skills

Analyzing author’s purpose and point of view.

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: June 16, 2023

Introduction

Do you ever wonder why writers write the way they do? Why they pick certain words or tell a story in a specific way? The reason behind this is called the author’s purpose and point of view. It’s like a secret code that helps you understand what they really mean.

In this blog post, we’ll learn about this secret code. You’ll learn to figure out what an author is trying to say, and how they see the world. This will help you understand books, articles, and even posts on social media even better!

What is the Author’s Point of View?

When you read a text, it’s important to think about the author’s point of view. The author’s point of view refers to their unique perspective, opinions, beliefs, and biases that shape how they present information or tell a story. They might see things in a way that’s different from you because of their own experiences, beliefs, and backgrounds.

Understanding an author’s point of view allows us to dig deeper into the underlying motivations and intentions behind their words. It can also help you find hidden messages in the text. So, how do we figure out an author’s point of view? Let’s talk about some ways to do this.

How to Determine the Author’s Point of View

You might think figuring out an author’s point of view is hard, but it can be fun, like solving a mystery! Here are some tips to help you do it:

• Look at the Words : Notice the words the author uses. Are they showing strong feelings or opinions? The way they write can give you hints about what they think and feel.
• Learn About the Author : Knowing more about the author can help you understand their point of view. What kind of job do they have? Where are they from? What are some important things that have happened to them?
• Think About Why the Author Wrote the Text: Why do you think the author wrote this? Do they want to teach you something, make you think, or make you laugh? Knowing this can help you understand what they’re trying to say.
• Notice Patterns: Look for ideas that come up again and again. These can tell you a lot about what the author thinks is important.
• Think About Who the Author is Writing For: Authors often write for specific groups of people. The way they write can tell you a lot about who they are trying to talk to.

Remember, figuring out an author’s point of view is about understanding the text better, not about deciding if they are right or wrong.

Why is the Author’s Point of View Important?

Why should we care about the author’s point of view? Here are some good reasons:

• Contextual Understanding : The author’s point of view helps us make sense of the text. It shows us why they chose to write the way they did and what they want us to learn.
• Uncovering Bias: No author can be totally unbiased. By understanding their point of view, we can see their own opinions in the text. This helps us think critically about what we’re reading.
• Evaluating Objectivity: Knowing the author’s point of view helps us see if the text is objective (without personal feelings) or subjective (based on personal feelings). This can help us decide if we can trust the information in the text.
• Enhancing Interpretation: Understanding the author’s point of view helps us understand what the text really means. We can see what arguments the author is making and think more deeply about the text.
• Encouraging Empathy and Perspective: By seeing things from the author’s point of view, we can better understand people who are different from us. This helps us be more understanding and open-minded.

As you can see, knowing the author’s point of view helps us understand and think about what we read in a deeper way. It makes us better readers and thinkers!

How to Determine the Author’s Purpose

In addition to analyzing the author’s point of view, it is also key to examine the author’s purpose. Here are some tips to help you figure out the author’s purpose:

• Check the Type of Text: Look at what kind of text it is. Is it a story, a news article, or maybe an essay? This can give you clues about why the author wrote it.
• Look at the Words and Tone: Pay attention to the words the author uses and how they write. If they use a lot of emotion, they might be trying to persuade you. If they give a lot of facts, they’re probably trying to inform you.
• Think About Who It’s Written For: Who is the author writing for? For example, a text for experts might be trying to give new information, while a text for kids might be trying to teach something in a fun way.
• Look for Main Ideas: What are the big ideas in the text? What is the author trying to say? This can give you a hint about why they wrote it.
• Check for Facts or Stories: Does the author use a lot of facts and data? Or do they tell stories? This can also help you figure out the author’s purpose.
• Think About the Time and Place: When and where was the text written? Sometimes, this can tell you a lot about why the author wrote the text.

Remember, you might not always see the author’s purpose right away. But if you look closely, you can usually find clues that will help you figure it out.

How Text Structure Contributes to the Author’s Purpose

Text structure, or the way a text is put together, plays a significant role in conveying the author’s purpose and shaping the overall message of a written piece. The way a text is organized and structured can greatly influence how the information is presented and how the reader engages with it. Here are some ways that text structure contributes to the author’s purpose

• Order of Ideas: Authors choose how to order their ideas for a reason. They might use a time order, cause and effect, or compare and contrast to help get their point across.
• Important Points Stand Out: Authors use things like headings or bullet points to show important ideas. This can tell us what the author thinks is most important.
• Storytelling Techniques: In stories, authors might play with the order of events, use flashbacks, or tell the story from different viewpoints. This can make the story more interesting or help make a point.
• Persuasion Techniques: If the author is trying to convince you of something, they will present their arguments in a careful order. They might present a problem, then give evidence, then propose a solution.
• Easy to Follow: A well-organized text is easier to understand. The way the author organizes the text can help you follow their ideas and understand what they want to say.

By looking at how a text is structured, you can get a better idea of what the author’s purpose is. So, next time you read something, pay attention to how it’s put together!

Classroom Application: What is the Author’s Purpose in this Passage?

Analyzing the author’s purpose becomes more engaging and relatable when you can apply your skills to historical speeches. One exemplary text for this exercise is Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. Use this step-by-step guide to  analyze the author’s purpose in this significant piece of writing:

Step 1: Background Research:

First, start by gathering some background information about Abraham Lincoln, his presidency, and the context of the Second Inaugural Address. Learn about the Civil War and how it impacted the nation during that time.

Step 2: Reading and Annotation:

Next, read the Second Inaugural Address carefully, highlighting or underlining key statements and phrases. Take note of any repeated themes or arguments and mark moments where Lincoln’s perspective or tone seems particularly important.

Step 3: Identifying the Type of Text:

Consider the type of text you are analyzing, which is a presidential inauguration speech. Think about the common purposes associated with such speeches, like inspiring unity, expressing gratitude, or outlining a vision for the nation.

Step 4: Analyzing Language and Tone:

Pay close attention to Lincoln’s choice of language and tone throughout the address. Look for emotional or persuasive language and note instances of unity, humility, or calls for reconciliation. Consider how these choices contribute to Lincoln’s purpose.

Step 5: Reflecting on Historical Context:

Think about the historical context surrounding the Second Inaugural Address. For example, you could reflect on the divided nation during the Civil War and how it affected Lincoln’s presidency. Then, connect these historical events to Lincoln’s purpose in addressing the nation during such a critical time.

Step 6: Identifying Key Statements and Arguments:

Identify the central statements and arguments made by Lincoln in the address. Consider how these statements reflect his purpose and the message he wanted to convey. Think critically about the implications of these arguments.

Step 7: Considering the Audience:

Reflect on the intended audience of the Second Inaugural Address, which includes both supporters and opponents of Lincoln. Analyze how Lincoln’s purpose might have been influenced by this diverse audience and how he aimed to unite the nation through his words.

Step 8: Drawing Conclusions:

Based on the evidence you gathered from the text analysis and understanding of the historical context, draw conclusions about Lincoln’s purpose in delivering the Second Inaugural Address. Make sure to support your conclusions with evidence from the text.

Step 9: Classroom Discussion and Reflection:

Finally, wrap up by participating in a classroom discussion, where you can share your analysis and engage in thoughtful reflection. Compare and contrast interpretations with your classmates to deepen your understanding of the author’s purpose and the complexities of historical texts.

By following these steps to analyze Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, you’ll develop critical thinking skills, gain historical understanding, and appreciate the power of language in shaping significant historical events. This assignment will enhance your ability to analyze texts and provide you with a deeper insight into the intentions of historical figures like Abraham Lincoln.

Analyzing an author’s purpose and point of view is a skill that empowers you to unlock the hidden meanings within texts. By understanding why authors write the way they do and recognizing their unique perspectives, you can gain valuable insights into the world of written communication. 

Practice Makes Perfect

Albert provides engaging practice questions for key skills like analyzing the author’s purpose as well as a wide range of texts for students to analyze and interpret. For more practice with the skills covered in this post, check out our Author’s Purpose questions in our Short Readings course, which uses short passages to reinforce fundamental reading skills. Readers at all ability levels may enjoy our  Leveled Readings  course, which offers Lexile® leveled passages focused on a unifying essential question that keeps all students on the same page regardless of reading level. Learn more about the Lexile Framework  here !

With our easy-to-use interface and informative feedback, Albert.io is the perfect tool for learning how to determine the author’s purpose and point of view and helping students develop a deeper understanding of the texts they encounter.

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21 Awesome Author’s Purpose Activities

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1. Persuade, Inform, Entertain Sorting: Have students sort various texts by the author’s purpose (persuade, inform, or entertain). This activity teaches students to identify and differentiate different purposes.

2. Author’s Purpose Bingo: Create bingo cards with different author’s purposes and corresponding examples. Students must listen to a text being read aloud and mark their bingo card when they identify the purpose.

3. Purposeful Reading Stations: Set up reading stations with different texts – one station per author’s purpose. Students rotate through each station, read a passage, and record the purpose.

4. Purposeful Writing Prompts: Provide students with writing prompts that direct them to write persuasively, informatively, or entertainingly. This helps them practice creating content for each purpose.

5. Author’s Purpose Scavenger Hunt: Hide envelopes around the classroom with snippets of texts displaying different purposes. Students must search for the envelopes and record their findings.

6. Detecting Purpose Board Game: Develop a board game where students move forward by correctly identifying the author’s purpose for various texts on game cards.

7. Advertisement Analysis: Bring in real-life advertisements and have students analyze the persuasiveness of each ad and whether or not it was effective in achieving its purpose.

8. Picture Book Purposeful Reading: Read a picture book aloud, stopping at various points to discuss the author’s intended purpose behind specific passages or illustrations.

9. Magazine Collage Exploration: Provide students with a collection of magazines and ask them to create collages based on a specific author’s purpose – persuade, inform, or entertain.

10. Author’s Purpose Walkthrough: Have students listen to an audiobook or watch video clips while noting the text’s primary purpose at different points during playback.

11. News Article Breakdown: Examine news articles for elements that inform readers and discuss the author’s possible purpose.

12. Book Cover Persuasion: Collect a variety of book covers and ask students to analyze the persuasive techniques used to encourage readers to pick up the book.

13. Three Minutes to Make Your Case: Divide students into groups and provide them with the name of a popular movie. The group must then argue why the movie’s purpose was to persuade, inform, or entertain.

14. Author’s Purpose Charades: Act out a scenario from a text without speaking. The audience must guess the author’s purpose based on your actions.

15. Purposeful Playlist: Students create a playlist of songs geared toward persuading, informing, or entertaining listeners.

16. Social Media Campaign Analysis: Examine social media campaigns, discussing their goals and whether they successfully achieved their intended purpose.

17. Balloon Debates: After students are given a persuasive text, they must present the argument outlined in the text to their classmates as they “debate” for or against an issue while standing on an inflatable balloon.

18. Interactive Digital Guided Reading : Use online platforms for guided reading sessions that include multimedia content (videos, quizzes) designed for specific author purposes.

19. Purposeful Poetry: Read different types of poems to students and discuss various purposes that poets may have when creating their work.

20. Interactive Author Study: Choose an author known for writing in multiple genres and explore their different works, identifying why they chose different styles and purposes for different stories.

21. Digital Breakouts : Create digital escape rooms based on famous books where students must solve puzzles identifying the author’s purpose for various elements within the story to unlock the breakout codes.

These 21 activities offer engaging ways for students to explore and understand author’s purpose more deeply while practicing different skills related to reading comprehension and critical thinking.

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This is the author's purpose worksheets section. An author's purpose is his or her intent or reason for writing. The author's purpose may be to persuade, amuse, entertain, or inform the reader. When discussing the author's purpose, we ask ourselves why the author is writing or what is motivating him or her to write. There may be many reason's behind the author's purpose, and it is important to understand the author's purpose to understand the reasoning behind their writing. Identifying the author's purpose assists the reader in reading comprehension and understanding the perspective or point of view of the author. The author's purpose may be analyzed or understood in a response writing. Our author's purpose worksheets may be used for a variety of learning levels. Our Author's Purpose worksheets are free to download and easy to access in PDF format. Use these author's purpose worksheets at school or at home.   | | | | "); //--> English Worksheets Author's Purpose Lesson Plans with Activities PDF Frequently assigned in Easel What educators are saying Also included in. Description A week's worth of engaging lesson plans to teach students how to determine what the author's purpose is for writing the text. This is taught with the PIE'ED format. These lesson plans are designed to be low prep for the teacher, but keep your kids engaged and challenged the entire week! There is a whole group and a small group lesson for each day so that you can differentiate and reach each learner. All the materials are provided, besides books. All the lessons are engaging , low prep , and rigorous for your upper elementary students. Why these lessons? Engagement - I saw that my students needed more engagement and relation to their real-life in order to fully understand the skills, so I created these lessons to keep kids excited and involved the whole time. Tiered Approach - We start with a real-life lesson, then practice as a whole group, work in a small group, work in partners, and finally work alone. We start with support on the skill and slowly take it away to really push the kiddos. Rigor- The lessons keep kids thinking the entire time and push them to reach their potential. Low-Prep - These lessons just need to be printed, copied, and they are ready to go! Most activities require little work beforehand for the teacher which makes a teachers busy life easier! The lessons include: Monday- You will do a little acting with your students to show them the author's purposes. Then, they will use an anchor chart to create their own acting scenes and analyze each other. Tuesday - Use pictures to determine author's purpose. Then, read “Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors?” by Tanya Lee Stone. The students will do discussion questions and then create an essay about doctors on their own in a new purpose. They will then analyze each other's writings. Wednesday - There are author's purpose task cards to complete. It is suggested that you get the game "Pie in the Face" to make this activity more engaging, but not required. Then, they will watch a video on commercials. Thursday - Using magazines or scholastic magazines students will be finding the author's purpose and sorting it. Then, they will read a book from an EPIC collection or a stack of books with a partner to determine the purpose and rewrite the story with a new purpose. Friday - You will play a game called "four corners" to practice. Then, you will go through five close reads together to determine the author's purpose and write a purpose sentence. Finally, give the assessment. There is one small group lesson per day. You can do this with every group or just do the lessons you think the groups need. You differentiate them by what books you choose. Monday : Read a close read and highlight how to find the author's purpose. Tuesday : Students will complete different types of author's purpose activities that focus on reading and writing. Wednesday : Students will do day 2 of the different activities. Thursday : Students will complete the final day of author's purpose activities. Friday : Students will do an interactive poster with a leveled reader of your choice. What are others saying?! Jennifer L.- "I am obsessed with your skill of the week resources! These are so engaging!" Natalie Keenan- "Very useful and targeted my teaching standards." Makalie S.- "Loved this and so did my kiddos!" Other AMAZING projects you may need: Reading Skill Lessons Language Lessons Text Evidence Paragraph of the Day By clicking this link you can follow along with The Friendly Teacher! You will get to know when a new product is posted, which is 50% off for the first 24 hours! Find Other Skill Week Packs Here!! Questions & Answers The friendly teacher. We're hiring Help & FAQ Privacy policy Student privacy Terms of service Tell us what you think Teach Starter, part of Tes Teach Starter, part of Tes Search  everything  in all resources Free Author's Purpose Worksheets Updated:  26 Apr 2023 Assess reading comprehension by reviewing 3 short passages and answering questions about the author's purpose. Editable:  Google Slides Non-Editable:  PDF Pages:  6 Pages Curriculum Curriculum:  CCSS, TEKS Grades:  1 - 2 Adobe Reader (pdf) Sign up to Plus Google Slides Sign up to Plus This worksheet is best used as independent practice as part of your Author’s Purpose & Craft lesson. Students will read 3 short passages and identify in each whether the author meant to inform, entertain, or persuade. They will also list the supporting evidence from the passages that helped them determine the author’s purpose. Scaffolding & Extension Tips: Free Author’s Purpose Worksheet   In addition to individual student work time, use this worksheet as a: Post-lesson exit ticket   Homework assignment Whole-class review (via smartboard) Got fast finishers ? Students who need a challenge can write their own passages where the author’s purpose is to persuade . To support struggling students, read the passage with them, and have students highlight or circle clues in the passage that support the author’s purpose. A Variety of Ways to Prepare This Resource Because this resource includes an answer sheet, we recommend you print one copy of the entire file. Then, make photocopies of the blank worksheet for students to complete.   To save paper, we suggest double-sided printing:  Click on the printer icon or select File from the navigation bar, and select Print from the dropdown menu From the dialogue box that pops up, next to Pages , click on All and select Custom Enter 1-3 to ensure the blank worksheet prints front to back Click on More settings Pages per sheet should be set to “1” If it is not already selected, check the box for Print on both sides If it is not already set to Flip on long edge , use the dropdown to make this selection Click the Print button You can also turn this teaching resource into a sustainable activity! Print a few copies on cardstock and slip them into dry-erase sleeves. Students can record their answers with a dry-erase marker, then erase and reuse.  Additionally, project the worksheet onto a screen and work through it as a class by having students record their answers in their English notebooks. Before You Download Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or Google Slides version of this resource. An answer key is also included with this download. This resource was created by Allie Kleijnjans, a teacher in Pennsylvania and a Teach Starter Collaborator.  Don’t stop there! We’ve got more English Language Arts activities to cut down on lesson planning time:   resource pack Comprehension strategy teaching resource pack - author's purpose. An extensive resource pack to help students understand the concept of author’s purpose. teaching resource Author's purpose - sentence writing activity. A teaching resource to help teach your students about author's purpose. Sporting Picture Stories - Sequencing Activity A set of sequencing cards for students to use as an independent writing activity. Teach Starter Publishing We create premium quality, downloadable teaching resources for primary/elementary school teachers that make classrooms buzz! Write a review to help other teachers and parents like yourself. If you'd like to request a change to this resource, or report an error, select the corresponding tab above. Suggest a Change Would you like something changed or customised on this resource? While our team makes every effort to complete change suggestions, we can't guarantee that every change will be completed. Report an Error Did you spot an error on this resource? Please let us know and we will fix it shortly. Are you having trouble downloading or viewing this resource? Please try the following steps: Check that you are logged in to your account For premium resources, check that you have a paid subscription Check that you have installed Adobe Reader ( download here ) If you are still having difficulty, please visit the Teach Starter Help Desk or contact us . You may also like English Language Arts → Author's Purpose → Reading Comprehension → Worksheets → 1st Grade → 2nd Grade → Google Slide → Stretchy Sentences Worksheet Use this worksheet to help your students write detailed and descriptive sentences. Handwriting Rhyme Poster Use this handwriting rhyme to help your students prepare themselves for a handwriting lesson. 5th & 6th Grade Metric Conversions Worksheets - Length Practice converting, comparing, and ordering metric measurements with Metric Conversions practice sheets for 5th and 6th grade. Picture the Dialogue - Punctuation Worksheet Pack Improve students’ abilities to write dialogue using correct punctuation with a set of printable ‘Picture the Dialogue’ writing worksheets. Dialogue Tags List - Vocabulary Chart Use a Dialogue Tags list to expand your students’ vocabularies and encourage better character development in their writing. Quotation Marks Quiz Test your students' skills on how to use quotation marks with a printable ‘Using Quotation Marks Quiz’. Quotation Punctuation Interactive Game Make learning about quotation marks more exciting with an Interactive Quotation Marks Punctuation Game! Simple Addition Riddle Worksheet Download this simple addition worksheet to provide your students with practice adding one- and two-digit numbers. Choosing Units of Measurement - Length Worksheets (Differentiated) Identify the unit of measurement needed to measure the length of an object with a pack of ‘Choosing Units of Measurement’ Worksheets. Word Families Sorting Activity – Short O Use these word families flashcards to help familiarize your students with words that contain the short o vowel sound. 332 IMAGES Author's Purpose Writing Activity by Deb Hanson Authors Purpose Worksheet 5th Grade Author's Purpose Worksheets Author's Purpose Worksheets Author's Purpose Worksheet by Teach Simple Author's Purpose Worksheets COMMENTS The Author's Purpose for students and teachers The author's purpose is to provide step-by-step guidance or directions to the reader. Examples include manuals, how-to guides, and recipes. To Describe: The author uses vivid language to paint a picture in the reader's mind. This can be found in travel writing, descriptive essays, or literature. 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. Authors Purpose Writing Assignment Teaching Resources Author's Purpose Writing Marathon-Interactive Student Notebook Assignment Created by EducationEnthusiast This is a writing marathon that students will complete in their interactive student notebooks or just as an activity to apply their knowledge and skills of the four main types of author's purpose: persuade, inform, entertain, and share! The activity includes a directions sheet for students ... 21 Awesome Author's Purpose Activities This printable author's purpose worksheet is perfect for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-grade students. Have your students read the book covers and color each according to the author's reason for writing the book! Print Author's Purpose Worksheets This collection of worksheets presents short passages, advertisements, excerpts, recipes, and other samples, and the students must determine the reason behind the writing. Students will learn how to use context and language clues in order to determine the purpose of the passage. Answer keys have been provided for each worksheet. Teaching Author's Purpose Help your students master the skill of identifying the author's purpose with these five engaging and practical activities. Learn how to go beyond PIE and explore different types of texts. 15 Activities to Reinforce the Author's Purpose 15 Activities to Reinforce the Author's Purpose Identifying an author's purpose for writing can be a tricky skill for some students. Help them out by providing opportunities to write in different ways. The ideas below offer some quick and easy ways to reinforce the difference between writing to inform, entertain, and persuade. How to Teach Author's Purpose in a Fun and Engaging Way What is Author's Purpose and why is it important for students to understand? Here are some activities to teach author's purpose. Author's Purpose What is the author's purpose? See author's purpose examples, types, and definition. Learn that authors often hope to persuade, inform, and entertain. 24 Author's Purpose Anchor Charts and Activities to Inspire Your Developing an understanding of an author's purpose is integral to teaching students how to analyze and appreciate literature. By focusing on why an author writes a text - to persuade, inform, entertain, or explain - educators can enhance reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. Here are 24 anchor charts and activities that can enliven your teaching strategies around this concept: Author's Purpose Writing Prompts: Explore Literary Intent Author's purpose is an essential aspect of understanding and analyzing literature. In this article, we will explore some thought-provoking writing prompts that delve into the depths of an author's intent, allowing you to enhance your critical thinking skills and gain a deeper appreciation for the written word. Author's Purpose Assignment Teaching Resources AUTHOR'S PURPOSE DIGITAL PRESENTATION & ASSIGNMENTS. Help your students understand the 5 different types of author's purposes with this ready-to-use digital introduction bundle.These resources are Google compatible and students can complete all work on the computer. This works well with distance-learning, 1:1 classrooms, remote teaching ... Author's Purpose Author's Purpose: Three Reasons for Writing. There are three main reasons or purposes for writing. Any text that you encounter (whether the menu for your favorite restaurant or Shakespeare's Hamlet) will serve one of the three following purposes: 1. Writing to Entertain. The primary purpose of texts that are written to entertain is to amuse ... Author's Purpose Worksheets: Activities & Examples for Kids Explore our free author's purpose worksheets online. Get amazing activities, examples, and customizable templates for effective learning. PDF Name: Date: AUTHOR S PURPOSE: Task Card AUTHOR'S PURPOSE: Task Cards. ors have three main purposes for writing:Persuade - the au. hor wants you to believe or do something. Inform - the au. hor wants to tell or teach you something.Entertain - the author. ants to tell a story th. t you will enjoy.*Remember the word PIE!It is a trick to remember the three main. Activities for Author's Purpose Teaching author's purpose can be one of the most engaging and entertaining skills that you teach! If you do some great activities for author's purpose, your students will be engaged the entire time and successful at figuring out what the purpose is that the author is trying to write! Analyzing Author's Purpose and Point of View Help your students develop stronger reading skills and learn to identify an author's purpose and point of view. 21 Awesome Author's Purpose Activities These 21 activities offer engaging ways for students to explore and understand author's purpose more deeply while practicing different skills related to reading comprehension and critical thinking. Choose your Reaction! 1. Persuade, Inform, Entertain Sorting: Have students sort various texts by the author's purpose (persuade, inform, or ... Englishlinx.com An author's purpose is his or her intent or reason for writing. The author's purpose may be to persuade, amuse, entertain, or inform the reader. When discussing the author's purpose, we ask ourselves why the author is writing or what is motivating him or her to write. There may be many reason's behind the author's purpose, and it is important ... Author's Purpose Writing Activity by Deb Hanson This packet includes three writing worksheets that focus on the three most common types of author's purpose: persuade, inform, and entertain. Each worksheet contains a planning element that guides students through writing a simple persuasive paragraph, a simple informative paragraph, and a simple en... 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 Lesson Plans with Activities A week's worth of engaging lesson plans to teach students how to determine what the author's purpose is for writing the text. This is taught with the PIE'ED format. These lesson plans are designed to be low prep for the teacher, but keep your kids engaged and challenged the entire week! There is a w... Free Author's Purpose Worksheets Assess reading comprehension by reviewing 3 short passages and answering questions about the author's purpose. This worksheet is best used as independent practice as part of your Author's Purpose & Craft lesson. Students will read 3 short passages and identify in each whether the author meant to inform, entertain, or persuade. assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis