Author's Purpose

​📚 Author’s Purpose: Why Did the Author Write This?

Authors write for different reasons. Let’s figure out why!

What Is Author’s Purpose?

Author’s purpose means the reason the author wrote the text.

Authors usually write to:

• Persuade

• Inform

• Entertain

🧠 P.I.E. helps us remember!

Persuade

Persuade means to try to change your mind or make you do something.

Clue words:

• should

• must

• best

• I think

Example:
You should recycle to help the Earth.

Inform

Inform means to give facts or information.

Clue words:

• facts

• dates

• definitions

• explains

Example:
Butterflies start as eggs and change as they grow.

Entertain

Entertain means to tell a story or make you enjoy reading.

Clue words:

• characters

• setting

• problem and solution

Example:
Once upon a time, a dragon learned to share.

Author’s Purpose Chart

Purpose	What It Does	Example

Persuade

Tries to change your mind

You should eat healthy foods.

Inform

Gives facts

Frogs live near water.

Entertain

Tells a story

The puppy chased its tail.

Match

Read each sentence. Match it to the author’s purpose.

• You should wear a helmet when biking.

• The sun is a star at the center of our solar system.

• The silly monkey slipped on a banana peel.

Persuade

Inform

Entertain

• Persuade

• Inform

• Entertain

Multiple Choice

Read each sentence. Choose the author’s purpose.
Dogs make great pets because they are loyal and fun. You should get one.

• Inform

• Persuade

• Entertain

Multiple Choice

Read each sentence. Choose the author’s purpose.
Penguins cannot fly, but they are excellent swimmers.

• Inform

• Entertain

• Persuade

Multiple Choice

Read each sentence. Choose the author’s purpose.
The pirate searched for treasure on a stormy night.

• Inform

• Entertain

• Persuade

Multiple Choice

What does author’s purpose mean?

• The title of the story

• The author’s name

• The reason the author wrote the text

• The setting

Multiple Choice

Which purpose means to give facts?

• Persuade

• Inform

• Entertain

• Describe

Multiple Choice

Which purpose means to tell a story?

• Inform

• Entertain

• Persuade

• Explain

Multiple Choice

Which purpose tries to change your mind?

• Describe

• Entertain

• Inform

• Persuade

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence:

You should drink water every day to stay healthy.
What is the author’s purpose?

• Inform

• Persuade

• Explain

• Entertain

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence:

Spiders have eight legs and spin webs.
What is the author’s purpose?

• Inform

• Persuade

• Entertain

• Description

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence:

Liam found a tiny door behind the tree. When he opened it, a fairy flew out and laughed.

What is the author’s purpose?

• Inform

• Persuade

• Entertain

Multiple Choice

Which clue word would help you find out someone was trying to persuade you?

• once upon a time

• facts

• should

• characters

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence:

Recycling helps keep our planet clean. Everyone should recycle at home and school.

What is the author’s purpose?

• Persuade

• Inform

• Entertain

• Describe

Multiple Choice

Read the paragraph:

Rain forms when water in the air cools and falls to the ground.

What is the author’s purpose?

• Persuade

• Inform

• Entertain