Author's Purpose

What is the author’s purpose? Rules are very important. They help to keep things running smoothly. Rules let you know what you can and cannot do whether you are playing a game or explaining how to behave in class. You should follow rules; they help people to get along.

• to entertain with a story about people who follow the rules

• to inform about the rules of the game

• to explain the rules in class

• to persuade people to follow the rules

What is the author’s purpose? Laura Ingalls Wilder was born February 7, 1867 in Pepin, Wisconsin to Charles and Caroline Ingalls. She met and married Almanzo James Wilder in 1885. She published many books based on her travels to the west. Her writing became the basis for the “Little House” series. She died in 1957.

• to persuade

• to inform

• to entertain

What is the author’s purpose? Calligraphy is a form of handwriting. A special pen must be used. Letters are formed using up and down strokes. Old documents are usually written in this form. Diplomas, certificates, and other awards are often written in calligraphy.

• to persuade

• to inform

• to entertain

What is the author’s purpose? Do you want to be an artist? Just enroll in the “The Awesome Artists” program. Don’t let this opportunity or your talent slip away. We guarantee you will be painting like the masters in two weeks for the low cost of $59.95.

• to teach you how all artists become famous

• to convince you to attend an art program

• to entertain you with a story about artists

• to explain how to paint like the masters

Answer explanation

Remember they want you to buy something. Therefore, they are persuading you to participate. Another word for persuade is to convince.

What is the author’s purpose? The Food Group Pyramid tells you how to eat healthy. It shows how food is divided into six groups. It is important to eat foods that belong to each group every day. The pyramid helps show how much each of you should eat.

• to inform you about The Food Group Pyramid

• to tell a story about pyramids

• to convince you to eat vegetables

• to explain how to go shopping for food

Answer explanation

Facts about the food groups are shared, therefore, it is to inform.

Which of the following are examples of texts that are written to persuade? (Select two answers.)

• advertisement

• poetry

• notice

• solicitation letter

The three main reasons why an author would write something is to:

• entertain, describe and be funny

• explain, inform, learn

• persuade, inform, entertain

Read the short story below and determine the author's purpose.

Frogs are amphibians. They can live on either land or in water. A frog can lay thousands of eggs called frog spawn.

• entertain

• inform

• persuade

Read the short story below and determine the author's purpose.

You should vote for Mary! Mary would make a great class president. She wants to make recess time an hour instead of 30 minutes. Mary is the best!

• persuade

• inform

• entertain

Read the short story below and determine the author's purpose. There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She had so many children she didn’t know what to do. She gave them some broth without any bread; and whipped them all soundly and put them in bed.

• persuade

• entertain

• inform