English Language Arts
Grade 6
15 min
Identify author's purpose
Identify author's purpose
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define 'author's purpose' and explain its importance in reading comprehension.
Identify the three main author's purposes: to persuade, to inform, and to entertain.
Distinguish between different author's purposes in various text types (e.g., articles, stories, advertisements).
Analyze text features and language clues to determine an author's primary purpose.
Provide textual evidence to support their identification of an author's purpose.
Explain how an author's purpose influences the way a text is written.
Infer an author's purpose even when it is not explicitly stated.
Have you ever wondered why someone wrote something? 🤔 Was it to make you laugh, teach you something new, or convince you to buy a product?
I...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Author's PurposeThe main reason an author chooses to write a particular piece of text. It's the goal the author wants to achieve with their writing.A cookbook author's purpose is to inform you how to make a recipe.
To PersuadeWhen an author writes to convince the reader to agree with a certain viewpoint, take an action, or believe something.An advertisement for a new video game tries to persuade you to buy it.
To InformWhen an author writes to provide facts, details, or explanations about a topic, teaching the reader something new.A textbook chapter about the solar system aims to inform you about planets and stars.
To EntertainWhen an author writes to amuse, delight, or engage the reader with a story, poem, or humorous piece.A fantasy novel with dragon...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The P.I.E. Method
Most author's purposes can be categorized as P.I.E.: Persuade, Inform, or Entertain.
This is a helpful acronym to remember the three main categories. When you read, ask yourself: Is the author trying to P-I-E me?
Look for Clues (Word Choice & Features)
Analyze the author's word choice, sentence structure, and text features (headings, images, graphs) to find hints about their purpose.
If you see strong opinion words, calls to action, or emotional language, it's likely 'persuade.' If you see facts, statistics, definitions, or step-by-step instructions, it's likely 'inform.' If you see descriptive language, dialogue, or a plot, it's likely 'entertain.'
Consider the Text Type
The type of text ofte...
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Challenging
An article describes the benefits of a new recycling program, citing statistics on waste reduction and cost savings. It concludes by saying, 'This program is a clear step forward for our town.' Which statement best analyzes the author's purpose?
A.The author's purpose is to persuade, using factual information as evidence to support their opinion.
B.The author's only purpose is to inform the reader with a neutral presentation of statistics.
C.The author's purpose is to entertain by making the topic of recycling sound exciting.
D.The author has no clear purpose, as the text mixes facts and opinions.
Challenging
A historical text written in 1850 describes a new factory in glowing terms, calling it a 'marvel of modern industry' that provides 'noble work for hundreds.' Knowing the historical context of harsh factory conditions during that era, how might a modern reader infer a persuasive purpose that the original audience might have missed?
A.The author's purpose was simply to inform people about a new building.
B.The author's purpose was likely to persuade the public that factory work was good, possibly to counter criticism or attract workers.
C.The author's purpose was to entertain readers with exciting descriptions of machinery.
D.The author's purpose was to secretly warn workers about the dangers of the factory.
Challenging
An author wants to persuade the school board to fund a new music program. Which of the following passages would most effectively achieve this purpose?
A.Music programs can be a fun activity for students who enjoy playing instruments.
B.Our school's music program currently includes a choir and a small band.
C.Studies show that students in music programs have 15% higher test scores in math and English. Funding this program is an investment in our students' academic success.
D.Last year, the school football team got new uniforms, while the band had to use instruments that were 20 years old.
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