Name: ______________________________
Author’s Purpose Activity
Directions: Read the descriptions of each item and determine the author’s main
purpose (to entertain, persuade, review, instruct or inform/explain). Then, in a
sentence or two, explain your answer.
1. A story about a family trying to stick together and survive through the Great
Depression in the Midwest in the 1930s
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
2. A section in a history book describing the conditions and causes of the Great
Depression in the Midwest in the 1930s
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
3. An instructional booklet describing how to operate a smart phone
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
4. An article where the author argues that an iPhone is better than an Android phone
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
5. A poem about why the iPhone is the greatest consumer electronic device ever made
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
6. The story of a young athlete who takes steroids and his life and future fall apart
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
7. A medical report describing the effects of steroids on the human body
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
8. A speech written by a professional athlete listing the negative effects of steroids and
urging young athletes to not use steroids
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
9. A booklet containing the school rules and the consequences for violating those rules
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
10. A story written about a young boy who moves to a new school and is bullied, but he
gains self-confidence by joining a sports team and learns to stand up for himself.
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
Name: ______________________________
Author’s Purpose Activity 2
Directions: Read the descriptions of each item and determine the author’s main
purpose (to entertain, persuade, review, instruct or inform/explain). Then, in a sentence
or two, explain your answer.
1. A pamphlet urging people not to eat animals or use products made from animals or
animal suffering because the author thinks that is cruel and unnecessary
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
2. A book of over 1,000 knock-knock jokes
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
3. A cook book containing recipes for making cakes, cookies, and other desserts
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
4. The story of a young woman who, after the death of her grandfather, quit her job in
the business world and returned home to help her aging grandmother
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
5. A politician’s speech about how homes should be provided to families who cannot
afford them
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
6. A poem about a “packrat,” a person who refuses to throw things away, even things
that most people would consider garbage
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
7. An article comparing and contrasting American and Swedish health care systems
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
8. The Shakespearean tragedy Romeo and Juliet, where two young lovers are
forbidden from seeing one another due to a centuries old blood feud between their two
families
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
9. A young girl’s note to her parents giving reasons why they should buy a puppy
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
10. A website describing a local dog leash ordinance, detailing its history and the
penalties for walking around with one’s dog unleashed
Author’s Purpose: _______________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
Author’s Purpose 3 Name: ______________________________
Directions: Read the descriptions of each item and determine the author’s main
purpose (to entertain, persuade, review, instruct or inform/explain). Then, in a
sentence or two, explain your answer.
1. The first issue of Wolverine, published by Marvel in 1982
Author’s Purpose: _____________________________________________________________
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
2. A pamphlet explaining how an unborn child may be affected when a pregnant mother smokes
Author’s Purpose: _____________________________________________________________
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
3. A novel about a young girl who learns a lesson about bullying other students on the internet
Author’s Purpose: _____________________________________________________________
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
4. The terms of use for Facebook, a social networking site
Author’s Purpose: _____________________________________________________________
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
5. A speech written by a famous basketball player urging young people to stay in school
Author’s Purpose: _____________________________________________________________
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
6. Directions to the mall written by a friend or relative
Author’s Purpose: _____________________________________________________________
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
7. The ingredients listed on the side of a candy bar wrapper
Author’s Purpose: _____________________________________________________________
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
8. The lyrics to Michael Jackson’s song, “Billy Jean”
Author’s Purpose: _____________________________________________________________
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
9. A letter to a teen girl from her imprisoned father giving reasons why she should go to college
Author’s Purpose: _____________________________________________________________
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
10. The documentation and instructions for a new touch-screen tablet PC
Author’s Purpose: _____________________________________________________________
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
11. A bumper sticker warning people to “Click it or Ticket,” in reference to wearing a seatbelt
Author’s Purpose: _____________________________________________________________
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
12. The story of a teacher who helps some of her troubled students get to college
Author’s Purpose: _____________________________________________________________
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
13. A brochure for custom glass windows with product descriptions, sample images, & coupons
Author’s Purpose: _____________________________________________________________
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 4 Name: ______________________________
Directions: Read the descriptions of each item and determine the author’s main
purpose (to entertain, persuade, review, instruct or inform/explain). Then, in a
sentence or two, explain your answer.
1. A one page printout showing how to put together a coffee table that came in a box
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
2. A speech in which a student promises daily pizza rations if he is elected class president
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
3. A picture book about a dog that gets lost on a family vacation and has to find his way home
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
4. A timeline showing important events from the American Civil War
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
5. An internet ad banner telling you to click it for a free iPhone
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
6. A small book about a boy who loses his Mom’s cell phone and learns that telling the truth is
the most important thing
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
7. An orange sign advising drivers that the road beyond is under construction
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
8. A script for a school play about a girl who is unexpectedly rewarded for her kind deeds
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
9. A classified ad in which the seller lists a chair in good condition for ten dollars or best offer
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
10. A poem about a very comfortable chair in which the speaker could rest for eternity
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 5 Name: __________________________________
Directions: Read the descriptions of each item and determine the author’s main
purpose (to entertain, persuade, review, instruct or inform/explain). Then, in a
sentence or two, explain your answer.
1. A poem about the beauty of Mount Everest as seen from a mountain climber’s perspective
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
2. A coupon for a guided tour up Mount Everest at a rate of two for the price of one
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
3. A map of a secret trail to the top of Mount Everest
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
4. A novel about a young man who learns the importance of teamwork while climbing to the top
of Mount Everest
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
5. A Wikipedia page with facts and records about Mount Everest
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
6. Jimmy Carter’s 1979 presidential address in which he asked Americans to use less energy
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
7. A bar graph showing US gasoline consumption compared to nine other nations
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
8. A short story about a young boy who starts a bike sharing program in his community to
reduce energy consumption.
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
9. A webpage that contains a list of things that you can do to reduce your energy consumption
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
10. A chain email with 25 reasons why you should reduce your energy consumption
Author’s Purpose: ______________________________________________________________
Explain Your Answer:
Write a sentence or two.
Name: ______________________________
Author’s Purpose Worksheet 6
Directions: read the description, determine the author’s purpose, and then explain your answer.
1. A handbook teaching people how to negotiate
Author’s Purpose:
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
___________________________________________________________
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
2. A public service announcement telling kids to stay in school
Author’s Purpose:
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
___________________________________________________________
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
3. A menu for a local pizzeria listing the sizes and prices of pizzas and available toppings
Author’s Purpose:
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
___________________________________________________________
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
4. A song about pizza by popular music artist, Miss Directed
Author’s Purpose:
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
___________________________________________________________
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
5. The track listing to Miss Directed’s album, I Want Pizza, which shows the order, length, and
producer of each song
Author’s Purpose:
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
___________________________________________________________
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
6. A radio commercial script calling Miss Directed’s new album, “The soundtrack of our lives.”
Author’s Purpose:
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
___________________________________________________________
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
7. A pie graph showing how many pies were sold in each flavor during November last year
Author’s Purpose:
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
___________________________________________________________
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
8. A children’s book about a cherry pie and an apple pie that overcome their differences to
become good friends
Author’s Purpose:
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
___________________________________________________________
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
9. A bookmark by the American Dairy Association listing 10 reasons to drink milk
Author’s Purpose:
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
___________________________________________________________
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
10. A Sunday comic strip that tackles serious issues like immigration and health care
Author’s Purpose:
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
___________________________________________________________
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
11. A cell phone application that suggests dozens of recipes based on what ingredients you have
Author’s Purpose:
(to inform, persuade, or entertain)
___________________________________________________________
How do you know? Write a sentence explaining your answer.
