Understanding Author's Purpose
What is Author's Purpose?
Have you ever wondered why authors write books? There are many reasons! Understanding why an author writes something is called understanding the author's purpose. Authors write to share ideas, stories, and information with us. Let's explore the three main reasons why authors write: to inform, to persuade, and to entertain.
To Inform
Sometimes, authors want to teach you something new. They might write a book about animals, space, or history. When an author's purpose is to inform, they give you facts and details. You can often find books that inform in the library's non-fiction section.
For example, a book about penguins might tell you where they live, what they eat, and how they take care of their babies. The author's goal is to give you information about penguins.
To Persuade
Other times, authors want to convince you to think or do something. When an author's purpose is to persuade, they try to get you to agree with them. They might share their opinion and give you reasons to support it.
For example, an author might write a letter to the editor to persuade people to support a new park. They would give reasons why the park is important and why people should help make it happen.
To Entertain
- Author's Purpose:
- The reason why an author writes something.
- Inform:
- To give facts and details.
- Persuade:
- To convince someone to think or do something.
- Entertain:
- To make someone laugh or feel happy.
More sheets from this passage
Built from the text itself — answer key included where it counts.
fix the sentence
Sentences from the passage with the capitals and punctuation removed — rewrite each one correctly.
vocabulary
Match the passage words to their meanings, then fill the missing words back into real sentences.
writing prompts
Two writing tasks that build on the passage, with plenty of lines to write on.
- All 6 sheets as one workbook
One PDF with a cover, contents page and every answer key at the back.
You Might Also Like
About this explanatory article passage for 4th Grade
“Understanding Author's Purpose” is a explanatory article reading passage about Author's Purpose, written for 4th Grade. It takes about 2 minutes to read (328 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.