Author's Purpose | Answer Keys

Student Concept Worksheet Answers

Sorting Activity

Sharks text

I (Inform) - Contains facts about sharks (smell blood from 3 miles, 400 million years old)

Playground text

P (Persuade) - Clue words: "should," "please vote yes" - trying to convince readers

Frog/crown text

E (Entertain) - Funny story with a silly frog character

Reading 20 minutes text

P (Persuade) - Clue words: "should," "makes you smarter" - trying to convince readers to read

Human bones text

I (Inform) - Contains facts (206 bones, smallest bone in ear)

Pizza Passage Practice

1. Author's main purpose

B. To persuade readers to eat at Joe's Pizzeria

2. Words showing purpose

"best pizza in town," "perfectly melted," "won't find better," "Stop by today," "taste the difference" - all persuasive language

3. What author wants you to do

Go to Joe's Pizzeria and buy/eat their pizza

Practice Worksheet Answers

Passage 1: Cafeteria (Persuade)

1. Author's main purpose

C. To persuade readers to support more healthy food options

2. Words showing purpose to persuade

"should," "not enough," "Please talk to the principal" - these are persuasive words trying to convince readers

Passage 2: Tornadoes (Inform)

3. Author wrote this to

C. Inform readers about what tornadoes are and how they form

4. Evidence author's purpose is to inform

The passage contains facts (300 mph, Tornado Alley, how they form) without opinions or attempts to convince. Just teaching information.

Passage 3: Purple Hair (Entertain)

5. Author's main purpose

B. To entertain readers with a funny sibling story

6. How you can tell purpose is to entertain

The story has characters (Ellie, Jake), dialogue, a funny situation (purple hair prank), and is meant to make readers laugh. Examples: "burst out laughing," chasing around the table, the surprise of purple hair.

Passage 4: Aquarium (Persuade)

7. Author wrote this to

B. Persuade readers to visit the aquarium

8. What author wants readers to do

Buy tickets and visit the City Aquarium

Passage 5: Bats (Inform)

9. Author's main purpose

B. To inform readers about bats and why they are helpful

10. Author includes mosquito fact to

C. Show readers how helpful bats can be - The fact supports the informational purpose about bats being helpful.

Challenge Questions

11. Can a text have more than one purpose?

Yes! Many texts have multiple purposes. For example, a book about recycling might INFORM readers about pollution facts AND PERSUADE them to recycle. When this happens, we look for the MAIN purpose.

12. Write a sentence to persuade someone to read more

Accept answers that include persuasive language. Example: "You should read more books because reading makes you smarter and helps you do better in school!" Must include persuasive words like should, must, best, need to, etc.

FAST Practice Quiz Answers (Sea Turtles)

B. To persuade readers to help protect sea turtles

The passage gives actions readers should take and uses persuasive language.

C. "Don't wait—start helping sea turtles today!"

This is a direct call to action, the clearest sign of persuasion.

B. Give readers specific actions they can take

The list tells readers exactly what to do to help.

A. Convince readers that the problem is serious

By showing harm, the author motivates readers to take action.

C. Take action to help protect sea turtles

The passage ends with specific actions and urges readers not to wait.

A. Show that sea turtles are worth protecting

By showing turtles have existed so long, the author suggests they're valuable.

B. "should"

"Should" is a persuasive word that tells readers what they ought to do.

B. Tells readers what they should do

An informational passage would just give facts without telling readers to take action.

Sample: The author's purpose is to PERSUADE readers to help sea turtles. Evidence 1: The author includes a list of specific actions readers can take (reduce plastic, pick up trash). Evidence 2: The author says "Don't wait—start helping sea turtles today!" which is a direct call to action.

Sample: If the author's only purpose was to inform, the passage would only include facts about sea turtles without telling readers what to do. It would not have the list of ways to help or phrases like "You can make a difference!" and "Don't wait." An informational passage might say "Sea turtles are endangered" but would not say "You should help them."

Scoring Guide

Assessment	Total Points	Proficient (70%+)	Focus Area if Struggling
Student Concept Worksheet	8 points	6+ correct	Review PIE framework
Practice Worksheet	12 points	9+ correct	Practice finding evidence words
FAST Practice Quiz	10 points	7+ correct	Focus on persuade vs. inform

Common Errors: Confusing "inform" with "persuade" when facts are used to support an opinion; thinking all nonfiction is to inform; not finding evidence words to support their answer.

Answer Keys: Author's Purpose

Scoring Guide