Day 1 P.6-8 - Author's Purpose (Activity)

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: Entertain Explain Your Answer: Stories are written to entertain. This is a story.

5. A poem about why the iPhone is the greatest consumer electronic device ever made.

Author's Purpose: Entertain Explain Your Answer: The main purpose for writing poems and stories is to entertain, even if a lesson can be learned or a reader could be influence.

9. 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: Entertain Explain Your Answer: The main purpose of a narrative is to entertain the reader.

6. A medical report describing the effects of steroids on the human body.

Author's Purpose: Inform Explain Your Answer: Stories are written to entertain. This is a story.

3. An instructional booklet describing how to operate a smart phone. Author's Purpose:

Author's Purpose: Inform Explain Your Answer: This text is an instructional manual. Therefore, it was written to inform.

2. A section in a history book describing the conditions of the Greta Depression in the Midwest in the 1930s.

Author's Purpose: Inform Explain Your Answer: This text provides information about the Great Depression. Therefore, it was written to inform.

8. A booklet containing the school rules and the consequences for violating those rules.

Author's Purpose: Information Explain Your Answer: This text provides information on what may happen if a student gets caught violating rules.

7. A speech written by a professional athlete listing the negative effects of steroids and urging young athletes to not use steroids.

Author's Purpose: Persuade Explain Your Answer: The author is attempting to influence or persuade the reader to not use steroids.

4. An article where the author argues that an iPhone is better than an Android phone. Author's Purpose:

Author's Purpose: Persuasive Explain Your Answer: The author is attempting to influence the reader. Therefore, it was written to influence or persuade.

Directions: Read the descriptions of each item and determine the author's main purpose (to entertain, persuade, or inform).

Then, in a sentence or two, explain your answer.