Author's purpose worksheets
Fourth graders identify an author's purpose and point to the evidence for it: the sentence that argues a side, the fact that teaches, or the detail added only for fun.
By grade
What students need to know
Every writer has a reason for writing. The three big reasons are easy to remember as PIE: to Persuade (change your mind), to Inform (teach you facts), or to Entertain (tell you a fun story). To find the purpose, ask what the writer wants you to do after reading.
This skill runs from 3rd grade through 5th grade. Pick a grade above for level-matched sentences, teaching notes, and worksheets.
Author's purpose across the grades
3rd grade
Third graders learn the three main reasons authors write, remembered as PIE: to persuade, to inform, or to entertain. They read a short passage and decide which one fits, using clues like signal words and whether it states facts.
4th grade
Fourth graders identify an author's purpose and point to the evidence for it: the sentence that argues a side, the fact that teaches, or the detail added only for fun.
5th grade
Fifth graders judge purpose from how a whole passage is built, including word choice and tone. They notice when an author informs in order to persuade and predict what the author wants the reader to do, feel, or understand.
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