Author's Purpose in Nonfiction
Understand and identify the author's purpose (to inform, persuade, or entertain) in nonfiction texts for Grade 3.
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Author's Purpose in Nonfiction
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Read each passage or statement carefully. Decide if the author's purpose is to inform, persuade, or entertain. Then, answer the questions.
The Giant Panda
Giant pandas are amazing animals that live in the mountains of China. They have thick black and white fur that helps them stay warm. Pandas mostly eat bamboo, sometimes as much as 20 pounds a day! Baby pandas are born very small, about the size of a stick of butter. These gentle creatures are a symbol of conservation.
1. What is the author's main purpose in the passage about giant pandas?
To make you laugh about pandas.
To tell you facts about pandas.
To convince you to buy a panda.
To scare you about pandas.
2. When an author's purpose is to inform, they usually give you and details.
Why You Should Recycle!
Did you know that recycling helps our planet? When we recycle, we turn old things like plastic bottles and paper into new things. This means we don't have to use as many new resources from the Earth. Recycling also saves energy and reduces pollution. So next time you have an empty juice box, please put it in the recycling bin! It's super important for keeping our world clean and healthy.
3. What is the author's main purpose in the passage about recycling?
To tell a funny story about recycling.
To teach you how to recycle.
To convince you to recycle.
To describe what recycling bins look like.
4. What clues in the recycling passage tell you the author's purpose is to persuade?
5. A story about a talking bear who goes on an adventure has the author's purpose 'to entertain'.
True
False
Match the author's purpose with its description:
6. To inform
a. To make the reader believe or do something.
7. To persuade
b. To give facts or information to the reader.
8. To entertain
c. To tell a story for enjoyment.
Use the words below to complete the sentences.
9. A cookbook's author wants to you how to cook.
10. A commercial for a new toy tries to you to buy it.