Author's Purpose | Mini Lesson
Students will learn to identify an author’s purpose in a short text as to inform, persuade, or entertain. They will practice using simple clues from the text to explain their thinking.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Author’s purpose | The reason the author wrote the text. |
| Inform | To give facts, information, or explain something. |
| Persuade | To convince the reader to think, believe, or do something. |
| Entertain | To amuse, interest, or enjoy the reader. |
| Clue | A word or detail in the text that helps you figure out the author’s purpose. |
Write three short sentences on the board, each matching one purpose. Ask: 'Why do people write?' Briefly introduce the idea that authors write for a reason.
Respond to the question, share ideas, and listen to the introduction.
Define author’s purpose and review inform, persuade, and entertain. Model with one short sample text. Think aloud while pointing out clues such as facts, opinion words, or funny language.
Listen, follow along, and highlight clues in the model text.
Read two short texts aloud. Ask students to identify the purpose together and explain what clues helped them decide. Record answers on the board.
Work with the teacher to name the purpose and give simple evidence from the text.
Give students 3 short texts. Circulate and support students as they label each text with its purpose and underline clues.
Read each text, choose the purpose, and mark supporting clues.
Ask volunteers to share one text and explain their answer. Correct misunderstandings gently and restate the three purposes.
Share answers and listen to feedback.
Review the question: 'Why did the author write this?' Have students state one purpose in their own words before leaving.
Say one purpose aloud or write it on a scrap of paper.
Ask students to answer: 'What was the author’s purpose in the text, and what clue helped you know?'