Analyze the Author's Purpose in Three Texts About Bridges

Have your child read every text once, then reread each one asking why the author wrote it. Underline clue words like should, best and please before circling a purpose. Check with the answer key, which gives sample answers for the open questions.

Analyze the purpose of a suspension bridge text, a footbridge editorial and a troll riddle tale. An author's purpose is why an author writes. Each text has a different purpose. The editorial in Text B and the tale in Text C are made up. The directions on the page read: Read Text A, Text B and Text C. Then, turn the page and answer the questions. On page 2: Circle each text's purpose. Copy a detail that shows it. Then, answer 4 and 5. The answer key covers the questions on page 2.

Yes, both. We made it for 5th Grade comprehension exercises, and the page works the same whether it lands on a kitchen table or a center rotation. At home, most families go through it together and talk the answers out loud, and that talking is where most of the learning happens with author's purpose. In class it runs well as independent work while you pull a small group. Print one copy or thirty, whichever the day needs.

Authors write to persuade, to inform or to entertain. In the bridge texts, the suspension bridge text informs, the footbridge editorial persuades and the story of Grizel the troll entertains.

A neutral text tells what different people think without taking a side. Why Start Times Are Debated shares what some people think and what others worry about, and it never says which side is right.

Words like should, best and safest show what the author believes. In the footbridge editorial, Our town should build a footbridge and the safest choice both show the author's opinion.

Yes. All 3 author's purpose sheets have an answer key, with sample answers where answers will vary.