Fourth graders learn the three main reasons authors write, to persuade, inform, or entertain, and how to use clues in a text to figure out which one, and check what they know.
Students will be able to…
Every author writes for a reason. What are the three main purposes behind writing, and how do you spot which one a text has?
Project this and answer each question about why authors write, using the PIE idea — read the explanation after each one.
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
An ad, a news story, and a funny tale are all writing, but the authors wanted different things. Why did each write?
Students answer questions about author's purpose.
Students justify a purpose.
Students write for each purpose.
Students reflect on purpose.
Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (Grades 9–10).
Explain how an author uses reasons to support points.
Identify an author's purpose and point of view.
Determine the purpose of a literary text.
Write for a purpose and audience.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students pick one topic and write about it twice, once to inform and once to entertain, so they feel how purpose changes writing. A printable author's-purpose worksheet is in the English Language Arts library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.