Author's Purpose

Figure it out

100

Dinosaurs first appeared on the earth many millions of years ago. They had long legs, and some were fast runners. These fast runners were often meat eaters with sharp claws. One meat eater was the Herrerasaurus. In the beginning, these meat–eating creatures probably ate lizard-like creatures, but often they ate the slower moving plant-eating dinosaurs as well.

To inform the reader about dinosaurs that roamed the earth many years ago.

200

My favorite sandwich is a toasted cheese sandwich. To make it, you need two pieces of bread, two slices of cheese, butter, and a butter knife. You also need a toaster oven for this dish! First, spread the butter onto one side of each piece of bread. Next, unwrap the cheese and lay a slice on each piece of bread. Place them in the toaster oven. Use the “toast” setting. When the toast is done, carefully remove it from the oven, place the two pieces of bread together and enjoy!

Explains to the reader how to make the best grilled cheese.

300

When fossils are found, the process of removing them and taking care of them is important. First, bulldozers are used to uncover large pieces of rock and soil. The bones are more visible. Workers use hammers, chisels and other small tools to remove the bones. However, before the bones are even removed, they are numbered, measured, and photographed. This is done to make sure the bones can be put back together later on. Next, if workers find a bone that is crumbling, it is sprayed with foam. Sometimes they are strapped into bandages soaked with plaster. Finally, once the bones are found and carefully removed, they are put into padded crates. Then, they are taken to the laboratory.

Explains how to remove and take proper care of fossils.

400

Sarah, her mom, her dad, and her younger sister, Maya, lived in a faraway town called Tumbler Ridge in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. In the summer they would go exploring together. They looked for new caves and waterfalls and hiked to the tops of mountains. In the winter, they would go cross-country skiing together up frozen creeks and through beautiful canyons. One day they skied to a spot where they found an old abandoned wooden cabin. Sarah said, “Wouldn’t it be fun to see what this place looks like in the summer?”

Entertains the reader about Sarah and her families hometown.

Use context clues

100

It was a dark and stormy night. In her attic bedroom, Jasemin Ya'qub was wrapped in an old patchwork quilt. She sat on the foot of her bed and watched the trees tossing in the wind. Behind the trees, clouds raced frantically across the sky. Every few moments the moon ripped through them, creating ghost-like shadows that raced along the ground.

Entertains the reader about Jasemin Ya'qub and the dark stormy night.

200

Is it possible to put a tissue in water without getting it wet? You bet! To prove it, you’re going to need a bowl of water, a small glass and a tissue. First, ball up the tissue and push it into the glass. Next, turn the glass upside down and place it under the water in the bowl. Finally, you should notice that no water will enter the glass and the tissue stays dry! Water can’t enter the glass because the glass is full of air. Air cannot escape the glass because it is lighter than water. And guess what? The tissue stays dry!

Explains how to put a tissue in water without getting it wet.

300

Malcolm X was a prominent Muslim leader from the United States. He was also a human rights advocate and activist. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1925. He went to Mecca for Hajj in 1965. He returned to the United States and later died in 1965.

Informs the reader about Malcolm X

400

Math is the most important subject to excel in. You will need math for many things in your life. Math can help you pay bills and buy groceries. Math can also help you figure out how much gas it will take to get from one place to another. Last, math can help you figure out if that giant flat screen TV will really fit in your living room. Math is important. I have provided you with three reasons to study math and succeed in it. I hope these reasons will convince you to do your best.

Explains to the reader why math is so important

Work as a group

100

Dear Dr. Sulaiman: I have heard that you are planning a trip to Africa to look for dinosaur bones and fossils. I am writing this letter to ask you to take me with you. I am a strong person and can handle the heat in the desert. Currently, I am studying dinosaurs at the University of Saskatchewan and would like to go with you to learn even more. I know how to find and take care of fossils, and I am willing to pay for my plane ticket. I hope this convinces you to allow me to join your trip. Sincerely, Muhammed Yasin

The author is trying to persuade Dr. Sulaiman to take him on a trip to Africa

200

Did you know that the largest ice cream sundae ever made weighed 54,914 pounds? It was made by Palm Dairies in Alberta, Canada on July 24, 1988. It had 44,689 pounds of ice cream, 9,688 pounds of syrup, and 537 pounds of topping! Yummy!

Informs the reader about the largest ice cream sundae

300

Boy, after four days of riding on this trailer, I am ready to be in a nice parking space in the shade. I don’t know what happened to my driver. She left one day and never came back. I sat alone in the driveway outside our house for hours. It got dark and rained, and she never came to check on me. Then, suddenly, a man shows up with a big trailer and my key. He drives me up onto the top level of this thing with all these other cars, and we’ve been on the road ever since. Yesterday, when that other truck hit us, I thought we were all goners. Thankfully we weren’t hurt. Hey, why are we stopping? That looks like...could it be? My owner! She’s here! She didn’t leave me after all! I knew I was her favorite car.

Entertains the reader with a story about an animal that is riding around in the back of a trailer.

400

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the best book there is! This book has suspense, humor, action, and everything you could want! You should read this book to find out about the mysterious characters, or to discover what really happened to Neville’s parents. Looking for adventure? Look no further, as there is plenty of that in the latest Potter book. If you haven’t read it yet, what are you waiting for? Get out there and get your copy today!

Persuades the reader to read Harry Potter

Use strategies

100

Knock Knock! Who's there? Cargo. Cargo who? Cargo beep beep!

Entertains the reader

200

Ow! Ow! Being a keyboard is no fun. All day long someone is banging the “k” or the “e” or some other key on me. It’s very painful. The only thing I like about my job is that I produce some pretty cool things. Without me, it would be harder for people to write novels or send e-mails to their friends. Even if it is painful, I guess in the end, my job is worth it.

Entertains the reader about the life of a keyboard

300

Did you know that for thousands of years nobody wrote anything down? Instead, people passed information and stories along by talking to one another. The first type of writing consisted only of pictures and shapes. In fact, the Ancient Egyptians used picture writing. Each little picture stood for a word or a sound.

Informs the reader about the first type of writing consisted of pictures and shapes

400

Jamaal managed not to shout out, but it was a close thing. The little creature on the bed had large, bat-like ears and bulging green eyes the size of tennis balls. Jamaal knew instantly that this was what had been watching him out of the garden hedge that morning.

Enterains the reader about a fictional creature from a story.

Make the BEST decision

100

Did you know it doesn’t have to rain for there to be a rainbow? Rainbows are made when beams of sunlight are bent just a little by droplets of water. So, light can be bent by droplets from fog or ocean spray as well as rain!

Explains to the reader why there does not have to be rain to create a rainbow

200

WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!! WAKE UP, IT’S MORNING! IT’S ME, YOUR ALARM CLOCK! HELLO? You’re going to be late for school if you don’t get up! Come on, it’s a sunny day, it’s warm, it’s going to be a great day! No, don’t, no, not the snooze button!

Entertains the reader about the silly life of an alarm clock

300

Mama, I really think I should be able to try out for the swim team this year. Their meets and practices are in the mornings, so I would still be able to do my homework and chores after school. It would be good exercise for me, and I would also get to meet new people. Mama, I know I am a good swimmer, and I would like to show others that as well. If you give me the chance to try, I promise I’ll keep my grades up. Love, Khadijah.

A child tries to persuade their mother on why they should join the swim team

400

A tin can telephone really can work! All you need are two thin tin cans, a hammer, a nail, two matchsticks and some string. Ask an adult to use the hammer and nail to make a hole in the bottom of each can. Next, draw the string through the holes in the cans and tie each end to a matchstick. Then, ask someone else to hold one can while you hold the other. You should draw the string really tightly between you. Finally, speak quietly into the can to send messages to your friend. If the string is held tight enough, the vibrations will carry well, and you won’t have to shout!

Informs the reader about how a tin can will work as a telephone if you build it right.