Author's Purpose
What are the 3 reasons an author writes?
Hint: Think PIE
Persuade, Inform, Entertain
What does it mean to summarize?
Telling the main points or facts of a story.
What is a prediction?
Using information from the text to tell what will happen next.
Reaching a conclusion based on evidence from the text.
What does Cause-Effect structure show?
The connection between events that happen (effects) with the reason they happen (causes).
People who wanted to travel from the east to settle in the west in the mid 1800s traveled on the Oregon Trail in wagon trains. The trail started in Iowa and Missouri and stretched about 2,000 miles (3,220 km) to Oregon. Over 50,000 settlers made this long and dangerous journey. Not everyone who started the journey made it to Oregon. Many died from illness, accidents, and bad weather.
What is the author's purpose in writing this?
Persuade, Inform, or Entertain
Inform
In 1803, the United States bought the Louisiana Territory from France. The Louisiana Territory stretched from the Mississippi River all the way to the Rocky Mountains. This purchase more than doubled the size of the United States. Over the next 90 years, 13 new states would be carved from this land.
Summarize the text.
In 1803 the US doubled its size by purchasing the Louisiana Territory.
Jenna was lying outside in the sun. She knew she should put some sun block on, but the sun felt so good on her back that she did not want to move. She told herself that she would get the sun block in five minutes. Within threes minutes, Jenna had fallen asleep.
What can you predict will happen next?
Jenna will get a sunburn.
Mom made sandwiches and put them into the basket, along with some fruit and chips. Dad grabbed the big checkered blanket, and Robby got the Frisbee. Then the whole family piled into the car and headed out.
Where was the family going?
The family was going on a picnic.
Mrs. Lee noticed that Aria was squinting at the whiteboard again. After school, she called Aria's mother and told her that she thought Aria might need glasses. Aria's mom took her to the eye doctor. With her new glasses, Aria could see the board perfectly.
What caused Mrs. Lee to call Aria's mother?
What was the effect of Mrs. Lee's call?
Cause: She noticed that Aria was squinting at the whiteboard and thought she might need glasses.
Effect: Her mom took Aria to the eye doctor.
"As it is now time for my son, the prince, to marry, we shall hold a great contest to find the strongest and bravest princess in all the kingdom," announced the king. Prince Harold sighed. He didn't care who won the contest. He didn't want to get married. He wanted to train unicorns.
What is the author's purpose?
Persuade, Inform, Entertain
Entertain
Giant river otters live in South America. Families of giant river otters live in dens that they dig into the banks of rivers and lakes. Mother river otters give birth to their babies in their dens. Baby river otters are called cubs. Cubs are born blind and helpless. They do not leave the den until they are about two months old.
Summarize the text.
Giant river otter cubs are born in dens in South America.
Ben filled the tub with warm water. He got the special shampoo and put it on the side of the tub. Then, he got a towel. Ben left the bathroom and went to the backyard. "Here Rascal," he called. "I have a surprise for you!"
What can you predict will happen next?
Rascal (the dog) is going to get a bath.
Edward was running as fast as he could. He could hear Jacob's footsteps close behind him. He tried to run faster, but it was no use. Within seconds, Jacob was by his side and then ahead of him. A moment later, both boys collapsed under the old oak tree in front of the school.
What were Edward and Jacob doing?
Edward and Jacob were having a race.
Simon's family was eating dinner. There was a big storm outside. Suddenly, they heard a loud crash! Simon's father went outside to see what had happened. A large tree had fallen over in their yard. Luckily, it had not hit the house. The next day, Simon's father used a chainsaw to cut the tree into pieces. Then, he used an axe to split the pieces into firewood. Simon helped by stacking the split wood by the shed.
What caused the tree to fall?
What was the effect of the tree falling?
Cause: A big storm.
Effect: Simon's dad turned the tree into firewood.
Marsupials are a type of mammal. Female marsupials have a pocket that they use for carrying and protecting their babies. Most marsupials, such as kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and koalas live in Australia. The only marsupial native to North America is the opossum.
What is the author's purpose?
Persuade, Inform, Entertain
Inform
The tallest tree in the world is a giant redwood located in Humboldt Redwoods State Park in Northern California. This tree is 380 feet (116 m) tall. That's more than twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty! only a few people know exactly where this tree is. The people who discovered it have kept it a secret so that people will not damage it.
Summarize the text.
At 380 feet, the world's tallest tree is a redwood in California.
Mom made a sour face as she handed the baby to Dad and said, "Your turn. I did it last time." Dad took the baby and headed off to the nursery.
What can you predict will happen next?
Dad will change the baby's diaper.
Jake and Tim sat quietly next to each other, each thinking his own thoughts. Suddenly, the pole Jake was holding loosely in his hands jerked so hard he nearly dropped it. "You got one!" exclaimed Tim excitedly. "Reel him in slowly."
What did Jake have?
Jake had a fish on his fishing pole line.
Amir was working on his homework when he decided to take a break to walk the dog. While he was gone, his little sister, Kinza, decided to play video games on the computer. Amir's homework was on the screen, but Kinza didn't know it was important, so she deleted it. When Amir got home, he could not find the document he had been working on. Amir had to start over.
What caused Amir's homework to be deleted?
What was the effect of Amir's homework being deleted?
Cause: He left his homework on the screen and his little sister didn't know it was important.
Effect: He had to start all over.
I know you are super busy, but can you please help me with the math homework today? You are so good at math, and I am really having trouble. Plus, if you help me today, I will help you with your book report next week. Also, my mom made these totally yummy cookies today and we can have some while we are working.
What is the author's purpose?
Persuade, Inform, Entertain
Persuade
After traveling for more than eight months through space, Curiosity, the NASA land rover, landed on the planet Mars on August 5, 2012. Curiosity has six wheels and 17 cameras, as well as other research equipment. Its mission is to explore the planet and send the information it gathers back to earth.
Summarize the text.
The land rover, Curiosity, landed on Mars and will explore the planet.
It was 9:05. The school bell had already rung, and Mrs. Jamison had just finished taking attendance. All of the students in the class stood up and put their right hands on their chest.
What can you predict will happen next?
The class will say the Pledge of Allegiance.
Callie picked herself off the pavement and checked herself over for injuries. No blood, and nothing seemed to be broken. Good thing she was wearing her pads and helmet. She walked over to the skateboard that was laying upside down and a few feet away, popped it right side-up with her foot, and rode away.
Why was Callie on the pavement?
Callie had fallen off her skateboard.
Lucia's mother usually kept the scissors in a drawer with a child safety lock. One day after using the scissors, Lucia's mother put the scissors back into the drawer, but didn't push it close hard enough to lock it. A few days later, Lucia discovered that the drawer was not locked. She found the scissors and decided to give herself a haircut. By the time she was done, most of her hair was on the floor.
What caused Lucia to find the scissors?
What was the effect of Lucia finding the scissors?
Cause: Her mother didn't push the drawer closed hard enough to lock it.
Effect: She gave herself a haircut.