Students fix three writing-choice errors — entertainment described with formal tone, persuasion mislabeled by opinion words, and informational features attributed to entertainment. Part B has four fill-in-the-blank questions about persuasive language, tone, and informational features. Part C has two short-answer questions comparing an advertisement to a science textbook and identifying purpose from a solar system passage.
Connecting purpose to specific writing choices trains students to use technique clues — not just content — when identifying why a text was written.
Style:
Author's Purpose
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
An author writing to entertain would use a formal, factual tone.
Rewrite: An author writing to entertain would use a fun, engaging tone with vivid descriptions.
2. Fix the sentence:
Strong opinion words like "must" and "best" signal that the author wants to inform.
Rewrite: Strong opinion words like "must" and "best" signal that the author wants to persuade.
3. Fix the sentence:
Headings, diagrams, and glossaries are features used when the purpose is to entertain.
Rewrite: Headings, diagrams, and glossaries are features used when the purpose is to inform.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. When an author wants to persuade, they often use strong opinion words to convince the reader.
2. An author writing to entertain might include dialogue, vivid descriptions, and humor.
3. Text features like charts, facts, and definitions show the author's purpose is to inform.
4. "She crept down the dark hallway, heart pounding..." The vivid description creates suspense to entertain the reader.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. How would the word choice differ between an advertisement for a new toy and a science textbook about magnets? Explain which purpose each one has.
An advertisement uses exciting, persuasive words like "amazing" and "you need this" because its purpose is to persuade people to buy the toy. A science textbook uses precise, factual language like "magnetic force" because its purpose is to inform readers.
2. Read: "The solar system contains eight planets..." What is the author's purpose, and what clue in the writing tells you?
The author's purpose is to inform. The sentence states a specific fact using clear, objective language without opinions or emotional words — a clue that the author wants to teach the reader.
Author's Purpose
★ Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1) Fix the sentence:
An author writing to entertain would use a formal, factual tone.
Rewrite: An author writing to entertain would use a fun, engaging tone with vivid descriptions.
2) Fix the sentence:
Strong opinion words like "must" and "best" signal that the author wants to inform.
Rewrite: Strong opinion words like "must" and "best" signal that the author wants to persuade.
3) Fix the sentence:
Headings, diagrams, and glossaries are features used when the purpose is to entertain.
Rewrite: Headings, diagrams, and glossaries are features used when the purpose is to inform.
★ Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1) When an author wants to persuade, they often use strong opinion words to convince the reader.
2) An author writing to entertain might include dialogue, vivid descriptions, and humor.
3) Text features like charts, facts, and definitions show the author's purpose is to inform.
4) "She crept down the dark hallway, heart pounding..." The vivid description creates suspense to entertain the reader.
★ Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1) How would the word choice differ between an advertisement for a new toy and a science textbook about magnets? Explain which purpose each one has.
An advertisement uses exciting, persuasive words like "amazing" and "you need this" because its purpose is to persuade people to buy the toy. A science textbook uses precise, factual language like "magnetic force" because its purpose is to inform readers.
2) Read: "The solar system contains eight planets..." What is the author's purpose, and what clue in the writing tells you?
The author's purpose is to inform. The sentence states a specific fact using clear, objective language without opinions or emotional words — a clue that the author wants to teach the reader.
Ready to Practice?
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9 Questions
15-20 minutes
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