Comparing Texts — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
Two authors who write about the same topic always have the same purpose.
Corrected: Two authors who write about the same topic may have different purposes for writing.
The corrected sentence is: "Two authors who write about the same topic may have different purposes for writing.". The original sentence "Two authors who write about the same topic always have the same purpose." contained an error that needed to be fixed.
2. Fix the sentence:
An author's point of view is the same thing as the topic of the text.
Corrected: An author's point of view is the author's attitude or opinion about the topic of the text.
The corrected sentence is: "An author's point of view is the author's attitude or opinion about the topic of the text.". The original sentence "An author's point of view is the same thing as the topic of the text." contained an error that needed to be fixed.
3. Fix the sentence:
If one author writes to inform and another writes to persuade, they have the same purpose.
Corrected: If one author writes to inform and another writes to persuade, they have different purposes.
The corrected sentence is: "If one author writes to inform and another writes to persuade, they have different purposes.". The original sentence "If one author writes to inform and another writes to persuade, they have the same purpose." contained an error that needed to be fixed.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The reason an author writes a text is called the author's purpose.
Author's purpose is the reason behind writing — to inform, persuade, or entertain.
2. An author's point of view is the way the author thinks or feels about a topic.
An author's point of view reflects their perspective, opinion, or attitude toward the topic.
3. One author may write to inform while another writes to persuade readers to take action.
Different authors can have different purposes for writing about the same topic.
4. Comparing purposes helps readers understand why each text was written.
Understanding author's purpose helps readers determine why each text was created.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Text A is a news article about recycling facts. Text B is a letter urging people to recycle more. How are the authors' purposes different?
Sample answer: Text A's purpose is to inform readers about recycling by presenting facts. Text B's purpose is to persuade readers to recycle more by urging them to take action.
News articles typically inform; personal letters urging action are persuasive.
2. How can identifying an author's point of view help you compare two texts?
Sample answer: Identifying point of view helps you see how each author feels about the topic. If one author supports an idea and another questions it, you can compare their different perspectives and decide which evidence is stronger.
Point of view analysis reveals bias, perspective, and motivation, allowing readers to compare texts critically.