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Grade 5 Author's Purpose Worksheet with Answers

Grade 5 (US) · Year 6 (UK) · Class 5 (India) · English

Unit 5: Reading Informational TextAuthor's Purpose & EvidenceCCSS RI.5.8

Deciding whether a text is written to inform, persuade or entertain, and spotting bias. This free upper elementary worksheet has 12 questions and a full answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF — every answer is checked by code, not guessed.

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Author's Purpose

Grade 5 · English

Score___ / 12

Name

Class

Date

Learning goal: Author's Purpose & Evidence · CCSS RI.5.8

Directions: Read each question carefully and write your answer on the line.

Example

Author's purpose: an ad saying 'Buy Crunchy Cereal now!'

Answer: to persuade

RememberAuthor's purpose: PIE

PIEPersuademake you agree or actInformteach factsEntertaintell a story, make you smile
  1. 1

    Author's purpose: a news report about a storm

  2. 2

    Author's purpose: a funny story about a talking cat

  3. 3

    Author's purpose: an editorial arguing that school should start later

  4. 4

    Author's purpose: a speech asking people to vote for a new library

  5. 5

    Author's purpose: step-by-step directions for building a birdhouse

  6. 6

    Author's purpose: a letter asking the principal for a longer recess

  7. 7

    Author's purpose: a mystery novel

  8. 8

    Author's purpose: an article about how volcanoes form

  9. 9

    An article about a new phone is written by the company that makes it. Why should a reader be careful?

  10. 10

    Why might an author include a personal story in an informational article?

  11. 11

    Author's purpose: a poem about a silly dragon

  12. 12

    Read: 'Studies show teens need 9 hours of sleep, so schools must start later.' What is the purpose, and what evidence is used?

★ Challenge corner for fast finishers

Unscramble the letters: NUS (clue: it shines in the day)

How did I do?

Teacher's comments

Free printable worksheets with answer keys · aethelsystems.com/worksheets/english/5/author_purpose

Answer key (click to show)
  1. 1.to inform
  2. 2.to entertain
  3. 3.to persuade
  4. 4.to persuade
  5. 5.to inform (to explain how)
  6. 6.to persuade
  7. 7.to entertain
  8. 8.to inform
  9. 9.the author may be biased, wanting to sell the phone
  10. 10.to make the information relatable and engaging
  11. 11.to entertain
  12. 12.to persuade; studies about teen sleep
  13. ★sun (challenge corner)

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How to use this worksheet

  • Use it as a 10–15 minute warm-up or homework task rather than a long drill.
  • Ask students to show their working so you can see where a mistake started, not just that it happened.
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