Author’s Purpose


ELAR-Grade-8 Author's Craft Author’s Purpose
Students review author’s purposes—to persuade, to inform, and to entertain. Then, they read an article and identify the author’s purpose for writing the text and the text features that were added to improve comprehension. Next, they examine different text structures that can be used in informational writing. Finally, they analyze a persuasive text.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

1:1 Devices
Teacher Pack

The Pack contains associated resources for the learning experience, typically in the form of articles and videos. There is a teacher Pack (with only teacher information) and a student Pack (which contains only student information). As a teacher, you can toggle between both to see everything.

Here are the teacher pack items for Author’s Purpose:

Preview - Scene 1
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Overview

In this experience, students review author’s purposes—to persuade, to inform, and to entertain. Then, they read an article and identify the author’s purpose for writing the text and the text features that were added to improve comprehension.  Next, they examine different text structures that can be used in informational writing. Finally, they analyze a persuasive text.

Objectives

  • Explain the author's purpose and message.
  • Analyze how the author uses text structure to achieve purpose.

Duration

Two class periods. You may choose to have the students read the articles at home before beginning the experience.

Vocabulary Words Used in This Experience

“Presidential Vehicles”

  • imperative: must not be ignored
  • consumed: used up, ate up
  • periodically: every now and then
  • terrain: the surface of the land
  • V.I.P.: very important person
  • amphibious: moving on land and in water
  • unsuspecting: not expecting something that is about to happen
  • curator: someone who takes care of objects in a museum

“Ain’t I A Woman?”

  • kilter: proper, working condition
  • ‘twixt: between
  • fix: a difficult position
  • borne: given birth to
  • obliged: to be grateful to someone


Authors have various reasons why they write things. As a reader, you have to look for clues in the text to figure out what that purpose was. In this experience, you will explain author’s purpose and identify how the author used various text structures to help the reader better comprehend a text.

Objectives

  • Explain the author's purpose and message.
  • Analyze how the author uses text structure to achieve purpose.


Why am I writing? For whom?;

Think about the last thing you wrote. What was it? Why did you write it?

Post your answer

Answers will vary, but may include:

  • Text message to my friend to share news
  • Class notes
  • Request for customer support
  • Social media post
Discuss the variety of reasons students write throughout the day. 


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