Let’s go through each passage one by one and figure out the author’s purpose.
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Passage 1:
> A sea horse is an unusual fish with a horse like head. There are more than 20 species, or types, of sea horse. They live in warm and mild seas. Sea horses are small fish.
This passage gives facts about sea horses — what they look like, how many kinds there are, where they live, and their size. It doesn’t try to convince you of anything or tell a fun story. It just tells you information.
→ So the purpose is
to inform.
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Passage 2:
> Regular physical activity can help you keep your thinking and judge mental skills sharp. Research shows that doing aerobic exercises can give you great mental benefits. Some scientific evidence also has shown even if you were to do lower levels of exercise it still will be beneficial to you.
This passage talks about research and scientific evidence to show that exercise is good for your brain. It’s trying to get you to believe something (that exercise helps your mind) and maybe even start exercising. That’s persuasion.
→ So the purpose is
to persuade.
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Passage 3:
> We all knew that was it when the referee blew his whistle, so we all trudged off the field. But, out of nowhere, he blew his whistle again and yelled, “Why are you leaving the field?! It’s a penalty!” Our jaws dropped in surprise and that feeling of hope was resurfacing within us. We all raced back onto the pitch, and together the team shrieked, “Let Charlie takes it!”
This reads like a story — it has characters, action, emotion (“jaws dropped,” “feeling of hope”), and dialogue. It’s meant to make you feel excited or curious about what happens next. That’s entertainment.
→ So the purpose is
to entertain.
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Final Answer:
1. To inform
2. To persuade
3. To entertain
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of authors purpose worksheet printable.
