Author’s Purpose of Informational Text Worksheet
This author’s purpose of informational text worksheet asks 3rd graders to decide which question each short nonfiction text was written to answer. An answer key is included, so it is easy no-prep practice for close reading.
$6.97
Or free with a membership — members pay $3.33/mo for all 10,000+ resources. See plans
Want this one free?
Tell us where to send it and it’s yours — no card, no catch.
One free resource per teacher. We’ll also send free teaching ideas each week — unsubscribe anytime.
Teaching is easier with a membership
Unlimited printables, games & videos for PreK–6th — for your classroom or homeschool. Cancel anytime.
Start your 3-day free trial$0 today · cancel anytime · Instant access to 10,000+ resources
About this resource
Description
Every nonfiction book, article, and how-to page was written for a reason, and learning to name that reason is the heart of this author’s purpose of informational text worksheet. Third graders who can say what an author set out to answer, explain, or describe read nonfiction with a plan instead of drifting through it. That skill shows up everywhere — in science articles, in social studies chapters, and in the passages on every state reading test.
This informational text purpose worksheet gives students four short nonfiction texts about bees, beavers, sunflowers, and rain. Each text is followed by three questions, and only one of them is the question that text actually answers. Students read closely, rule out the two questions the text never touches, and fill in the bubble beside the right one. Because all three choices stay on topic, the page cannot be skimmed — it has to be read.
What’s Included
- 1 print-ready PDF worksheet
- Answer key
- 4 short informational texts with 12 multiple-choice questions
There are three reasons this author’s purpose of informational text worksheet builds real comprehension. First, the wrong choices are always about the same topic, so a student has to weigh evidence instead of matching a keyword. Second, the texts are short enough to reread, which is exactly the habit close reading asks for. Third, the answer key turns the page into instant feedback, so a child can check their thinking right away and a teacher can grade a whole class in a minute.
Try reading one text aloud and asking students to invent a fourth question the author did not answer, then talk about why it does not fit. Hunt for purpose in the wild by opening a cereal box, a park sign, or a library book and asking what the writer wanted readers to know. Pair the page with a writing prompt: give students a question and ask them to write the short nonfiction paragraph that answers it. Morning work, small-group stations, homework, and reading intervention folders all work well.
Related Resources
What teachers say
Reviews
You must be logged in to post a review.
This identifying author's purpose worksheet has 3rd graders read a giraffe passage and decide whether the author wants to inform, persuade, or entertain. Answer key included for easy reading practice.
This author's point and supporting evidence worksheet gives 3rd grade students a short persuasive article, four questions, and a written response, with an answer key, so they learn to prove an idea from the text.
The Who Is Talking Now Worksheet gives 3rd Grade readers three short stories and asks who is telling each one. An answer key is included, so students build point of view skills with quick feedback.
This Purpose Worksheet gives 3rd graders six short passages to sort into persuade, inform, or entertain, plus two clue-word items. An answer key is included, so it works as a quick no-prep reading check.
Using Why Was it Written Author's Purpose Activity, students identify if the author wrote a text in order to answer, explain, or describe.
Using Authors Purpose Picture Sorting Activity, students identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
Using this Evidence Olympics Authors Purpose Activity, students try to earn a gold medal during Evidence Olympics by reading a passage and finding evidence to support an author's point.
Using this Reasons and Evidence Activity, students identify the reasons and evidence a speaker provides to support particular points.
Practice finding reasons with this support the point worksheet for 3rd grade. Students read a short recycling article, answer questions about the author's point, and use evidence. An answer key is included.
Using thisAuthor's Purpose Song, students will remember the three reasons why author's write using this catchy animated song.
Using this Guess Who Point of View Activity, students identify their partner's "secret narrator" as the partner reads a text card.
Using Comparing Points of View Activity, students distinguish their own point of view from that of the author of a text.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet