Author's Purpose for Reading

• Look at the first sentence. 

• Look for any repeated words or names.  

• Read the selection a second time. ​

​The title should hint at what the selection is about. 

​entertain – The author tells a personal or fictional story that is based on real or imaginary events.  

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persuade – The author lets the readers know how he/she thinks about the subject or tries to talk the reader into thinking like the author thinks. 

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inform – The author gives information about a subject.  

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explain – The author helps the readers understand a subject. 

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teach – The author gives directions on how to do something. 

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describe – The author gives a picture with words of a person, place, event, or item. 

​There are many reasons you might have for reading the selection. 

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ex: gain information, learn something, understand a difficult subject, be entertained, etc.