Author's Purpose

: "Hey Pearl, that dolphin is in danger, we should go help." : "Otis, It's Sana! and she's all tangled in plastic!" : "She said she was swimming when she suddenly got tangled... who would put something like that in our home?" : "We NEED to investigate this." While researching about plastic in the ocean, let's help Otis and Pearl learn about author's purpose. Authors write for many purposes or, reasons. One way is to inform, or help readers learn something. When they write about their purpose they usually give reasons that support it. But, how can we figure out reasons that support an author’s purpose? First we need to IDENTIFY, or find their purpose for writing. You can find the author’s purpose for writing by reading the title and text. Then, look for sentences that support the idea or purpose while reading. You can do this by finding words like should and need (...) OR good and bad. To give the author's opinion, say something like 'the author said blank because blank'. Now that we've learned about author's purpose, let's see what Pearl has found. : "Plastic bags are used everyday, but where do they go after? Sometimes they end up the ocean and animals get tangled up in them, which is dangerous. Animals need a clean ocean to live in." In order to find the author's purpose... first, think about what the text is about, here it is plastic bags in the ocean. Next, find the author's idea, here it is that plastic bags are bad for the ocean. Then, find a reason to support the idea by looking for words like should and need or good and bad. Can you find a reason that plastic bags are bad for the ocean? They are dangerous to the animals that NEED a clean ocean to live in. Finally, say the authors purpose and reason for writing. We can say 'the author said plastic is bad for the ocean because it's dangerous for animals that NEED a clean ocean to live in.' Now, let's help Otis! : "There should not be plastic in the ocean. One way to keep it out is to recycle! We need to recycle so that sea turtles don't mistake the plastic for food." What is this author's purpose, or idea? Start by finding the author's idea, here it is that recycling is a good way to keep plastic out of the ocean. Can you find a reason to support the author's idea? Look for clue words like should or need! We NEED to recycle so that sea turtles don't eat the plastic in the ocean. Finally, say the authors purpose, or reason for writing. The author said recycling is good because it keeps sea turtles from eating plastic. While Pearl and Otis make a plan to help, let's remember. Today we learned about author's purpose, which is the reason that they write something. When trying to find an author's purpose... first, think about what the text is about. Next, find the author's idea. Then, find a reason to support the idea by looking for words like should and need OR good and bad. Finally, say the authors purpose, or reason for writing. Now, let's see what our friends are up to : "Are you ready, Otis?" : "You bet! Look, Sana is already here to pick us up!"