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Year 3 English Reading

Author's Purpose

Every text is written for a reason. Learning to identify why an author wrote something makes you a stronger reader.

To Inform

The author wants to teach the reader something. Examples: encyclopaedias, news articles, textbooks, instruction manuals, information reports. These texts contain facts and explanations.

To Persuade

The author wants to change the reader's opinion or convince them to do something. Examples: advertisements, debates, letters to the editor, speeches. These texts use opinion words and reasons.

To Entertain

The author wants the reader to enjoy the text. Examples: novels, short stories, poems, plays, comics. These texts use characters, settings, and events to capture the reader's imagination.

Clue words to look for

  • Inform: facts, data, definitions, steps
  • Persuade: should, must, best, worst, believe
  • Entertain: once upon a time, characters, plot

Key Vocabulary

author's purpose — the reason an author writes a particular text
inform — to give facts or information to teach or explain
persuade — to try to make someone believe or do something
entertain — to hold someone's interest and give enjoyment

Read and Identify

Text A

"Kangaroos are marsupials found in Australia. A female kangaroo carries her joey in a pouch. Kangaroos can jump up to 9 metres in a single leap and travel at 70 km/h."

Purpose: To INFORM — contains facts and data about kangaroos.

Text B

"You should recycle more! Every piece of plastic you throw away ends up in our oceans. We must protect sea creatures — it's the right thing to do."

Purpose: To PERSUADE — uses "should," "must," and emotional language to convince the reader.

Text C

"Once upon a time, a young girl discovered a tiny door at the bottom of her garden. She squeezed through it and found herself in a world of glowing mushrooms and talking rabbits..."

Purpose: To ENTERTAIN — uses story language, characters, and an imaginative setting.

Knowledge Check

Question 1

A book about how to bake a cake, with a list of ingredients and step-by-step instructions, has what main purpose?

Question 2

Read this text:

"Our school canteen should sell healthier food. Junk food makes students tired and unable to concentrate. Healthy lunches improve learning. Please sign our petition today!"

What is the author's main purpose?

Question 3

Which text type would most likely have the purpose of entertaining?

Question 4

Can a text have more than one purpose at the same time?

Lesson Summary