MAP 3rd Grade Reading

An engaging course designed to help third graders master reading skills and succeed on the MAP Reading assessment.

Finding the Main IdeaMaking InferencesUnderstanding Vocabulary in Context
Comparing and Contrasting TextsIdentifying Author’s PurposeUnderstanding Text Features
Reading for InformationReading for EnjoymentUsing Reading Skills Every Day
Looking Back at the PassageEliminating Wrong AnswersPacing Yourself During the Test
Finding the Main Ide...Making InferencesUnderstanding Vocabu...Comparing and Contra...Identifying Author’s...Understanding Text F...Reading for Informat...Reading for Enjoymen...Using Reading Skills...Looking Back at the ...Eliminating Wrong An...Pacing Yourself Duri...
Advanced Topics

Identifying Author’s Purpose

Why Does the Author Write?

Authors write for different reasons! The main reasons are to Persuade, Inform, or Entertain—also known as PIE.

  • Persuade: They want you to do or believe something.
  • Inform: They want to teach you facts.
  • Entertain: They want you to enjoy the story.

How to Tell the Author’s Purpose

  • Look at the type of writing.
  • Think about how you feel after reading.
  • Notice if there are opinions, facts, or fun stories.

On the MAP Reading Test

You might be asked why an author wrote a certain passage. Use clues from the text to decide!

Real-World Connection

Knowing the author’s purpose helps you understand why an advertisement is trying to get you to buy something or why a news story is giving you facts.

Examples

  • A story about a silly cat is written to entertain.

  • A science article about planets is written to inform.

  • A poster encouraging you to recycle is written to persuade.

In a Nutshell

Authors write to persuade, inform, or entertain—think PIE!

Key Terms

Persuade
To try to get someone to do or believe something.
Inform
To give information or facts.
Entertain
To amuse or tell a story for fun.
Next
Understanding Text Features