What Is the Author Doing?

This worksheet helps students in Grades 5 and 6 develop higher-level reading comprehension and analytical thinking by examining passages rich in emotional reflection, imagery, and personal memory. Learners move beyond basic purpose labels to determine what the author wants the reader to understand or feel, using tone, descriptive language, and atmosphere as key evidence.

Learning Goals

• Analyzing Author’s Intent & Message (Grades 5-6)
  Students identify the deeper ideas, reflections, or emotions an author is communicating.
• Interpreting Tone & Imagery
  Learners examine how descriptive details and figurative language shape meaning and mood.
• Evaluating Reader Impact
  Students consider how a text is meant to influence the reader’s thoughts or feelings.
• Evidence-Based Interpretation
  The activity reinforces supporting interpretations with specific textual details.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with upper elementary ELA comprehension and analysis standards.
• Focus on Nuanced Purpose
  Encourages students to think beyond simple categories and analyze emotional resonance and insight.
• Written Response Practice
  Promotes thoughtful, well-developed answers supported by evidence.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Suitable for close reading lessons, discussion preparation, assessment, or enrichment.

This printable worksheet helps students become more reflective and perceptive readers by analyzing how authors communicate meaning and emotion. By interpreting tone, imagery, and intent and explaining reader impact with evidence, learners strengthen critical reading, analytical writing, and confidence in understanding complex texts. It’s a meaningful, no-prep resource that works well in both classroom instruction and homeschool learning.

This worksheet is part of our Author’s Purpose Worksheets collection.