Comparing Tone and Style

This worksheet helps students in Grades 5 and 6 strengthen reading comprehension, analytical thinking, and text comparison skills by examining two contrasting passages-one informational and one narrative. Learners analyze how purpose influences tone, structure, and style as they compare a science-based article with a science-themed story, using close reading strategies to identify meaningful differences.

Learning Goals

• Comparing Text Structures & Styles (Grades 5-6)
  Students examine how informational and narrative texts are organized differently to serve distinct purposes.
• Analyzing Tone & Purpose
  Learners identify how tone shifts based on whether the author aims to inform or tell a story.
• Interpreting Genre Differences
  Students recognize key features that distinguish informational writing from narrative storytelling.
• Close Reading & Comparison Skills
  The activity reinforces careful analysis of language, structure, and author choices across texts.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with upper elementary ELA standards and genre study.
• Side-by-Side Text Analysis
  Encourages thoughtful comparison using guiding questions and evidence from both passages.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Ideal for reading instruction, literacy centers, assessment, homework, or small-group discussion.
• Builds Analytical Awareness
  Helps students understand how authors adjust writing techniques to achieve different goals.

This printable worksheet helps students become more thoughtful readers by comparing tone, structure, and style across genres. By analyzing how purpose shapes writing choices, learners strengthen critical reading, comparison skills, and confidence in interpreting diverse 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.