Story Purpose Slides 2nd Grade Reading Detectives
Author's Purpose
Compare & Contrast Mission
Why Did the Author
Write This Story?
Investigating clues in The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin and Lin-Manuel Miranda by Frank Berrios!
?
Detective Goal: Discover if each author wrote to entertain us or inform us!
Slide 1 of 5
Clue Kit
Two Big Reasons Authors Write
Slide 2 of 5
🎭 To Entertain
To Tell a Story!
The author wants us to laugh, feel feelings, enjoy adventures, or follow characters.
Clues to spot:
Fun characters & dialogue
Humorous or touching moments
Story plot with feelings
💡 To Inform
To Teach Facts!
The author shares real information about a real person, place, or event in history.
Clues to spot:
True facts, dates & real places
Life history (biography)
What real people accomplished
Turn & Talk: Can a book teach us something AND entertain us at the same time? Let's check!
Case #1
The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin
Slide 3 of 5
Excerpt for 2nd Grade Fiction / Memoir
"Grace sat at the kitchen table with her colored pencils. In the Year of the Dog, her family told her she must find her special talent. Grace loved inventing funny stories and drawing pictures of her dog. She smiled and thought, 'Maybe my talent is making people happy with my books!'"
🐾 Notice: Grace tells us her thoughts and feelings as she tries to find her talent!
Detective Clue Questions:
1. How does Grace feel while drawing?
2. What does she want her books to do for readers?
Author's Purpose:
Grace Lin wrote this story to entertain readers with a warm, funny story and inspire them to find their own creative talents!
Key Word: Talent = a special skill or ability that you do well!
Case #2
Lin-Manuel Miranda by Frank Berrios
Slide 4 of 5
Excerpt for 2nd Grade Biography / Nonfiction
"Lin-Manuel Miranda grew up in New York City. He listened to rap, hip-hop, and Broadway musicals. Lin worked hard for many years writing songs and stage plays. When he created the hit musical Hamilton, he made history and won big awards. He proved that sharing your voice can inspire the world."
🎵 Notice: Frank Berrios shares real facts about Lin's life and achievements!
Detective Clue Questions:
1. What real music did Lin listen to?
2. What true facts did the author share?
Author's Purpose:
Frank Berrios wrote this book to inform readers about a real person's hard work, music, and success!
Key Word: Biography = a true story written about a real person's life!
Conclusion
Compare & Contrast: Why They Wrote
Slide 5 of 5
The Year of the Dog
Grace Lin
✦ Main Purpose: Entertain readers with a story about growing up.
✦ Focuses on feelings, family traditions, and finding your talent.
How Both Are Alike
Shared Message
★ Both books are about real artists who love creating things.
★ Both authors want to inspire kids to work hard and share their own voices!
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Frank Berrios
✦ Main Purpose: Inform readers with real facts about a real person's life.
✦ Focuses on his childhood in NYC, musical career, and historical awards.
Ready, Detectives? Open your worksheet to read the excerpts and write your evidence!
Worksheet Time ➔
Author Purpose Comparison Worksheet 2nd Grade Reading Detectives
Author's Purpose: Two Real Artists
Name:
Date:
Detective Clue: Authors write to ENTERTAIN (tell a story) or INFORM (teach true facts).
Page 1 of 2
Text 1
From The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin
Story / Fiction
"Grace sat at the kitchen table with her colored pencils. In the Year of the Dog, her family told her she must find her special talent. Grace loved inventing funny stories and drawing pictures of her dog. She smiled and thought, 'Maybe my talent is making people happy with my books!'"
Text 2
From Lin-Manuel Miranda by Frank Berrios
Biography / Nonfiction
"Lin-Manuel Miranda grew up in New York City. He listened to rap, hip-hop, and Broadway musicals. Lin worked hard for many years writing songs and stage plays. When he created the hit musical Hamilton , he made history and won big awards. He proved that sharing your voice can inspire the world."
Part 1: Text Comprehension Check
1. In The Year of the Dog , what two things did Grace love doing at her kitchen table?
2. In Lin-Manuel Miranda , what big accomplishment did Lin make that won awards?
Story Purpose Detectives • 2nd Grade ELA Turn page for Part 2 ➔
Case File Part 2
Compare Purpose & Make Inferences
Page 2 of 2
Author's Purpose Detective Chart
🐾 The Year of the Dog
Author: Grace Lin
What was Grace Lin's MAIN purpose?
To Entertain To Inform
Clue from the text: Grace wrote about her thoughts, feelings, and making readers smile.
🎵 Lin-Manuel Miranda
Author: Frank Berrios
What was Frank Berrios's MAIN purpose?
To Entertain To Inform
Clue from the text: Frank gave real facts about Lin's city, songs, and real awards.
Part 2: Inferential Questions (Think Like a Detective!)
3. [Infer] Grace thinks her talent is "making people happy with my books." Why do you think Grace Lin wants readers to feel happy when they read her story?
4. [Infer] Frank Berrios wrote that Lin worked hard for many years. What lesson does Frank Berrios want 2nd graders to learn from Lin's life?
Story Purpose Detectives • 2nd Grade ELA Great Detective Work! ★
Purpose Detective Exit Ticket Exit Ticket
Story Purpose Detective Check
Name:
Date:
1. Match the author to their MAIN purpose for writing. (Fill in the circle):
Grace Lin (The Year of the Dog )
To Entertain (tell a story) To Inform (teach true facts)
Frank Berrios (Lin-Manuel Miranda )
To Entertain (tell a story) To Inform (teach true facts)
2. [Infer & Compare] Compare the two texts: Even though one story entertains and one informs, what similar lesson do both authors want kids to learn about using their talents?
Story Purpose Detectives • Grade 2 Self-Assessment: 😄 I get it! / 🤔 Need help
Cut Here
Exit Ticket
Story Purpose Detective Check
Name:
Date:
1. Match the author to their MAIN purpose for writing. (Fill in the circle):
Grace Lin (The Year of the Dog )
To Entertain (tell a story) To Inform (teach true facts)
Frank Berrios (Lin-Manuel Miranda )
To Entertain (tell a story) To Inform (teach true facts)
2. [Infer & Compare] Compare the two texts: Even though one story entertains and one informs, what similar lesson do both authors want kids to learn about using their talents?
Story Purpose Detectives • Grade 2 Self-Assessment: 😄 I get it! / 🤔 Need help
Story Purpose Teacher Guide Educator Resource • Grade 2 ELA
Story Purpose Detectives: Teacher Guide
Focus: Author's Purpose Page 1 of 2
Target Standards (CCSS)
RL.2.6: Acknowledge differences in points of view / purpose of characters or story.RI.2.6: Identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to explain or describe.RL.2.1 & RI.2.1: Ask and answer who, what, where, when, why to demonstrate understanding.
Student Learning Objectives
• Students will identify whether an excerpt's main purpose is to entertain or inform .
• Students will cite text clues that explain why Grace Lin and Frank Berrios wrote their stories.
• Students will make inferences comparing how both authors inspire young readers to follow their dreams.
Suggested 45-Minute Lesson Pacing
10 Mins • Hook & Intro
Review Slides 1-2. Introduce "Entertain vs. Inform" clue chart. Activate background knowledge on books.
15 Mins • Guided Excerpts
Present Slides 3-5. Read both excerpts aloud. Model think-aloud on text clues and author feelings.
12 Mins • Student Work
Students complete Worksheet pages 1 & 2 independently or in pairs. Circulate for handwriting support.
8 Mins • Debrief & Exit
Discuss student inferences as a class. Administer the 2-question Exit Ticket as a quick check.
Scripted Teacher Think-Aloud (Slide 3 & 4)
"Listen to Grace Lin's words: 'inventing funny stories... making people happy.' When an author shares their thoughts and jokes to make us smile, their main purpose is to entertain us. Now listen to Frank Berrios: 'grew up in New York... wrote Hamilton... won awards.' Frank isn't telling jokes; he is teaching us real historical facts! His main purpose is to inform us about a real person's life."
Sentence Stems for 2nd Graders
• "Grace Lin wrote this story to entertain because..."
• "Frank Berrios wrote this book to inform because..."
• "Both authors want kids to learn that..."
Differentiation Strategies
• Support: Provide yellow highlighter for text clues ("funny stories", "won big awards").
• Extension: Ask: "How did both Grace and Lin-Manuel use their imagination to create something new?"
Story Purpose Detectives • Teacher Facilitation Guide Turn over for Answer Key ➔
