What is author's purpose?

It is the reason the author wrote the text — often to persuade, inform, or entertain (PIE). Some classrooms also use explain and describe.

What does PIE stand for?

Persuade, Inform, Entertain — the three classic purposes taught in elementary reading.

Are these charts free?

Yes. Every poster is free to view and download with no sign-up.

How is purpose different from main idea?

Purpose = why the author wrote. Main idea = what the text is about. See our Main Idea Anchor Charts for that skill.

An expanded set: Persuade, Inform, Entertain, Explain, Describe — used when standards go beyond the three classic purposes.

Can I customize a poster?

Use “Need a custom version?” below for decorative variants. Free accurate posters stay above.

ELA Resource

Author's Purpose Anchor Charts Free Printable PIE Set

Free author's purpose anchor charts — PIE definition, examples, how to identify purpose, signal words, and PIE’ED. Download or print; no sign-up.

PIE definitionExamples & cluesHow to identify purposeFree download — no sign-up

Free Author's Purpose Anchor Charts

Every chart below is free to view and download — no sign-up.

PIE

What Is the Author's Purpose?

Classic PIE definition with three purpose cards.

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Author's purpose set

Test yourself: author's purpose

Quick check — answers reshuffle each time.

Question 1 of 4Score: 0

Author's purpose means…

Need a custom version?

Change colors, grade level, or examples — describe it and generate a poster variant. For classroom-accurate charts, use the free posters above.

Customize an Anchor Chart

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Decorative variants — free accurate posters are above

What is an author's purpose anchor chart?

An author's purpose anchor chart helps students name why a writer created a text — usually persuade, inform, or entertain (PIE). These free posters cover the definition, examples, a finding process, signal words, and the expanded PIE’ED model. Download and print with no account.

How to use these charts

Hang the PIE definition during mini-lessons, then use examples when students mix up text types.
Practice “prove it” with the how-to chart: purpose claim + one piece of evidence.
Upper grades can switch to PIE’ED when explain/describe show up in standards.

Author's purpose vs main idea

Purpose is why the author wrote. Main idea is what the text is mostly about. A text can inform you (purpose) about how volcanoes form (main idea). Pair with Main Idea Anchor Charts when you teach both.