LESSON THREE: Identifying Author’s Purpose and Viewpoint in Nonfiction Text
LESSON DESCRIPTION
Students analyze nonfiction text for author’s purpose and viewpoint by identifying the passage’s main idea and the details that support it. Students read three teacher provided passages, then identify the author’s purpose, list details used to support the main idea, and explain author’s viewpoint.
GRADE-LEVEL EXPECTATIONS
R3C Using details from text
§ evaluate adequacy of evidence
§ determine author’s purpose based on text analysis
§ analyze details from text for
o word choice and connotation
o selection of details
o organizational effectiveness
o accuracy of information
§ analyze multiple text
o by comparing and contrasting details
o by determining importance of information
o for authors’ viewpoints
§ identify problem solving processes and explain the effectiveness of solutions
LESSON MATERIALS
o Three teacher-selected children’s nonfiction picture books on the same topic, illustrating a different purpose for writing
o Two or more teacher-selected nonfiction passages on the same topic, with differing details and purpose
o Three short teacher-selected nonfiction passages, each illustrating a different purpose for writing
§ Supplies
o Overhead projector
o Formative assessment scoring guide
§ Handouts provided
o Author’s Purpose graphic organizer
§ Words to know
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o evaluate |
o author's purpose |
o analyze |
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o connotation |
o compare |
o contrast |
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o nonfiction |
o text features |
o graphic organizer |
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o main idea |
o summarize |
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FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Students read three teacher-provided passages. For each passage, the students
§ identify the purpose of each
§ list details used to support the main idea of each
§ explain each author’s viewpoint on the topic, using details from each passage as support
Students are provided with a copy of the Formative Assessment Prompt and the Scoring Guide.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
1. Lead students in a discussion about activities people perform on a regular basis, identifying the purpose of each activity.
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Questions for Students |
Why do we do the things we do? What do we mean by “purpose”? What does it mean to inform? What does it mean to entertain? What does it mean to persuade? What kinds of information/details could help you determine an author’s purpose? |
2. Explain to students that authors write for a variety of purposes. Share with students several different nonfiction children’s picture books on the same topic. The teacher may read the books aloud to the class or students may read them together in small groups, rotating the books among the groups until all groups have read all the books.
3. Use the Author’s Purpose graphic organizer on the overhead projector and/or provide a copy to each student, and lead the class in a discussion.
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Questions for Students
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How are the books alike? Different? For each book: What is the main idea? What details are used to support its main idea? How does the author feel about or view the topic they are writing about? What details helped you determine the author’s viewpoint? Is the author informing, entertaining, or persuading? About what specifically, is the author informing/entertaining/persuading? |
4. Provide students with two or more nonfiction passages on the same topic, each with differing details and purpose. Students may work independently or in pairs, reading each passage, and completing an Author’s Purpose graphic organizer or another strategy. Students share may share their responses in a whole class discussion.