Reading SkillsAuthor’s Purpose

Unit 1 Foundations

Objectives:

To use academic vocabulary to discuss reading skills

To analyze and evaluate purposes authors have for writing

To use text clues to identify the author’s purpose in a passage

Discussion:

Why do authors’ write? What are authors’ attempting to do for the

reader? Why do you read?

Read:

Author’s purpose is his or her main reason for writing. An author must establish a purpose that matches the subject and audience. Authors use tools, such as theme, to communicate their purpose.

Write:

Word Meaning Example Sentence

ESTABLISH To prove or create James established that his prediction was correct.

CONVINCE To cause someone to agree The candidate convinced the crowd that she was the best choice to be the governor.

INTERPRET To explain or provide the meaning of

Our teacher taught us how to interpret the poem.

AUTHOR’S PURPOSE The main reason for writing a piece

The author’s purpose could be to inform, persuade, entertain or reflect.

Write:

Author’s Purpose Clues Types of Writing

To inform Author includes facts, statistics, and details

Newspaper articles, encyclopedias articles, manuels

To persuade Favors one side of an issue, author tries to CONVINCE the reader of his or her point of view

Editorials, opinion essays, advertisements

To entertain Author uses humor, suspense or exciting language

Poems, plays, short stories, novels, narrative nonfiction

To reflect Author provides personal comments about the meaning of an experience or an event

Autobiographies, diaries, memoirs, essays

Discuss:

– What are specific examples of writing for each purpose that aren’t listed?

Read:

“One Out Away!”

Few people who saw today’s softball game will ever forget it. Monica Bradshaw came within one pitch of a no-hitter. In each inning, she eliminated each of the opposing hitters, striking out every single batter. Then, with two outs in the ninths inning and Bradshaw’s team up 1-0, she walked Luisa Miller. That brought Karen Wilson to the plate. Bradshaw had struck Wilson out twice previously.

After two pitches, she had two strikes on Wilson-but on the last pitch of the game, Wilson put a good swing on a Bradshaw fastball. Everyone at the game watched the ball sail over the left-field fence for a game-winning home run. Monica Bradshaw was one pitch away from a 1-0 victory and a no-hitter. Instead, Karen Wilson gave her team a victory of 2-1.

What is the topic of this article?

What happened in the article that makes the writer think this is worthy of the reader’s attention?

What is the author’s main purpose for writing this selection? What clues convince you that this is the purpose?

Does the author have a second purpose? Explain.

Classwork:

SPORTS, COMPUTERS, MOVIES, TRAVEL

Choose one topic and decide on a specific purpose for writing

Write a paragraph (9-12) sentences about the topic making sure the purpose is clear.

You should have a plan, first draft, revising, editing and a final draft (in blue or black pen)