Why the author wrote it
Distinguish one's own point of view from that of the author of an informational text and identify the author's purpose
What a learner can do afterwards
- Read an opinion article and state the author's point of view, then state one's own and explain how they differ
- Identify whether an author's purpose is to inform, persuade, or entertain, citing evidence from the text
- Explain how word choices in an informational text reveal the author's attitude toward the topic
1 · Read
An author's purpose is the reason for writing. To inform means to teach facts, explain something or give instructions. To persuade means to win support for an idea or action. To entertain means to give enjoyment or capture your imagination. A funny story can entertain, but so can a tense adventure.
Ms. Lee writes "Save Our Park." She wants trees and a playground right away. She writes, "The empty lot is shameful. We should build a playground." "Shameful" shows disapproval, and "should" asks for change. "Must" can also urge action. Persuasion can use calm reasons and facts too. Strong feeling words are not required.
A text can do more than one job. Read the whole text and ask what it mainly helps readers know, feel or do. Facts can support an argument, and jokes can appear in a report. Instructions can teach a task without arguing for a change. One reader's laughter does not prove that the author wrote to entertain.
An author's point of view is what the author thinks about a topic. Find the view they state and the reasons they give. Your view can agree, disagree or agree with only part of theirs. Explain what you think and why. Compare views about the same proposal.
Word choices can reveal attitude, or how the author feels. Calling a plan "fantastic" praises it; calling it "a disaster" criticises it. "The park is two acres" gives a checkable detail without praise. Read words in context. "Dangerous" can describe a real risk as well as show concern.
Kayla reads "Save Our Park" and says, "I agree that we need a playground. But I would fix the sidewalks first, because people need a safe route to the park." She shares the author's goal but gives a different priority and a reason.
Find the author's purpose and point of view, notice the words that reveal it, then decide what you think.
The readings "Read past the first clue" and "Two plans for the playground" were written for this learning dataset.
More to read
Read past the first clue
A craft-club page explains how to join paper strips into a chain. Each instruction teaches part of the task. Its main purpose is to inform, even if the finished chain looks funny.
Another page asks the headteacher to keep the club open next term. It lists how many children want to join and explains why they need a room. Those details support a request. The page aims to persuade, even if its language is calm.
A story follows a paper dragon that escapes from a desk and argues with a pencil. Its comic events support entertainment. Another story might keep readers interested through a mystery instead of making them laugh.
A single clue does not settle every case. Numbers can explain a topic or support a request. A joke can appear inside a report. Read the whole page and explain what it mainly helps readers know, believe or do.
Two plans for the playground
An article says, "Our playground needs more benches. Families need places to sit while children play." The author supports adding benches and gives a reason.
Ellis reads it and says, "I agree about the benches. I would put them under the trees because people need shade too." Ellis shares the author's goal and adds a view about where the benches belong.
Noor says, "I would repair the broken fence first so the play area is safe." Noor gives a different priority and explains it. To compare the views, name the change each person wants and the reason they give.
Suppose the author calls the benches "a brilliant improvement." Brilliant shows approval. A detail such as "the plan adds four benches" reports something readers could check. An author's attitude and supporting details help you understand their view. You can understand it without adopting it.
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Where it sits
Where this leads
24 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.