Transcript Main Idea and Details

Author’s Purpose and Point of View
Launch Activities
Haines City High School
Creator: Charles Wynne
The way a writer feels about a subject will influence how
and what he/she writes about that subject.Today, we will
be debating various topics. Imagine if we were to compose
essays on each controversial issue discussed (we won’t –
don’t worry). Based on their responses during our minidebates, think about how your classmates writing purpose
and point of view would influence their writing.
RULES OF THE GAME:
If you agree with the statement, move to the side
of the room labeled “Agree.” If you disagree,
move to the side of the room labeled, “Disagree.”
If you just don’t know how you feel about the
subject, move to the side of the room labeled,
“Undecided.” Be prepared to defend your
position even if you’re in the undecided area.
You may disagree with other’s opinions, but do
so RESPECTFULLY.
Stricter laws should be in place
to make sure illegal immigrants
cannot cross American borders.
Men should make more money
than women doing the same job.
Schools should not be allowed to
censor books.
Elderly people should not be
allowed to have drivers licenses
after age 70.
Author’s Purpose and Point of View
Acquisition
Haines City High School
Creator: Charles Wynne
Definition:
An author’s purpose is the reason
an author decides to write about a
specific topic. Once a topic is
selected, the author must decide
whether his purpose for writing is
to inform, persuade, entertain, or
explain his ideas to the reader.
Steps for Identifying Author’s Purpose
4
3
2
1
Read the
passage
carefully.
Consider
whether or
not the
author’s
information
is accurate
about the
topic.
Decide if the
text informs,
persuades,
entertains, or
explains the
information or
if it is
presented from
a character’s
point of view.
Evaluate
whether the
author has
selected the
best way to
present and
write about
his/her topic.
Vocabulary you need to know…
P.I.E.
 Persuade – purpose of the writing is to get your reader to agree with
your position or opinion on the topic.
 Inform – purpose of the writing is to give your reader needed
information or to explain a concept to them they may not
understand.
 Entertain – purpose of the writing is to make your reader laugh, cry,
or feel some emotion that is not directly linked to learning or
persuasion.
Persuasion – Signal Words
Persuasive language clues us into which position
the author is taking on a topic (in support or against)
Although
Conversely
In addition
Additionally…
Agree
Disagree
Contention
Furthermore
Equally
Besides
Again
Moreover
Support
On the other hand…
Information – signal words
Illustration Words signal that examples or illustration will follow to
clarify, define, explain, or develop and idea or a generalization.
that is (to say)
such as
for instance
as, as when
the following
to illustrate
for example
specifically
Author’s Purpose and Point of View
Practice and Assessment
Haines City High School
Creator: Charles Wynne
Circle key words that describe the author’s point of view
and complete the sentences.
You might think manatees are ugly, but did you know
these mammals are some of the most gentle creatures in
the sea? Please help save them. Adopt a manatee!
1. What is the author’s point of view?
2. Why did the author write the selection?
Answers
1.
Manatees are gentle creatures
2. To persuade the reader to see Manatees differently – as
beautiful, gentle creatures, not as ugly creatures.
Watch the video
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/14/anti-soda-admost-disgust_n_391062.html
Discussion
 What does the commercial aim to do?
 What does the commercial do to convince you not to drink
soda?
 Is the commercial effective?
Answers
The commercial is intended to gross you out so you won’t
drink soda.
2. Uses images of fat in place of soda to show it’s content and
make the watcher disgusted.
3. Opinion.
1.
Read the article
Robert Pattinson has revealed that a vintage car he rented in California in
2008 caught fire.
The Twilight actor told the The Tonight Show with Jay Leno that he refused to
stop driving when a fire started in the vehicle's dashboard.
"I was driving and my dashboard went on fire. Completely on fire. And I was
trying to drive it with one finger back down [highway] 101," he explained.
"The fire went out and I kind of drove it around to see it was okay, and it
seemed okay. I called my dad and said, 'You think I should bring it to a
mechanic? It went on fire earlier on'. And he was like, 'Generally you should,
yeah'."
Pattinson added that he is not generally confident in his driving skills.
"I [got my license] in Oregon, one of those crash courses... I'm not entirely
sure how to drive."
Discussion
 What audience is most-likely going to read this?
 Why did the author write this article?
 What is Robert Pattinson’s opinion of his driver’s education?
How do you know this?
Answers
Teenagers – this actor is from the Twilight series.
2. The author most likely wrote this article to entertain teens
with a humorous anecdote about an experience Pattinson
had that anyone could have.
3. He doesn’t think much of it. I know this because he says,
“’I [got my license] in Oregon, one of those crash courses...
I'm not entirely sure how to drive.’”
1.
FIFA Player of the Year forgets to thank
his feet
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND—Upon receiving the FIFA World Player of
the Year award Monday, Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo
thanked his team, family, and friends before finally remembering to
express gratitude to his feet of 23 years. "I can't believe I forget my
feet—I could never have accomplished this without them," said
Ronaldo, smiling sheepishly at his feet as he addressed the crowd
attending the gala ceremony. "They have worked very hard this year, and
I am very proud. They are the best feet. Their presence here today makes
having Pele present the award even more of an honor, as I know my feet
are very excited to meet his." Ronaldo's relationship with his feet has
been tumultuous lately, as the young star recently blamed their erratic
pedal work for the crash of his Ferrari 599 GTB last week.
-The Onion ®
Answer the question below based on
the article.
Which of the following best expresses why the author wrote
this article?
A. To educate his readers on why feet are so important in
playing soccer.
B. To entertain his readers by telling a humorous story about an
award-winning soccer player thanking his feet in an
acceptance speech.
C. To convince readers to remember to thank their body parts
for doing most of the work in sports careers.
D. To inform his readers about Ronaldo’s tumultuous
relationship with his feet.
Answer
A
We can tell because this story is so ridiculous there is
no way it can be true. Satire is used for
entertainment purposes because there is no persuasive
or informative value here.
Math
Metrics in America
The cost to the US for not being on the metric system is no doubt high. Just last year, a
Martian probe was destroyed because some of its navigational data was in feet, and some was
in meters. All exported goods have to be labeled in metrics or they do not sell. We are
slowly getting our act together. Almost all packaged goods have both the standard and
metric measures on their label. The can of Root Beer I am drinking is labeled 12 FL OZ
(355 mL).
In truth, the US is using the metric system extensively, just not totally. Doctors do all
measures in metrics especially distributing medicine in cubic centimeters. Virtually all
scientists in the US use metric measures exclusively. Track and field events have dropped
yards and miles all together. I remember when running the mile in under four minutes was a
big deal, now they do not run the mile anymore it is the 1600 meter event.
All new car speedometers are in both KPH and MPH, and many recent cars have KPH as the
dominant measure. Ironically, speed limit signs are almost exclusively MPH, even on
highways where distances are measured in kilometers. Here in Arizona, Highway 19 from
Tucson to Nogales is marked in Kilometers. I used to live along this highway, and drove 14
km to work everyday, it is not difficult to adjust if everything is marked that way, yet I was
annoyed that the speed limit was posted as 65 instead of 105 KPH. There is not a single KPH
sign on the entire 100km stretch of highway.
Choose the best answer…
 Which of the following best expresses the author’s purpose of
the selection, “Metrics in America?”
A. To convince the reader that America should move
toward using the same system of measurement as the
rest of the world.
B. To persuade the reader to use the metric system in
measuring everything, even if America doesn’t tend to
use it.
C. To inform the reader about how much America uses the
metric system
The best answer is…
A.
To convince the reader that America should move toward
using the same system of measurement as the rest of the
world.
WHY???
Science
May 12, 2010
By Stephen Ornes
Dreams can be familiar and strange, fantastical or boring. No one knows
for certain why people dream, but some dreams might be connected to
the mental processes that help us learn. In a recent study, scientists found
a connection between nap-time dreams and better memory in people who
were learning a new skill.
So perhaps one way to learn something new is to practice, practice,
practice — and then sleep on it. (Warning: This research still doesn’t
provide an excuse for falling asleep during class.)
“I was startled by this finding,” Robert Stickgold told Science News. He is a
cognitive neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School who worked on the
study. Neuroscience is the study of how the brain and nervous system
work, and cognitive studies look at how people learn and reason. So a
cognitive neuroscientist may study the brain processes that help people
learn.
Give the BEST answer for the question
below.
Why does the author include the phrase, “So perhaps one way
to learn something new is to practice, practice, practice —
and then sleep on it?”
A. To entertain the reader with a humorous anecdote.
B. To inform the reader about how sleeping in class can
help you learn.
C. To convince the reader that sleeping actually helps you
learn.
D. To persuade the reader into believing sleep is
unnecessary.
Answer
C
We know this because the author states earlier on that
sleeping may actually help you learn.
Writing Opportunity!
 In writing, explain the author’s attitude towards learning.
Use details from the article for support.
Social Studies
California Bill Would Ban Plastic Bags for Shopping
June 4, 2010 Also on This Site
Many California shoppers will no doubt move to bringing their own bags
with them when they shop, in the wake of a bill passed by the California
Assembly to ban pharmacies and grocery, liquor and convenience stores from
giving out plastic bags. Furthermore, such stores must then charge for paper
bags that they use for goods customers buy.
The goal, according to the sponsors of the bill, is to make a dent in the sheer
volume of used plastic bags that blow through the air and otherwise litter the
streets, land, waterways, and seafronts of the nation's most populous state.
Other countries have already adopted such bans, most notably China in 2008.
Similar efforts are under way in Bangladesh, Ireland, and South Africa.
The California bill, which has the support of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger,
still must be passed by the state's upper house, the Senate. Given the high
profile of the measure and its support by the California Grocers Association
and other related groups, however, passage seems likely.
Choose the best answer…
What does the author believe about the bill to ban plastic bags?
A. It will pass
B. It will be changed
C. It will not pass the Senate
D. He shows no opinion either way
Which of the following best reflects the author’s intention?
A. To inform citizens about the banning of plastic bags for shopping
B. To convince citizens to rally against the bill
C. To persuade readers to contact the Governor about the bill
D. To educate readers about how bills pass in California
Answers
A
The author states this in the last paragraph.
A
There doesn’t seem to be any personal interest in the
article, just a reporting of facts.
English
Global Renaissance Woman
Dr. Maya Angelou is one of the most renowned and influential voices of our
time. Hailed as a global renaissance woman, Dr. Angelou is a celebrated poet,
memoirist, novelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian,
filmmaker, and civil rights activist.
Born on April 4th, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Angelou was raised in St.
Louis and Stamps, Arkansas. In Stamps, Dr. Angelou experienced the brutality
of racial discrimination, but she also absorbed the unshakable faith and values
of traditional African-American family, community, and culture.
As a teenager, Dr. Angelou’s love for the arts won her a scholarship to study
dance and drama at San Francisco’s Labor School. At 14, she dropped out to
become San Francisco’s first African-American female cable car conductor. She
later finished high school, giving birth to her son, Guy, a few weeks after
graduation. As a young single mother, she supported her son by working as a
waitress and cook, however her passion for music, dance, performance, and
poetry would soon take center stage.
Choose the best answer…
Which of the following statements best represents the author’s
attitude towards Dr. Angelou?
A. “As a teenager, Dr. Angelou’s love for the arts won her a
scholarship to study dance and drama at San Francisco’s
Labor School”
B. “Hailed as a global renaissance woman, Dr. Angelou is a
celebrated poet, memoirist, novelist, educator, dramatist,
producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and civil rights
activist.”
C. “Dr. Maya Angelou is one of the most renowned and
influential voices of our time.”
Answer
C
References
 HCHS Intranet
 HCHS Media Center links
 http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/
 http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles
 http://members.cox.net/mathmistakes/metrics.htm
 http://mayaangelou.com/bio/
Author’s Purpose and Point of View
Extending and Refining
Haines City High School
Creator: Charles Wynne
Writing Opportunity!
 Write your own newspaper
editorial for the picture
below.
 Your newspaper editorial
must have TWO purposes.
 One ought to be to
INFORM and the other can
be to entertain or to
persuade.