In this unit, we are learning about comprehension strategies the students can use to help them understand complex texts. In this lesson, we are learning about how to identify the author's purpose for writing a piece of text. To start a lesson out to have a class discussion on why an author might write a book or a poem or an article. From previous discussions on the author's purpose I've been able to help the students categorize the purposes into three main categories: to persuade, to inform, and to entertain. We'll talk about the fact that there are be more purposes but these are the MAIN three.
Now the students will get the chance to practice determining authors purpose. I have included the author's pie chart we will be creating in the resources. I will also include examples of created projects so you can see how we put them together. I will pass out book order forms to each student. I will instruct the students to read through the description for each book on the order forms and decide which of the three main purposes was the author's purpose for writing this particular book. They then glue the picture of that book onto the appropriate authors purpose page.
We have been reading "The Whipping Boy" by Sid Fleischman. As we read chapter three today, we will determine Sid Fleischman's purpose for writing the whipping boy. When we finish reading chapter three, will have a group discussion on how knowing the authors purpose helps us better understand the text.
Fleischman, S. (2003). The Whipping Boy. New York, NY : Greenwillow Books