©Maiers, 2007

Critical Reading Lessons

Created

by

Angela Maiers, 2006

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Critical Reading With Nonfiction

1. What is the author’s purpose for writing nonfiction? Describe three of those purposes.

2. How is an authors point of view different in fiction texts than in nonfiction texts?

3. Name three ways a reader can determine the writers attitude or view of the topic he/she is writing about?

4. What is difference between tone and mood?

5. Does bias exist in all nonfiction text ? Explain

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Internal Text StructuresDESCRIPTION

Goosebumps make me shiver. I get little bumps on my skin. They look like sesame seeds.

QUESTION/ANSWERWhat happens to people when they shiver? They get goosebumps.

SEQUENCEGoosebumps make me shiver. First I get cold. Then I shake all over.

COMPARE/CONTRASTGoosebumps make me shiver. I get them when I am cold. Some people get them from fear. Others get goosebumps when they are touched emotionally.

PROBLEM/SOLUTIONGoosebumps make me shiver. But they disappear as soon as I wrap myself in something warm.

CAUSE/EFFECTGoosebumps make me shiver. When the temperature drops below 45 degrees, my skin crinkles into goosebumps.

Adapted from Harvey, 2003)

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Text Structure Purpose/Message to the Reader Processing Tool

Description

Question/Answer Q?

A:

Sequence Events

Time

Compare/Contrast

Problem/Solution Problem Solution

Cause/Effect

Topic

Cause

Effects

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Convention Purpose How it Helps

Table of Contents Located in the front of the book. Identifies key topics or chapters. Presented in the order in which topics appear in the text

It allows me to preview the topics and know exactly what pages they are on so I can get to the information I need in the quickest way. I can use it to seta purpose for reading.

Index

Headings

Subheadings

Captions

Special Print (boldface, italics, colored, print size)

Graphs and Tables

Timelines

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Author’s Purpose Lessons

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Author’s Purpose Organizer

The author wrote this to... The author wrote this to convince the audience that cats make the best pet.

The purpose for writing this piece was not to inform or entertain the audience but to persuade the audience to choose a cat as a pet.

The clues that help me see that are… The author gives many reasons why cats make the best pet. For example,

cats are more independent, easy to care for, and funny.

The author says directly in the last sentence that cats are better.

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Everyone should have a pet.  Pets are very loving and affectionate.  They help children learn responsibility.  Pets give you unconditional love.  Having a pet is a wonderful experience.

T: The author wrote to…

S: explain or teach

persuade/convince

T: WHY DO YOU THINK THIS?

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There are three lights on a trafficlight.  The top light is red and that meansstop.  The middle light is yellow and that

means caution.  The bottom light is greenand that means go.

T: The author wrote to…

S: Inform/Teach Persuade/Convince

T: WHY DO YOU THINK THIS?                 

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Author’s Purpose Organizer-KG

The author wrote this to...

explain or teach persuade/convince

The clues that help me see that are…

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To Persuade

To Persuade

To Persuade

To Inform

To Inform

To InformThere are manyDifferent kinds

of cats…

If you drink8 glasses of water

every day.

There are tenKinds of rocks

That…

Please buy Mr. Freezy pops!

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Rabbits

Choose your Purpose for Writing?

To Inform

To Persuade

To Entertain

To Explain/Teach

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To Persuade

To Teach/Explain

To Inform

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Many people that have pets. Cats make the best pet! Cats are very independent.  If you go on vacation, you can leave extra food and water and have a friend occasionally check on the cat.  Watching a cat play with a string or ball is very funny. If you are trying to choose between a dog or a cat for a pet, cats make the best pet!

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Rabbits

Rabbits make very, very good pets. Rabbits

are quiet and will be easy to keep in any

room of the house. Rabbits can even be left

alone during the day without worry. Rabbits

eat very little food, and would be wonderful

for any family. Rabbits are the very best

pet!

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Rabbits

Rabbits come in many different colors. Some people think that rabbits are all white with reddish eyes. This is not true. Rabbits come in a rainbow of colors: white, black, blue, brown, grey, red, orange, lilac, silver, copper, bi-color (or broken pattern), tri-color and every shade in between (except green!).

Rabbits with patterns of white and a color are called broken. Some even look like a Dalmatian dog in pattern.

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Rabbits Rabbits do not need a large space to live

in. You can build a rabbit cage in a few simple steps. First, you will need to nail the four legs to the bottom tray. Next, you will attach the wire so it surrounds three sides of the cage. The wood back will hold the wire in place. Finally, you will put the wooden top over the cage.

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Rabbits

Who invented the word bunny rabbit anyway? I’ll bet that real rabbits do not even like being called a bunny rabbit. If bunny rabbits could talk, they would tell us to call them rabbits?

What if bunny rabbits did talk? Do you think that they really like carrots? Maybe bunny rabbits would rather eat cheese, like a mouse. I think that bunny rabbits actually hate lettuce. It has no flavor. We could put some dressing on the lettuce, a bunny rabbit would probably be happy and thank us. It is worth a try!

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Author’s Purpose-KG

MODEL: As a good reader I know, the authors' writing pieces have a purpose.  If I can identify why this author has written this piece, I know it will help me comprehend what I am reading! Identify the author's purpose of each piece. When I read_______, I am thinking that the authors purpose for writing this is to____________; I know this because the author is using/saying_____________ which leads me to believe that the writing is writing to___________.

  SHARE: Remember, identifying the author's purpose helps you comprehend while you read. Let’s practice trying to identify the writers purpose. Let’s look at some writing, and see if we can figure out why the writer is sharing this information with us. Authors can write to:

1. Explain

2. Inform

Let’s read this passage and try to see if we can decide from the information, what the writers purpose is. (Do with the provided examples)

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Predict the Writer’s Purpose?

Title Writer’s Purpose?

How to Feed a Rabbit

Rabbit Nutrition

Pulling a Rabbits Out of Hats

Choosing the Perfect Rabbit

Rabbit Breeds

Rabbits Are the Best Pets

Grooming A Rabbit

Funny Rabbit Tricks

Please Adopt A Rabbit

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Author’s Purpose Organizer for Guided and Independent PracticeName __________________________ Date______________________________

Authors often have a purpose or reason for writing a story. Sometimes it is togive information, describe something, make us laugh, help us see a point ofview or an opinion.

Think about the book we read and answer the questions. Title ____________________________________Author_____________________ 1. What was the author's purpose in writing this story ? (Think about what the

author wanted the reader to know or think about after reading the book.)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What do you think the author wants you to know about_________________

3. What might the author be showing you about__________________________

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Author Viewpoint Intro:MODEL/THINK ALOUD: Everything you read is affected by the author’s

viewpoint. An author’s viewpoint is his or her attitude or feelings toward the subject he/she is writing about. It is very important that we as good readers are able to identify the authors beliefs in order to know where he or she is coming from. When the authors viewpoint and opinions are expressed in a number of ways:

• The words they choose• The writing style and language• The format and organization of the text• The tone in the writers voice as they are speaking to us• The choice of details included and excluded

These clues are very important to be on the lookout for in order to successfully distinguish between what is fact and what is the authors opinions. It helps us read with a much more critical eye which will help our comprehension a great deal.

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Author’s Purpose-3rd MODEL: As a good reader I know, the authors' writing pieces have a purpose. 

If I can identify why this author has written this piece, I know it will help me comprehend what I am reading! Identify the author's purpose of each piece. When I read_______, I am thinking that the authors purpose for writing this is to____________; I know this because the author is using/saying_____________ which leads me to believe that the writing is writing to___________.

  SHARE: Remember, identifying the author's purpose helps you comprehend while you read. Let’s practice trying to identify the writers purpose. Let’s look at some writing, and see if we can figure out why the

writer is sharing this information with us. Authors can write to:

1. Explain

2. Inform

3. Persuade

4. Entertain

Let’s read this passage and try to see if we can decide from the information, what the writers purpose is. (Do with the provided examples)

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The Author’s Viewpoint of ____________is…

What are the clues that help you?

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Viewpoint Writing Lesson-5th:Have students discuss and respond to the following

prompt (written on the board prior to class): "What words and images come to mind when you

think about Grizzly Bears?"

After students finish their lists of associations, elicit their responses and list them on the board. What are the origins of their associations?

Identify the dual nature of the bears image? Which ideas on the board fall under each category?

Have student categorize the associations. Discuss how writing would be influenced by these images and associations.

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Author Viewpoint Lessons

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What is the author’s viewpoint of deer?

Deer are beautiful creatures.  They are so graceful to watch as they run through the forest.  It's hard to understand how anyone could do anything to harm these beautiful animals.    

The author favors deer hunting. The author is not in favor of deer hunting.

The deer population has grown tremendously in recent years.  Each year at hunting season, hunters are able to help control the deer population and prevent many deer from starving.  The author favors deer hunting.  The author is not in favor of deer hunting. 

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What is the author’s viewpoint of dolphins?

Dolphins have suffered from the carelessness  of humans.  Many dolphins are killed each year in fishing nets. Oil has been spilled into ocean  water, polluting the dolphins' environment. 

 The author thinks people have helped dolphins.

The author thinks people have harmed dolphins.   

Many cities have aquariums that have adopted orphaned dolphins found in the ocean.  Many of these dolphins were wounded and would not have survived alone.  Because of the kindness of humans these animals are alive today.

The author thinks people have helped dolphins.    The author thinks people have harmed dolphins

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         I love to watch birds!  It always amazes me

how they can build those nests!  I like to

leave scraps of hair and yarn out for them

to find.  They'll use these things and weave

them into a nest.  Being a parent is a hard

job, and the birds can use all the help they

can get.

What is the author’s viewpoint of birds?

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T: The Author’s Viewpoint of birds is…

S: People should help the birds.

T: What are the clues that help you?

S: leave scraps of hair and yarn out

a hard job

can use help

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          This is the time of year when many young birds

are preparing to leave the nest.  If you find a young bird on the ground peeping and looking deserted, leave it alone!  Birds often leave the nest before they can fly.  Too often well-meaning people will interfere with nature.  The sounds the bird makes are not cries for help.  The calls help the parents to locate the bird when they come back with food.

What is the author’s viewpoint of birds?

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T: The Author’s Viewpoint of birds is…

S: People should not interfere

T: What are the clues that help you?

S: leave it alone

well-meaning people will interfere

not cries for help

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What is the Author’s Purpose Here?

  Hunting, stalking, and killing of animals, has been an American tradition since early man lived here.  Today it exists as a "sport". There is no longer an excuse or reason for stalking and killing an animal in his or her habitat. However, people continue to hunt animals today and they feel they have every right to continue to do so. Animals need to be protected from this attack by humans.

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What About Now?

I remember my first hunting trip with my dad.  He taught me to aim and shoot straight.  I remember how proud I was when I brought that first rabbit home and the family feasted on my "achievement". Today I continue to tramp through the fields or the woods.  It brings back such fond memories of those trips with Dad.  And I still get a feeling of satisfaction out of being able to bring something home--whether a small rabbit or a graceful deer.  Hunting brings me great joy!  I wish everyone had an opportunity to experience that feeling of accomplishment.

 

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Think Aloud: Author’s Purpose I remember my first hunting trip with my dad.  He taught

me to aim and shoot straight.  I remember how proud I was when I brought that first rabbit home and the family feasted on my "achievement". Today I continue to tramp through the fields or the woods.  It brings back such fond memories of those trips with Dad.  And I still get a feeling of satisfaction out of being able to bring something home--whether a small rabbit or a graceful deer.  Hunting brings me great joy!  I wish everyone

TA: I am always asking myself. Why was this piece written? I know writers have many reasons to write. What clues can I notice about why this author may be writing to me about hunting…This writer believes that hunting animals is good.  His writing contains only information to persuade you to hunt.

 

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Discovering Viewpoint

The average school day for kindergarteners is getting longer, and it's paying off in improved reading skills.  Public schoolchildren who attended kindergarten for a full day showed more improvement than those enrolled in half-day programs.  This improvement will be carried on in elementary school and even high school.  These children will be able to get better jobs when they are adults.

      

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What is the author's viewpoint of full day kindergarten?

               What are the clues they left for you?

• improved reading skills• paying off• more improvement • get better jobs• Other?

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Same Topic-Different Viewpoint?

The trend toward full day kindergarten  

programs in public schools is taking its toll on

the young children of today.  Recent studies

showing improved reading skills may be

misleading. This improvement in reading is

unlikely to carry on as these children progress

through elementary school. 

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What inference can you make?

The company congratulates you on the birth of you child.

We congratulate you on the birth of your child.

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Author’s Purpose in Fiction

Theme: Central idea of the story or the piece of literature.

Through the story, it is the message the writer wants to

reveal to the reader.

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Authors Point of View or View Point

When authors write, their stories reflect their own feelings or beliefs.  An author reveals their

viewpoint in many ways.

HERE IS HOW THEY DO IT: 1. Word Choice-Diction2. Connation /Dennotation3. Tone4. Style5. Purpose for Writing