1. Reading Skills Author’s Purpose Unit 1 Foundations

2. 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

3. Discussion: Why do authors’ write? What are authors’ attempting to do for the reader? Why do you read?

4. 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.

5. Write: WordMeaningExample Sentence ESTABLISHTo prove or createJames established that his prediction was correct. CONVINCETo cause someone to agreeThe candidate convinced the crowd that she was the best choice to be the governor. INTERPRETTo explain or provide the meaning of Our teacher taught us how to interpret the poem. AUTHOR’S PURPOSEThe main reason for writing a piece The author’s purpose could be to inform, persuade, entertain or reflect.

6. Write: Author’s PurposeCluesTypes of Writing To informAuthor includes facts, statistics, and details Newspaper articles, encyclopedias articles, manuels To persuadeFavors one side of an issue, author tries to CONVINCE the reader of his or her point of view Editorials, opinion essays, advertisements To entertainAuthor uses humor, suspense or exciting language Poems, plays, short stories, novels, narrative nonfiction To reflectAuthor provides personal comments about the meaning of an experience or an event Autobiographies, diaries, memoirs, essays

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

8. 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.

9. 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)