Lecture Notes: Understanding Author's Point of View and Purpose

Key Standards

• 6th Grade Standard (6.6): Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed.
• 7th Grade Standard (7.6): Determine an author's point of view or purpose and analyze how the author distinguishes their position from others.
  • Note: The 7th Grade standard builds on the 6th Grade standard by adding analysis of differing positions.

Understanding Author's Point of View

• Articles often try to persuade readers to agree with the writer's ideas.
• Opinion Words: Certain words are used to appeal to emotions.
• Content is shaped by:
  • Purpose: Reason for writing.
  • Point of View: Author's feelings about a topic.
• Author's Perspective: Sometimes used interchangeably with point of view.

Example: Analyzing a Cartoon

• Cartoon depicted judges’ opinions on an athlete's performance.
  • Judge 1: Positive view, uses words like "perfect" and "smiles".
  • Judge 2: Negative view, uses words like "awful", "flawed".
• Illustrations (e.g., smiles and frowns) can help but focus on textual cues for insights.

Passage Analysis: "Climbing Ice" by Melissa Thompson

• Activity: Ice climbing is dangerous but thrilling.
  • Words used: "dangerous", "thrill", "unique challenge".
  • Melissa's Point of View: Enjoys thrill-seeking despite danger.
• Key Phrases: "Dangerous", "deadly", "rush of danger", "excitement of speed".
  • Indicates both danger (negative) and thrill (positive).
  • Overall Point of View: Thrill outweighs danger.

Passage Analysis: "Worth the Risk" by Chris Lay

• Tone: Cautious and questioning.
  • Highlights risks and costs.
  • Questions the wisdom of ice climbing.
• Key Words: "Dangerous", "high risk", "great expense".
  • Chris's Point of View: Risks are not worth the thrill.
  • Poses questions like "worth the risk?" indicating skepticism.

Comparison of Authors’ Viewpoints

• Melissa Thompson: Positive perception of thrill; supports ice climbing as thrill-seeking.
• Chris Lay: Negative perception; argues against the risks associated with ice climbing.
• Contrast: Melissa sees thrill outweighing danger; Chris sees the danger as too great.

Analyzing Text: Tips

• Look for opinion words that indicate emotions and perspectives.
• Evaluate words and phrases that convey the author's viewpoint.
• Compare different authors' viewpoints to understand differing perspectives.
• Remember, tone and word choice are critical in identifying the author's stance.

These notes cover the essential points from the lecture and provide a framework for analyzing authors' viewpoints and purposes in texts. Use these notes to prepare for class discussions or exams on this topic.