Word Detective
What are context clues?
Words/sentences around an unfamiliar word that help reveal its meaning.
What is an author's point of view?
The author's perspective or attitude about a topic.
What does compare mean?
Identify how two things are similar.
What does contrast mean?
Identify how two things are different.
You use words around an unfamiliar word to figure out what it means. Name that skill.
Using context clues
“The puppy was famished, so it quickly ate all its food.” What does famished mean?
Very hungry
An author calls recycling “an easy way to protect our planet.” Is the viewpoint positive or negative?
Positive
Two authors both explain how tornadoes form. What is one similarity?
Both authors explain how tornadoes form.
What is the difference between a fact and an opinion?
A fact can be proven; an opinion expresses a belief or judgment.
You determine how an author feels or thinks about a topic. Name that skill.
Identifying the author's point of view
“Unlike the timid rabbit, the fox boldly approached the people.” What does timid mean?
Shy, fearful, or not confident
An article gives facts about how hurricanes form without trying to convince you of anything. What is the likely purpose?
To inform/explain
Author A focuses on the benefits of zoos. Author B focuses on problems with zoos. What is the main difference?
Author A emphasizes the benefits of zoos, while Author B emphasizes the problems with zoos.
Name two things you can examine to determine an author's viewpoint.
Word choice and facts/examples the author includes.
You read two articles about the same topic and find what they have in common. Name that skill.
Comparing texts
“The town was desolate; its streets were empty and its buildings abandoned.” What does desolate most likely mean?
Empty, deserted, or abandoned
An author says, “Every school should provide students with more time for recess.” What is the author trying to do?
To persuade readers that schools should provide more recess.
Author A describes a wildfire through firefighters' experiences. Author B emphasizes the wildfire's effects on wildlife. How do their presentations differ?
Author A focuses on firefighters' experiences, while Author B focuses on the effects on wildlife.
Why should you use evidence from the text when explaining an author's viewpoint?
Evidence proves or supports your interpretation of the author's viewpoint.
You read two articles about the same event and determine how the authors present it differently. Name that skill.
Comparing and contrasting authors' presentations
“The mayor's proposal was controversial. Some residents strongly supported it, while others protested against it.” Determine the meaning of controversial AND identify the clue.
Controversial = causing strong disagreement. The clue is that some people supported the proposal while others protested it.
An author describes electric buses as “a smart investment in a cleaner future.” What viewpoint does this reveal, and which words reveal it?
The author has a positive viewpoint toward electric buses. “Smart investment” and “cleaner future” reveal it.
Two articles describe the same flood. One emphasizes property damage while the other emphasizes the community's recovery. Compare the authors' approaches.
Both discuss the same flood, but Author A emphasizes property damage, while Author B emphasizes community recovery.
Why might two authors writing about the exact same event present it differently?
Authors may have different viewpoints, purposes, experiences, audiences, or information they want to emphasize.
You examine an author's word choice, examples, and details to determine why the author wrote the text and how the author views the topic. Name that skill.
Analyzing author's purpose and point of view