Author's Purpose
What do each of the letters in the acronym PIE mean?
Persuade, Inform, Entertain
Which type of text focuses on emotions?
Persuasive
Which of our academic vocabulary words match with the following definition?
To give reason for something
justify
What is the hook?
- The opening statement of an essay
- Should grab the reader's attention
In pencil, circle the hook.
Tired, crabby, or unfocused in class?
What is an author's purpose? (DEFINITION)
The reason an author chooses to write
In which type of text does the author not necessarily need an audience to address?
Argumentative
Which of our academic vocabulary words matched the following definition?
something that is accepted as true, without proof or evidence
assumption
What is the purpose of a claim/thesis statement?
Identifies the topic of the text and states the author's position
In green, highlight the reason(s).
- By offering unhealthy foods during school breakfasts or lunches, schools are contributing to the nation’s epidemic of childhood obesity.
- Another reason cafeterias should remove junk food from their menus is that junk food does not set students up for success in the classroom.
What was the author's purpose for writing the following paragraph?
The deep-sea diver looked nervously at the ocean around him. One by one, waves crashed angrily into the side of his boats. In a few seconds, he was going to have to enter these dangerous waters. Knowing the time had come, he put on his goggles, flippers, and oxygen masks. He dived into the freezing waters below and hoped for the best.
To entertain
What is the goal of a persuasive text?
To convince the audience to adopt your viewpoint
Define alternative
Representing a different option
Where in an argumentative text can the author's reasons be found?
In the topic sentences of the body paragraphs
In pink, highlight the claim/thesis statement.
Junk food should be removed from school cafeterias because it contributes to childhood obesity and it does not set students up for success in the classroom.
What was the author's purpose for writing the following text?
Zebras are herbivorous mammals that live in the grasslands of Africa. There are three different species of zebra: the plains zebra, the Grevy's zebra, and the mountain zebra. Plains zebras are the most common type. Zebras are famous or their black and white stripes. Although the patterns can be very similar, no two zebras have the same stripes.
To inform
True or false? An argumentative text is based on facts.
True
Define certainty
A state of being free from doubt
Why is evidence used in an argumentative text?
To help convince the reader of the author's claim
Underline 1 piece of evidence for each reason.
- One study found that 70% of elementary and middle school students see ads for junk food at school, and research published earlier this year showed that kids tend to eat more after seeing ads for unhealthy food.
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- According to a 2008 study published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience, “diets with high levels of fats may impair learning and memory.”
- A 2011 study published in the Journal of Health Economics showed that when Greenwich switched from low-budget processed meals towards healthier options, educational outcomes improved and authorized absences fell by 14%.
What was the author's purpose for writing the following text, AND PROVIDE 1 PIECE OF EVIDENCE FOR WHY YOUR TEAM THINKS THIS.
I believe fire drills should be conducted in homes. First of all, having regular fire drills at home would allow all family members to practice what to do in an emergency. This practice would reduce panic during a fire, and perhaps make the difference between escaping safely and being trapped. Second, having home fire drills would set a good example in the neighborhood. Nearby families may be encouraged to have their own drills. Most important, having drills at home would probably lead people to be more safety-conscious so that fires would not get started in the first place. A few minutes a few times a year can help save lives.
Persuade: an opinion is presented ("Fire drills should be conducted in homes."), reasons are provided (topic sentences), based on emotions ("I believe..."), etc.
What is the strategy for an argumentative text? What is the strategy for a persuasive text?
Argumentative: presents information on BOTH sides of an issue.
Persuasive: presents information and opinions on ONE side of an issue.
Define discredit
To debunk something, or destroy the credibility of someone or something
What is the counterclaim and what is a rebuttal?
Counterclaim: an argument that opposes the author's claim
Rebuttal: the portion of the text where the author proves the counterclaim to be false
In yellow, highlight the counterclaim AND bracket the rebuttal.
Others argue that removing junk food from school cafeterias would only make unhealthy foods more alluring. [This, however, is an unsound argument. Schools would not be banning junk food, just simply not serving it. If students, or parents, really wanted their student to have access to junk food, then the junk food would have to be packed and brought from home. Junk food would not be completely off limits, so unhealthy food would not be any more alluring than it already is. The only change would be that the school would not be supplying its students with unhealthy foods.]