Author's Claim
What is author's claim?
What is Central Idea?
What the text is mostly about
What is author's purpose?
The reason an author writes the text.
What is text structure?
How an author organizes the text
What are context clues?
Clues in the text that help you understand the meaning of unknown words
Fill in the blank
Another way to say authors claim would be author's ________
Author's Opinion
Where or How can you find the central idea in a text?
(Name at least 2 ways)
Look for repeated words
Look at the first or last sentence
Look at the first or last paragraph
Look at and think about the title
What are the three reasons authors write stories?
To inform, persuade or entertain
What are the main two text structures that we have been learning about in class?
Chronological Order
Cause and Effect
Read the sentence:
"Marcus was known for being generous, always giving his time and toys to friends who needed help."
Which detail helps you understand what generous means?
A. Marcus liked to play with toys.
B. Marcus gave his time and toys to others.
C. Marcus always asked his friends for help.
D. Marcus was known for being funny.
B. Marcus gave his time and toys to others.
Read the paragraph:
"Many kids think video games are just for fun, but they can actually help your brain. Some games make you solve puzzles, think quickly, and even work with others as a team. That’s why video games can be a great way to learn important skills."
What is the author’s main claim in this paragraph?
A. Kids should stop playing video games so much.
B. Video games can help you learn important skills.
C. Teamwork is more important than gaming.
D. Puzzle games are the most popular.
B. Video games can help you learn important skills.
Read the paragraph:
"Liam didn't like math at first, but his teacher showed him fun ways to practice using games and puzzles. Soon, he started to enjoy solving problems and even helped his classmates understand tricky questions. Now, math is Liam’s favorite subject."
What is the central idea of the paragraph?
A. Liam plays math games with his classmates.
B. Liam didn’t like math at first.
C. A good teacher can help students enjoy learning.
D. Math can be hard for some students.
C. A good teacher can help students enjoy learning.
How will you know if an author is writing a text to entertain you?
The text will make you smile or laugh and be enjoyable to read.
What is a cause? What is an effect?
A cause is why something happens.
An effect is what happened.
Read the sentence:
"The storm caused the river to overflow, and the water began to engulf the nearby houses, covering the bottom floors completely."
What does the word engulf mean as used in the sentence?
A. To surround or cover something completely
B. To lightly touch or brush
C. To fix or repair something
D. To move something to safety
A. To surround or cover something completely
Read the passage below:
"Bikes are better than cars for short trips around town. They don’t pollute the air, and they’re great for exercise. Riding a bike is also cheaper than buying gas and parking a car. More people should ride bikes whenever they can."
Which sentence best supports the author’s claim?
A. Bikes are better than cars for short trips.
B. Bikes are fun to ride with friends.
C. Riding a bike is cheaper than buying gas and parking a car.
D. Cars are faster for long trips.
C. Riding a bike is cheaper than buying gas and parking a car.
Read the paragraph:
"Bees are more than just buzzing insects. They help pollinate flowers and crops, which means we get fruits and vegetables thanks to their work. Without bees, many plants would not grow, and our food supply would shrink."
Which sentence best tells the central idea of the paragraph?
A. Bees help pollinate flowers and crops.
B. Bees are more than just buzzing insects.
C. Without bees, many plants would not grow.
D. Bees are important to our food supply and the environment.
D. Bees are important to our food supply and the environment.
How will you know if an author is writing a text to persuade you?
The author will want you to agree with them or try to change your mind about the topic.
How do you identify the text structure of a text?
Look for signal words
Read the sentence:
"After the long hike, Mia was famished and couldn’t wait to eat the sandwich she had packed that morning."
What does the word famished most likely mean?
A. Tired from walking
B. Full from eating
C. Very hungry
D. Excited to rest
C. Very hungry
Read the paragraph:
"Some people think zoos are just for entertainment, but they actually help animals. Zoos protect endangered species and teach people about wildlife. Without zoos, many animals might disappear forever."
Which of the following is NOT part of the author's claim?
A. Zoos protect endangered animals.
B. Many animals might disappear without zoos.
C. Zoos help animals and teach people.
D. Zoos are fun places for people to visit.
D. Zoos are fun places for people to visit.
Read the paragraph:
"Maria practiced every day before school and stayed after to ask her coach questions. She watched videos of famous swimmers to improve her strokes. Even when she didn’t win races, she never gave up and kept working to get better."
What is the central idea of this paragraph?
A. Maria wants to be famous.
B. Maria is a competitive swimmer.
C. Maria shows determination and works hard to improve.
D. Maria’s coach helps her win races.
C. Maria shows determination and works hard to improve.
Read the paragraph:
"Have you ever seen a plastic bottle floating in a river? That bottle might travel all the way to the ocean, where it can harm sea animals. If we all recycled just one bottle a day, we could make a big difference. It’s time to take better care of our planet—starting now!"
What is the author’s main purpose in writing this paragraph?
A. To entertain the reader with a story about the ocean.
B. To describe how bottles are made.
C. To explain how recycling works.
D. To persuade readers to recycle and protect the planet.
D. To persuade readers to recycle and protect the planet.
A timeline is an example of which text structure?
Chronological order
Read the sentence:
"Unlike his outgoing brother who loved crowds and noise, Sam was more reserved, often choosing to read quietly or sit alone during lunch."
What does the word reserved most likely mean in this sentence?
A. Loud and cheerful
B. Shy and quiet
C. Tired and sleepy
D. Confused and upset
B. Shy and quiet