Analysing Author’s Intention

Year Level: Year 10

Subject: Languages

Duration: 73 minutes

Class Size: 25 students

Curriculum Area:

This lesson aligns with the Australian Curriculum: Languages and aims to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to ensure students can analyse the author's intention in texts. This exercise will enhance students’ intercultural understanding and critical thinking.

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Lesson Objectives:

1. Goal: Analyse the author’s intention in the text.
2. Access: Understand why it is important to comprehend the purpose behind an author’s choices.
3. New: Read and interpret key scenes from Chapters 14 and 15.
4. Apply 1: Work in pairs or groups to analyse provided excerpts to understand the author’s intention.
5. Apply 2: Write an analysis focussing on themes, characters, symbols, and author’s intention.
6. Goal Review: Identify key messages conveyed by the author in the text.

Resources:

• Textbook containing Chapters 14 and 15
• Handout: Excerpts (Author's Intention).docx
• Whiteboard and markers
• Student notebooks and pens

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Lesson Plan:

Introduction (10 minutes):

Welcome and Engagement:

• Greet the students and briefly discuss the significance of understanding an author’s intention.
• Organise the students into pairs or small groups of 3.

Access:

• Prompt for discussion: "Why do you think it is important to understand the purpose behind an author’s work or choice of words?"
• Allow students a few minutes to discuss and then invite some pairs/groups to share their thoughts.

New Content (20 minutes):

Read Key Scenes:

• Task: In pairs or groups, read key scenes from Chapters 14 and 15.
• Teacher Explanation:
  • Explain the concept of author’s intention - "Author’s intention: It refers to the author’s purpose or intent behind their writing. It means carefully analysing the author’s choice of words and techniques to deliver a message or idea."
  • Guide students to focus on the author's choice of words, themes, symbols, and character portrayal while reading.

Apply 1: Group Analysis (15 minutes):

Excerpt Analysis:

• Task: Students will analyse the provided excerpts from the handout (Excerpts (Author's Intention).docx) in pairs or groups.
  • Each pair/group should analyse two excerpts, focusing on the author’s intention behind the text.
• Teacher Guidance:
  • Encourage students to consider the historical, cultural, and social context.
  • Circulate the room, provide feedback, and support groups with probing questions.

Apply 2: Written Analysis (20 minutes):

Individual Task:

• Task: Choose one of the excerpts from the provided list and write an analysis.
  • Focus on: Themes, characters, symbols, and author’s intention.
  • Guidelines: Write a brief (150-200 words) analysis including evidence from the text to support their interpretation.

Goal Review: Whole Class Discussion (8 minutes):

Review Key Messages:

• Task: Each group shares a key message they identified from their analysis.
• Discussion Prompts:
  • "What are some key messages that the author has tried to convey through the text?"
  • "How do the author’s choices influence your understanding of the text?"

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Conclusion:

• Summarise the key takeaways from the lesson.
• Remind students of the importance of analysing the author’s intention to gain deeper insights into texts and their broader significance.
• Assign any follow-up work or reflection exercises if needed.

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Assessment:

• Formative: Observations during group discussions and individual written analysis.
• Summative: The written analysis will be collected and assessed based on understanding and articulation of the author’s intention, use of evidence, and clarity of expression.

Notes to Teachers:

• Be sure to differentiate support throughout the lesson to cater for diverse learning needs.
• Utilise open questioning techniques to develop higher-order thinking skills.
• Encourage students to refer back to the text to support their analysis to build a habit of text-based evidence in discussions.