Discovering Author's Claim

Curriculum Area

English Language Arts (ELA)
Grade Level: 3rd Grade
According to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, this lesson aligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.6: "Distinguish their own point of view from that of the author of a text."

Lesson Objective

• Students will identify and explain the author's claim or point of view in a short passage.
• Students will differentiate between their own opinions and the author's perspective.

Materials

• Short passage (printable text or display on board)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Paper and pencils
• "Author's Viewpoint" cards (prepared prior to lesson)

Introduction (2 minutes)

1. Engage Students: Begin with a quick question: "Have you ever read a story and thought, 'What is the author trying to tell me?' Today, we'll discover how to uncover the author's secret message, called the 'author's claim.'"

2. Explain Objective: Briefly explain that understanding the author's claim helps them become better readers and thinkers.

Direct Instruction (4 minutes)

1. Define Author's Claim: Explain that the author's claim is the main idea or point of view that the author wants to communicate in their writing.

   • Use age-appropriate language: "When we read, the author often tries to tell us something important. That's their viewpoint or claim."

2. Modeling:

   • Read a short passage aloud to the class.
   • Demonstrate how to find clues about the author's claim by identifying key words or sentences that express an opinion or perspective.

3. Think Aloud:

   • As you read, pause and say, "Hmm, it sounds like the author thinks… because they said…"
   • Example: "Let’s say the passage is about why planting trees is important. The author's claim might be that 'trees are vital for a healthy environment.'”

Guided Practice (5 minutes)

1. Group Activity:

   • Divide the class into small groups.
   • Provide each group with a different short passage that contains a clear author's claim.

2. Discover and Share:

   • Ask groups to read their passage and discuss what they think the author's claim is.
   • Encourage them to write their answers on "Author's Viewpoint" cards.

3. Class Sharing:

   • Have each group share their passage and the author's claim with the class.
   • Write their ideas on the whiteboard to visualize different claims.

Conclusion and Assessment (4 minutes)

1. Reflect on Learning:

   • Ask students to talk briefly about why understanding the author's claim is important. Highlight that it helps comprehend not just stories but also what we read every day, like articles and books.

2. Exit Ticket:

   • Before leaving, each student writes one sentence answering: "What is the author trying to tell us in the passage you read today?"
   • Collect the "Author's Viewpoint" cards for a quick review of student understanding.

Differentiation

• For Advanced Learners: Encourage them to write a short paragraph explaining why they agree or disagree with the author's claim.
• For Struggling Readers: Provide highlighted clues in the passage to assist with finding the author's claim.

Teacher's Reflection

Post-lesson, reflect on:

• Were the students able to identify the author's claim successfully?
• Did grouping for guided practice help facilitate understanding and discussion?
• How can you modify the activity to better suits the students' needs next time?