Understanding Author’s Purpose

Curriculum Area and Level

Subject: English Language Arts (ELA)
Grade Level: 7th Grade
Standards: Common Core State Standards (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.7.6)
"Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author distinguishes his or her position from that of others."

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of this 50-minute lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify an author’s point of view and purpose in an informational or argumentative text.
2. Analyze the techniques the author uses to distinguish their perspective from others.
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of the author’s approach in conveying their message.

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Materials Needed

• Handouts with two short excerpts presenting different viewpoints on a relevant issue (e.g., the impact of social media on teenagers).
• Whiteboard and markers.
• Exit ticket slips for the closing activity.
• Digital or printed copies of a brief article with a clear perspective (e.g., an editorial).

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Warm-Up Activity (10 min) – Perspective Challenge

Objective: Activate prior knowledge and engage students with real-world examples of differing perspectives.

• Display a controversial or thought-provoking statement on the board, e.g., "Schools should eliminate homework."
• Ask students to stand on one side of the room if they agree and another if they disagree.
• Volunteers briefly explain their stance.
• Transition by explaining: Just as students had different perspectives, authors also present unique viewpoints in their writing.

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2. Direct Instruction (10 min) – Understanding Author’s Point of View & Purpose

Objective: Teach key concepts through explicit instruction.

• Define author’s point of view (the author's stance or opinion on a topic) and purpose (the reason for writing: to inform, persuade, entertain, or express).
• Use a well-known, grade-appropriate example:
  Example: “Should Junk Food Be Banned in Schools?” (Editorial vs. Informational Text)
• Model analysis: Read a short passage aloud and think aloud while determining the purpose and point of view.
• Highlight language clues (tone, word choice, included or omitted facts).

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3. Guided Practice (15 min) – Comparative Text Analysis

Objective: Allow students to practice identifying author’s purpose and distinguishing perspectives.

• Hand out two short excerpts with opposing viewpoints on the same topic (e.g., pros and cons of social media for teens).
• In pairs, students:
  1. Highlight key language that reflects the author's stance.
  2. Identify persuasive techniques (facts, emotional appeals, authoritative tone).
  3. Answer guiding questions: What is the author’s purpose? How does the author acknowledge and distinguish their perspective from others?
• Share findings as a class.

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4. Independent Application (10 min) – Quick-Write Response

Objective: Encourage individual analysis and creative thinking.

• Students choose one of the two excerpts and write a one-paragraph response that:
  1. Summarizes the author’s viewpoint.
  2. Identifies the techniques the author used to distinguish their perspective.
  3. States whether they find the perspective compelling and why.

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5. Exit Ticket (5 min) – Think, Pair, Share

Objective: Reinforce learning and gather informal assessment data.

• Pose the question: Why is it important to recognize an author's purpose and perspective?
• Students write a one-sentence response on an exit slip.
• Quick turn-and-talk with a partner before submitting the slip.

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Assessment & Reflection

• Formative Assessment: Observing participation in the warm-up and guided practice activities.
• Summative Assessment: Reviewing quick-write responses and exit tickets to gauge understanding.
• Self-Reflection: Ask students to rate their confidence in identifying an author's perspective on a scale of 1–5.

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Differentiation Strategies

✅ For Struggling Readers: Provide extra scaffolding with sentence frames for the quick-write.
✅ For Advanced Learners: Challenge them to analyze the author’s use of counterarguments.
✅ For Visual Learners: Incorporate a T-chart to compare word choices and author strategies.

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Homework (Optional Extension)

• Find a short opinion article at home and highlight words/phrases that reveal the author’s perspective.
• Write a brief summary explaining the author's purpose.

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Teacher Reflection Notes

After the lesson, consider:

• Did students grasp how authors establish their perspective?
• Were they able to distinguish between different perspectives effectively?
• What adjustments might improve engagement or clarity in future lessons?

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Final Thought:

This lesson transforms traditional reading analysis into an interactive, engaging, and critical-thinking-driven experience. Whether through movement-based discussions or comparative text analysis, students actively uncover how authors strategically craft and distinguish their perspectives—a skill that will serve them in both academic discourse and real-world media literacy. 🚀