Critical Reading

Lessons
Created
by
Angela Maiers, 2006

©Maiers, 2007
 Critical Reading With Nonfiction
1. What is the author’s purpose for writing nonfiction?
Describe three of those purposes.

4. How is an authors point of view different in fiction texts

than in nonfiction texts?

7. Name three ways a reader can determine the writers

attitude or view of the topic he/she is writing about?

10. What is difference between tone and mood?

12. Does bias exist in all nonfiction text ? Explain

©Maiers, 2007
 Internal Text Structures
DESCRIPTION
Goosebumps make me shiver. I get little bumps on my skin. They look
like sesame seeds.
QUESTION/ANSWER
What happens to people when they shiver? They get goosebumps.
SEQUENCE
Goosebumps make me shiver. First I get cold. Then I shake all over.
COMPARE/CONTRAST
Goosebumps make me shiver. I get them when I am cold. Some people
get them from fear. Others get goosebumps when they are touched
emotionally.
PROBLEM/SOLUTION
Goosebumps make me shiver. But they disappear as soon as I wrap
myself in something warm.
CAUSE/EFFECT
Goosebumps make me shiver. When the temperature drops below 45
degrees, my skin crinkles into goosebumps.
©Maiers, 2007
Adapted from Harvey, 2003)
 Text Structure Purpose/Message to the Reader Processing Tool

Description
Topic

Question/Answer Q?
A:

Sequence Events

Time

Compare/Contrast

Problem/Solution Problem Solution

Cause/Effect
Cause

©Maiers, 2007 Effects

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 Convention Purpose How it Helps
Table of Contents Located in the front of the book. It allows me to preview the topics and
Identifies key topics or chapters. know exactly what pages they are on so I
Presented in the order in which topics can get to the information I need in the
appear in the text quickest way. I can use it to seta purpose
for reading.

Index

Headings

Subheadings

Captions

Special Print (boldface, italics,

colored, print size)

Graphs and Tables

Timelines
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Author’s Purpose Lessons

©Maiers, 2007
 Author’s Purpose Organizer
The author wrote this to...
The author wrote this to convince the audience that cats make the best pet.
The purpose for writing this piece was not to inform or entertain the
audience but to persuade the audience to choose a cat as a pet.

The clues that help me see that are…

The author gives many reasons why cats make the best pet. For example,
cats are more independent, easy to care for, and funny.

The author says directly in the last sentence that cats are better.

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 Everyone should have a pet. Pets are
very loving and affectionate. They help
children learn responsibility. Pets give
you unconditional love. Having a pet is
a wonderful experience.

T: The author wrote to…

S: explain or teach
persuade/convince

T: WHY DO YOU THINK THIS?

©Maiers, 2007
 There are three lights on a traffic
light. The top light is red and that means
stop. The middle light is yellow and that
means caution. The bottom light is green
and that means go.

T: The author wrote to…

S: Inform/Teach
Persuade/Convince

T: WHY DO YOU THINK THIS?

©Maiers, 2007
 Author’s Purpose Organizer-KG
The author wrote this to...

 explain or teach
 persuade/convince

The clues that help me see that are…

©Maiers, 2007
 If you drink
8 glasses of water To Inform To Persuade
every day.

There are many

To Persuade Different kinds To Inform
of cats…

To Inform Please buy Mr.

Freezy pops!

To Persuade There are ten

Kinds of rocks
That…
©Maiers, 2007
 Rabbits
Choose your Purpose for Writing?

To Inform

To Persuade

To Entertain

To Explain/Teach ©Maiers, 2007

To Persuade
To Teach/Explain

To Inform
©Maiers, 2007
©Maiers, 2007
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©Maiers, 2007
 Many people that have pets. Cats make the
best pet! Cats are very independent. If you go
on vacation, you can leave extra food and
water and have a friend occasionally check on
the cat. Watching a cat play with a string or
ball is very funny. If you are trying to choose
between a dog or a cat for a pet, cats make
the best pet!

©Maiers, 2007
 Rabbits
Rabbits make very, very good pets. Rabbits
are quiet and will be easy to keep in any
room of the house. Rabbits can even be left
alone during the day without worry. Rabbits
eat very little food, and would be wonderful
for any family. Rabbits are the very best
pet!

©Maiers, 2007
 Rabbits
Rabbits come in many different colors. Some
people think that rabbits are all white with reddish
eyes. This is not true. Rabbits come in a rainbow
of colors: white, black, blue, brown, grey, red,
orange, lilac, silver, copper, bi-color (or broken
pattern), tri-color and every shade in between
(except green!).
Rabbits with patterns of white and a color are
called broken. Some even look like a Dalmatian
dog in pattern.

©Maiers, 2007
 Rabbits
Rabbits do not need a large space to live
in. You can build a rabbit cage in a few
simple steps. First, you will need to nail
the four legs to the bottom tray. Next, you
will attach the wire so it surrounds three
sides of the cage. The wood back will hold
the wire in place. Finally, you will put the
wooden top over the cage.

©Maiers, 2007
 Rabbits

Who invented the word bunny rabbit anyway?

I’ll bet that real rabbits do not even like being
called a bunny rabbit. If bunny rabbits could talk,
they would tell us to call them rabbits?
What if bunny rabbits did talk? Do you think
that they really like carrots? Maybe bunny
rabbits would rather eat cheese, like a mouse. I
think that bunny rabbits actually hate lettuce. It
has no flavor. We could put some dressing on the
lettuce, a bunny rabbit would probably be happy
and thank us. It is worth a try!
©Maiers, 2007
 Author’s Purpose-KG
MODEL: As a good reader I know, the authors' writing pieces have a
purpose. If I can identify why this author has written this piece, I know it
will help me comprehend what I am reading! Identify the author's purpose
of each piece. When I read_______, I am thinking that the authors
purpose for writing this is to____________; I know this because the
author is using/saying_____________ which leads me to believe that the
writing is writing to___________.

SHARE: Remember, identifying the author's purpose helps you

comprehend while you read. Let’s practice trying to identify the writers
purpose. Let’s look at some writing, and see if we can figure out why the
writer is sharing this information with us. Authors can write to:

5. Explain
6. Inform

Let’s read this passage and try to see if we can decide from the
©Maiers, 2007
information, what the writers purpose is. (Do with the provided examples)
 Predict the Writer’s Purpose?
Title Writer’s Purpose?
How to Feed a Rabbit
Rabbit Nutrition
Pulling a Rabbits Out of Hats
Choosing the Perfect Rabbit
Rabbit Breeds
Rabbits Are the Best Pets
Grooming A Rabbit
Funny Rabbit Tricks
Please Adopt A Rabbit ©Maiers, 2007
 Author’s Purpose Organizer for Guided and Independent Practice
Name __________________________ Date______________________________

Authors often have a purpose or reason for writing a story. Sometimes it is to

give information, describe something, make us laugh, help us see a point of
view or an opinion.

Think about the book we read and answer the questions.

Title ____________________________________Author_____________________

1. What was the author's purpose in writing this story ? (Think about what the
author wanted the reader to know or think about after reading the book.)
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

16. What do you think the author wants you to know about_________________

3. What might the author be showing you about__________________________

©Maiers, 2007
 Author Viewpoint Intro:
MODEL/THINK ALOUD: Everything you read is affected by the author’s
viewpoint. An author’s viewpoint is his or her attitude or feelings
toward the subject he/she is writing about. It is very important that we
as good readers are able to identify the authors beliefs in order to
know where he or she is coming from. When the authors viewpoint
and opinions are expressed in a number of ways:

• The words they choose

• The writing style and language
• The format and organization of the text
• The tone in the writers voice as they are speaking to us
• The choice of details included and excluded

These clues are very important to be on the lookout for in order to

successfully distinguish between what is fact and what is the
authors opinions. It helps us read with a much more critical eye
which will help our comprehension a great deal.

©Maiers, 2007
 Author’s Purpose-3rd
MODEL: As a good reader I know, the authors' writing pieces have a
purpose. If I can identify why this author has written this piece, I know it
will help me comprehend what I am reading! Identify the author's purpose
of each piece. When I read_______, I am thinking that the authors
purpose for writing this is to____________; I know this because the
author is using/saying_____________ which leads me to believe that the
writing is writing to___________.

SHARE: Remember, identifying the author's purpose helps you

comprehend while you read. Let’s practice trying to identify the writers
purpose. Let’s look at some writing, and see if we can figure out why the
writer is sharing this information with us. Authors can write to:

6. Explain
7. Inform
8. Persuade
9. Entertain
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Let’s read this passage and try to see 2007
if we can decide from the information,
The Author’s Viewpoint of ____________is…

What are the clues that help you?

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 Viewpoint Writing Lesson-5th:
Have students discuss and respond to the following
prompt (written on the board prior to class):
"What words and images come to mind when you
think about Grizzly Bears?"

After students finish their lists of associations, elicit

their responses and list them on the board.
What are the origins of their associations?
Identify the dual nature of the bears image?
Which ideas on the board fall under each category?

Have student categorize the associations. Discuss

how writing would be influenced by these images and
associations. ©Maiers, 2007
Author Viewpoint Lessons

©Maiers, 2007
 What is the author’s viewpoint of deer?
Deer are beautiful creatures. They are so graceful to watch
as they run through the forest. It's hard to understand how
anyone could do anything to harm these beautiful animals.

The author favors deer hunting.

 The author is not in favor of deer hunting.

The deer population has grown tremendously in recent

years. Each year at hunting season, hunters are able to help
control the deer population and prevent many deer from
starving.

 The author favors deer hunting.

 The author is not in favor of deer hunting.
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 What is the author’s viewpoint of dolphins?
Dolphins have suffered from the carelessness of humans. Many
dolphins are killed each year in fishing nets. Oil has been spilled
into ocean water, polluting the dolphins' environment.

The author thinks people have helped dolphins.

The author thinks people have harmed dolphins. 

Many cities have aquariums that have adopted orphaned

dolphins found in the ocean. Many of these dolphins were
wounded and would not have survived alone. Because of the
kindness of humans these animals are alive today.

The author thinks people have helped dolphins. 

The author thinks people have harmed dolphins
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 What is the author’s viewpoint of birds?

I love to watch birds! It always amazes me

how they can build those nests! I like to
leave scraps of hair and yarn out for them
to find. They'll use these things and weave
them into a nest. Being a parent is a hard
job, and the birds can use all the help they
can get.

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T: The Author’s Viewpoint of birds is…
S: People should help the birds.

T: What are the clues that help you?

S: leave scraps of hair and yarn out
a hard job
can use help

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 What is the author’s viewpoint of birds?

This is the time of year when many young birds

are preparing to leave the nest. If you find a
young bird on the ground peeping and looking
deserted, leave it alone! Birds often leave the
nest before they can fly. Too often well-
meaning people will interfere with nature. The
sounds the bird makes are not cries for help.
The calls help the parents to locate the bird
when they come back with food.

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T: The Author’s Viewpoint of birds is…
S: People should not interfere

T: What are the clues that help you?

S: leave it alone
well-meaning people will interfere
not cries for help

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 What is the
Author’s Purpose Here?
Hunting, stalking, and killing of animals, has
been an American tradition since early man
lived here. Today it exists as a "sport". There
is no longer an excuse or reason for stalking
and killing an animal in his or her habitat.
However, people continue to hunt animals
today and they feel they have every right to
continue to do so. Animals need to be
protected from this attack by humans.

©Maiers, 2007
 What About Now?
I remember my first hunting trip with my dad. He
taught me to aim and shoot straight. I remember
how proud I was when I brought that first rabbit
home and the family feasted on my "achievement".
Today I continue to tramp through the fields or the
woods. It brings back such fond memories of those
trips with Dad. And I still get a feeling of satisfaction
out of being able to bring something home--whether
a small rabbit or a graceful deer. Hunting brings me
great joy! I wish everyone had an opportunity to
experience that feeling of accomplishment.

©Maiers, 2007
 Think Aloud: Author’s Purpose
I remember my first hunting trip with my dad. He taught
me to aim and shoot straight. I remember how proud I
was when I brought that first rabbit home and the family
feasted on my "achievement". Today I continue to tramp
through the fields or the woods. It brings back such fond
memories of those trips with Dad. And I still get a feeling
of satisfaction out of being able to bring something
home--whether a small rabbit or a graceful deer. Hunting
brings me great joy! I wish everyone

TA: I am always asking myself. Why was this piece written?

I know writers have many reasons to write. What clues can I
notice about why this author may be writing to me about
hunting…This writer believes that hunting animals is good.
His writing contains only information to persuade you to hunt.

©Maiers, 2007
 Discovering Viewpoint
The average school day for
kindergarteners is getting longer, and it's
paying off in improved reading skills.
Public schoolchildren who attended
kindergarten for a full day showed more
improvement than those enrolled in half-
day programs. This improvement will be
carried on in elementary school and
even high school. These children will be
able to get better jobs when they are
adults.
©Maiers, 2007
What is the author's viewpoint of
full day kindergarten?
What are the clues they left for you?

• improved reading skills

• paying off
• more improvement
• get better jobs
• Other?
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 Same Topic-Different Viewpoint?
The trend toward full day kindergarten
programs in public schools is taking its toll on
the young children of today. Recent studies
showing improved reading skills may be
misleading. This improvement in reading is
unlikely to carry on as these children progress
through elementary school.

©Maiers, 2007
What inference can you make?
The company congratulates you on the birth
of you child.

We congratulate you on the birth of your

child.

©Maiers, 2007
 Author’s Purpose in Fiction

Theme: Central idea of the story or

the piece of literature.

Through the story, it is the

message the writer wants to
reveal to the reader.
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 Authors Point of View or View Point

When authors write, their stories reflect their own

feelings or beliefs. An author reveals their
viewpoint in many ways.

HERE IS HOW THEY DO IT:

• Word Choice-Diction
• Connation /Dennotation
• Tone
• Style
• Purpose for Writing
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