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BEFORE READING
Target Skill SKILLS
 STRATEGIES IN CONTEXT
Author's Purpose
Summarize
Skills Trace
OBJECTIVES
Test
Selection Test:
Unit 3
Benchmark Test: Unit 3
Reteach/
Review
TE: 3.1 51; 3.2 249b, DI•55; 3.3 329b, 347, 391, DI•53; 3.5 275b, DI•56
PB: 3.1 16, 83, 87, 88, 113, 117, 3.2
93, 97, 98
Practice
TE: 3.2 224–225; 3.3 304–305;
3.5 244–245
Introduce/
Teach
Target Skill Author's Purpose
Target Skill Determine author's purpose.
Target Skill Summarize to identify author's purpose.
INTRODUCE
Ask the class what kind of writing
they do most often. Write their ideas
on the board as they call them out.
Point to the first idea and ask why
they do that kind of writing. (Possible responses: to complete a homework assignment, to stay in touch with someone, to record the events in my life)
Have students read the information
on p. 304. Explain the following:
  • When we talk about why we or someone else writes something, we are talking about author's purpose.
  • To understand an author's purpose, it can often be helpful to summarize the main idea and details of what we are reading.
Use Skill Transparency 12 to teach
author's purpose.
TEACH
1 STRATEGY Use paragraphs 1
and 2 to model how to summarize "An Up-and-Down Story."
Think Aloud MODEL I can summarize the first paragraph by saying that it tells me about a story
pole and where it can be found. The second paragraph describes what a story pole is, and it also compares and contrasts story poles and totem poles.
2 SKILL Review your summary of
paragraphs 1 and 2 to model how to determine the author's purpose.
Think Aloud MODEL In the first paragraph, the author is a little mysterious. He or she
tells where the story pole is without explaining what it is. I think the author's purpose in this paragraph is to entertain and to inform. In the second paragraph, the author explains what a story pole is. These facts inform.
PRACTICE AND ASSESS
STRATEGY Students should review
the second paragraph and then
explain what a story pole is and
how it differs from a totem pole.
SKILL At the end of the selection,
the author moves from informing
to persuading. He or she wants
to persuade readers to visit the
story pole.
WRITE Have students complete
steps 1 and 2 of the Write to Read activity. You might consider using this as a whole class activity.
Monitor Progress
then… use
Practice Book
3.1, p. 113, to
provide
additional
practice.
If… students
are unable to
complete Write
to Read on
p. 304,
Target Skill Author's Purpose
Comprehension
PUSHING UP THE SKY
Summarize
Strategy
Author’s Purpose
Skill
 Different parts of a piece of writing may
    have different purposes.
 An author may be trying to persuade, to
    inform, to entertain, or to express ideas
    and feelings.
 The author’s purpose is the reason an
    author writes something.
Author’s Purpose
Skill
An UP-and-DOWN Story
1
Strategy Here is
a good place to
stop and sum up
what you have
read so far. This
paragraph explains what a story pole
is.
     A story pole is different from a totem pole. A
totem pole tells about a family. A story pole uses
animal stories to teach children about their culture
and responsibility. The story pole in Olympia has 21
carved figures on it. Each teaches a lesson about life.
     In Olympia, Washington, you will find a tall
pole. However, this pole is not just any pole. It is
a story pole.
End
Middle
Beginning
Purpose
Why do you
think so?
     In 1940 the pole was done, but there was no
money to put it up. Children from around the
state each gave one cent. Together, they raised
enough money.
     The story pole was made by Snohomish Chief
William Shelton. It was carved from a great cedar
tree. Chief Shelton worked on the pole for five years.
When he died in 1938, other people in his tribe
finished the carving.
Summing up the main ideas and details
as you read can help you figure out the
author’s purpose. For example, are you
reading facts that explain something?
Then the purpose is probably to inform.
Strategy: Summarize
Strategy
     If you are ever in Olympia, be sure to visit the
story pole. You will learn about the Snohomish
culture. And you will see a
beautiful work of art.
Skill This
paragraph is
about how Chief
Shelton made the
story pole. The
author’s purpose
is probably to
inform us about
story poles. Read
on. Does the
purpose change?
2
Write to Read
2. Write a short summary of
     “An Up-and-Down Story.” Then
    explain what the author’s main
    purpose was and why you
    think that.
1. Read “An Up-and-Down Story.”
    Make a graphic organizer like
    the one above. Choose the
    main purpose for each part of
    the article. Explain your choice.
 
   
Close  
Access Content
Beginning/Intermediate For a Picture It! lesson on author's purpose, see the ELL Teaching Guide, pp. 78–79.
Advanced Before students read "An Up-and-Down Story," explain what a totem pole is, who makes them, and why.
Target Skill Author's Purpose Tell students that people always have a reason for doing things. Explain that when we look for the reasons an author has, we are looking for the author's purpose. An author may want to entertain, explain, inform, or simply express ideas. He or she may also have more than one purpose for writing. Emphasize that if we can understand an author's reasons for writing, we can understand the selection better. After students read "An Up-and-Down Story," work with them in completing Graphic Organizer 11, question the author.
ELL
Strategic Intervention
Practice Book
Practice Book 3.1 p. 113
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