Thinking: A Neglected Art
Ⅰ.Reading Strategy: Identifying the Writer s Purpose
In order to effectively evaluate a passage, it is essential to determine the author s purpose.Author s Purpose Questions are questions that ask you to figure out why the author wrote the text.Authors purpose questions are another way of saying,“Why did the author write this, or what was the reason this piece was written ? ”
There are three main purposes:
1) To inform.
2) To persuade.
3) To entertain.
When writing to inform,it is the author s goal to enlighten the reader with subjects that are typically real and factual.Few opinions are expressed.The facts in an informational passage are used to teach, not to persuade.Examples of informative texts include: cookbooks, textbooks, and historical accounts.
When writing to persuade, the goal is to get the reader to agree with the writer s opinion.This type of writing is opinionated, but the author may provide facts and examples to support the opinion.Examples of persuasive texts include: commercials, advertisements, and editorials.
When writing to entertain,one goal may be to tell a story or to describe characters, places, or events ( real or imaginary).Examples of entertaining texts include: plays, poems, stories, jokes, or even comic strips.
A title can often set the tone of the passage.Reading newspaper headings is one way to practice determining the author s purpose.In the activity below,read each headline and then try to decide the purpose for the passage.
“ Life found on Mars.Scientists discover new forms of life that once lived on Mars.”(Inform)“ The Secret of the Mysterious Pendant.”(Entertain )
“ A Laugh a Minute.”(Entertain)“ America s Best Educational Software.”(Persuade)
In surveying a passage, it is sometimes helpful to notice facts and opinions.
If a passage has more facts than opinions, it is more than likely an informative passage.If a passage has more opinions than facts, the passage will either be a persuasive passage or an entertaining one.Let s just take a look at the following example:
“ There are many pets that a child can have, but a dog is the best one of all !
There are several reasons why dogs make better pets than other animals.They are always willing to play with you when you need a friend.Snakes are interesting,but they don t play with you.They just sit there coiled around your arm.Dogs can be trained to do many tricks, unlike cats who just stare at you when you try to get them to do anything that you want them to do.They are also very loyal animals that will try to protect you and your household from danger ! Have you ever seen a hamster try to protect its master ? If you are thinking of getting a pet, remember that a dog makes the best one of all !”
The author was not trying to entertain you or to make you laugh.Her reason for writing this was not to inform you about what great pets dogs make,or to tell you why they make great pets.The author s purpose in writing this was to convince you that a dog makes a better pet than other animals.“There are several reasons why dogs make better pets than other animals.”and“If you are thinking of getting a pet,remember that a dog makes the best one of all !”
When an author writes to convince, or persuade, he is trying to talk you into (or out of) believing something !
Ⅱ.Applying the Reading Strategy
In this part,you are required to use the reading strategy you have just learned.Read the following paragraphs and answer the questions after them.
N.Scott Momaday - a writer, artist,lecturer and educator - has made important contributions to American literature.For example, he won the Pulitzer Prize for his book, The House Made of Dawn.However, this silver-haired poet has contributed most,perhaps, to a discussion about respecting the language of those not in positions of power.Momaday s background is interesting: his father was a Kiowa Indian,and his mother descended from American pioneers.He spoke and heard both English and Kiowa as a child.He is a man shaped by two languages and two cultures.Understanding two languages and cultures, he has reminded us all of the sacredness of our language, the importance of stories.This wise man understands that the language we speak defines us and plays a role in creating our memories.It is through our stories that we preserve our heritage.
The author s purpose is to.
A.persuade the reader that Pulitzer Prize winners must do more than simply write.
B.show us how N.Scott Momaday mastered two languages.
C.inform the reader of Momaday s overall contributions to American literature and cultural literacy.
D.entertain the reader with the Pulitzer Prize winner.
Calcium is a mineral Americans desperately need.It is plentiful, but we don t seem to like its sources.For example, calcium can be found in milk and cheese.In addition, it is also found in sardines, broccoli, collard greens,oysters, soybeans, tofu, and salmon.For some, these foods may not be favorites, but calcium also can be found in ice cream, yogurt,cheese pizza,and orange juice.Therefore, we really have many choices, but Americans do not seem to grasp the importance of making sure we get enough calcium on a daily basis.Instead of juice or milk, we drink soda or coffee.And when was the last time we had sardines or tofu?If we don t take in enough calcium on a regular basis, our body borrows it from our bones.As a result,especially in women, the bones will weaken over time and be easily broken.In addition, calcium may lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of colon cancer.
Small children can get by with about 500 milligrams per day, and as children get older, the amount should increase.Most adults need about 1, 000 milligrams per day.Interestingly, teenagers and older adults need the most calcium - at least 1,200 milligrams per day.A slice of cheese pizza has a little over 220 milligrams of calcium.So how hard can it be to meet the daily requirements ?We don t even have to eat sardines to improve our health.
The author s purpose is to.
A.inform people about the importance of calcium.
B.persuade people to eat food with calcium.
C.make people feel relaxed after reading.
D.list the sources of calcium.
Ⅲ.Reading Tasks
A.Pre-reading activity
