Reading Comprehension Standard 2.8Reading Comprehension Standard 2.8

Evaluate the credibility of an author’s argument or defense of a claim Evaluate the credibility of an author’s argument or defense of a claim by critiquing the relationship between generalizations and evidence, by critiquing the relationship between generalizations and evidence,

the comprehensiveness of evidence, and the way in which the author’s the comprehensiveness of evidence, and the way in which the author’s intent affects the structure and tone of the text.intent affects the structure and tone of the text.

Author’s Author’s IntentIntent

Number of QuestionsNumber of Questions

The reading comprehension section of the The reading comprehension section of the CAHSEE contains CAHSEE contains 1818 multiple choice multiple choice

questions.questions.

There are There are fivefive questions on the CAHSEE that questions on the CAHSEE that ask about your understanding of Standard ask about your understanding of Standard

2.8.2.8.

Intent Intent

Understanding the Understanding the intentintent of a of apassage is important because itpassage is important because it

helps the reader determine what the helps the reader determine what the author is attempting to do:author is attempting to do:

To entertain?To entertain?To persuade?To persuade?

To inform?To inform?

What is Author’s Intent?What is Author’s Intent?Author’s intentAuthor’s intent is also known as is also known as the the author’s purposeauthor’s purpose, which is , which is the reason why the author the reason why the author chose to write a particular text. chose to write a particular text.

Helping You Helping You Understand the TextUnderstand the Text

Knowing the Knowing the author's intentauthor's intent helps you in three helps you in three ways: ways:

to prepare for the type of information you will to prepare for the type of information you will read. read.

to make the article easier to summarize. to make the article easier to summarize.

to make it easier for you to determine the to make it easier for you to determine the article's main idea and important details. article's main idea and important details.

Types of Author’s IntentTypes of Author’s Intent

The three most common types are:The three most common types are:

to entertain to entertain

to persuade to persuade

to inform to inform

To EntertainTo Entertain

To entertainTo entertain is one of the common is one of the common reasons an author chooses to reasons an author chooses to write. write.

Short stories, plays, and novels Short stories, plays, and novels are usually designed to entertain.are usually designed to entertain.

Entertainment Entertainment ExamplesExamples

Novels Novels Short stories Short stories Poetry Poetry ComicsComicsFairytalesFairytales

To InformTo Inform

To provide informationTo provide information is another is another common reason an author writes a common reason an author writes a text. text.

An example might be a magazine An example might be a magazine article about cars, designed to inform.article about cars, designed to inform.

Writing Designed to InformWriting Designed to Inform

NewspapersNewspapers DirectionsDirections in maps in mapsManualsManuals about how to operate something about how to operate somethingWorkplaceWorkplace documentsdocuments, such as bulletins, such as bulletinsBiographiesBiographies about famous or not so famous people about famous or not so famous people MagazinesMagazines about news events, teenage topics… about news events, teenage topics…

Example:Example: President George W. Bush is the 43rd President George W. Bush is the 43rd President of the United States.President of the United States.

To PersuadeTo Persuade

To convince someone to do something or toTo convince someone to do something or to

convince someone to think the author is right. convince someone to think the author is right.

A persuasive piece tells the reader to consider A persuasive piece tells the reader to consider what to do or what to think.what to do or what to think.

Persuasive ExamplesPersuasive ExamplesCommercials & Advertisements Commercials & Advertisements SpeechesSpeechesNewspaper Op/Ed pagesNewspaper Op/Ed pages

Example:Example: “ “To prevent cavities, remember to brush To prevent cavities, remember to brush

your teeth with Toothy Toothpaste, the your teeth with Toothy Toothpaste, the brand your dentist recommends!”brand your dentist recommends!”

Example QuestionExample Question““Parents should have their children wear school Parents should have their children wear school

uniforms because it allows for a better learning uniforms because it allows for a better learning environment. Additionally, uniforms are cheaper environment. Additionally, uniforms are cheaper than purchasing the latest styles. Next year, when than purchasing the latest styles. Next year, when you send your kids to school, remember to buy you send your kids to school, remember to buy uniforms. It will save you money and create a uniforms. It will save you money and create a better place to learn.”better place to learn.”

What is main purpose in the passage?What is main purpose in the passage?a.a. To show why uniforms are important To show why uniforms are important

b.b. To compare school uniforms to other clothing To compare school uniforms to other clothing

c.c. To convince parents to make their children wear To convince parents to make their children wear school uniformsschool uniforms

d.d. To entertain the reader in a humorous wayTo entertain the reader in a humorous way

Example QuestionExample Question““Parents should have their children wear school Parents should have their children wear school

uniforms because it allows for a better learning uniforms because it allows for a better learning environment. Additionally, uniforms cheaper environment. Additionally, uniforms cheaper than purchasing the latest styles. than purchasing the latest styles. Next year, Next year, when you send your kids to school, remember when you send your kids to school, remember to buy uniforms.to buy uniforms. It will create a better place to It will create a better place to learn and save you lots of money.”learn and save you lots of money.”

What is main purpose in the passage?What is main purpose in the passage?a.a. To show why uniforms are important To show why uniforms are important b.b. To compare school uniforms to other clothing To compare school uniforms to other clothing c.c. To convince parents to make their children wear To convince parents to make their children wear

school uniformsschool uniformsd.d. To entertain the reader in a humorous wayTo entertain the reader in a humorous way