RI6: Author's Purpose Independent Practice

RI6: Author's Purpose Independent Practice

Edith Wilson "White House Deception"

Multiple Choice

What is an Author's Purpose?

• The main reason he or she creates a piece of writing.

• The author's personal view point on a subject.

• An author's way of persuading the reader to think like he or she does.

Learning Tasks

• Read the excerpt "White House Deception"

• Answer questions about the Author's Purpose 

• Choose evidence to support your reasoning.

• Determine the Author's Point of View

White House Deception

History may remember Edith Wilson as the United States' first female president, but what it fails to mention is the elaborate deception she orchestrated.  

When her husband, President Wilson, suffered a stroke

Edith swooped in to "help". She purposefully misled Congress about the seriousness of his condition. Then she used the opportunity to exercise head-of-state powers.

Multiple Choice

How does the author describe Edith Wilson's way of handling the President's stroke?

• She bravely took the role over and worked with Congress

• She announced to the American people the situation.

• An "elaborate deception" to take over power.

Edith Wilson signed official orders and writing decrees in her own hand.

History may not look favorably upon this hijacking of the government.  To speak with the president's voice is, at best, dishonest.

Multiple Select

Check all that apply: What words does the author use to describe Edith Wilson?

• "deception"

• "misled"

• "hijacking"

• "dishonest"

Multiple Choice

Based on textual evidence, which statement best expresses the author's purpose in writing this article about Edith Wilson.

• The author expresses his purpose by using negative words and phrases that accuse Edith Wilson of wrongdoing and lead the reader to believe she was not a good person.

• The author expresses his purpose by using positive words and phrases that lead the reader to think of Edith Wilson as heroic and presidential.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence best expresses the author's point of view?

• Edith Wilson did the right thing in exercising her husband's presidential powers.

• Edith Wilson is rightly remembered as the first female president of the United States.

• Edith Wilson deserves to be praised for serving her country.

• Edith Wilson should not be honored by history for her deception.