Authors View Practice

I wonder who made gym class mandatory? He was a great guy! It is a welcome break from sitting in chairs. In a recent poll, gym class was the favorite subject of elementary students. I wish there was gym class more often! What’s the author's viewpoint about gym class?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

Many people don’t like bees. However, without these helpful insects, we would not have many of our favorite flowers or fruits. When bees drink nectar from flowers, they carry away pollen. Bees leave the pollen on the next plant they visit. This helps create necessary new plants. What is the author’s viewpoint about bees?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

The average school day for kindergarteners is getting longer, and it's paying off in improved reading skills. This improvement will continue from elementary school to HS. These children will be able to get better jobs when they are adults. What is the author’s viewpoint about full day kindergarten?

• Favors full day

• Not in favor of full day

• Does not express an opinion

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. What is the author’s viewpoint on people’s relationship with dolphins?

• People hurt dolphins.

• People help dolphins.

• People don't care about dolphins.

• The passage isn't about dolphins.

The author's viewpoint reveals the author’s beliefs, personal judgments or _______________ toward a certain subject.

• favorite foods

• attitudes

• clothing choice

• facts

The discovery of a wild coyote in late 1997 in the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building in downtown Seattle should come as a wake-up call. The United States has a serious coyote problem! From their traditional enclaves in the western desert, these opportunistic canines have now invaded the entire continental United States. They have taken over parks, farms, vacant lots, and now perhaps the downtown areas of major cities. Homeowners report losing cats and dogs to the beasts, and young children are under attack. Enough is enough. Since humans are the only natural enemy of coyotes, we demand that state and federal agencies institute coyote trapping programs. That is the only way to decrease the number of coyotes to a manageable level.

WHAT IS THE AUTHOR'S VIEWPOINT?

• The author loves coyotes and thinks everyone should adopt one.

• The author feels that humans are the problem.

• The author feels coyotes are dangerous.

• The author is neutral

Which of the following might NOT be good strategy questions to ask in order to find out the author's viewpoint or perspective on a topic?

• Based on the title, why do think the author wrote this selection?

• Was the author’s purpose specifically stated?

• How did the author influence your response to the selection?

• Does the author enjoy chocolate cake?

An opposing argument is

• a statement that provides evidence for and supports the author's thesis or main claim.

• an opinion statement that is wrong because the author doesn't agree with it.

• an argument from a different perspective that does not support the thesis statement or main claim.

• an opinion statement that is correct because the author agrees with it.

1 Many Americans regularly eat beef, which is meat that comes from cattle. 2 We ought to replace beef with chicken in our diets. 3 It takes eleven times more water to raise cattle for beef than it does to raise chickens. 4 Cattle also require twenty-eight times more land than chickens do.

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Which sentence in the passage contains the author's viewpoint?

1 Most banks offer savings accounts for adults, families, and children. 2 All young people should open their own savings accounts. 3 When you keep money in a savings account, you earn interest. 4 Interest is extra money the bank gives you for just keeping your money with them.

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4