Understanding the Writer’s Purpose in JSS 2
Subject: English Language
Class: JSS 2
Term: First Term
Week: 2
Topic: Reading and Comprehension: Understanding the Writer’s Purpose
Duration: 40 minutes
Behavioural Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
- Explain the concept of the writer’s purpose.
- Identify different types of purposes for writing (to inform, persuade, entertain, etc.).
- Analyze texts to determine the writer’s purpose.
Keywords:
- Purpose
- Inform
- Persuade
- Entertain
- Analyze
Set Induction:
The teacher introduces the lesson by asking students if they know why people write texts. The teacher explains that every writer has a purpose, whether it’s to inform, persuade, or entertain the audience.
Entry Behaviour:
Students have previously been exposed to different types of texts, such as stories, news articles, and essays.
Learning Resources and Materials:
- Sample texts (stories, articles, advertisements)
- Whiteboard and markers
Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:
Students have read different types of passages in their previous lessons. In this lesson, they will focus on understanding why a writer chooses to write a specific piece.
Embedded Core Skills:
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Analytical skills
Instructional Materials:
- Textbooks
- Printed passages of different text types (news articles, fiction stories, advertisements, etc.)
Content:
Understanding the Writer’s Purpose
When a writer creates a piece of writing, they usually have a specific goal or purpose in mind. Understanding this purpose helps readers better comprehend the text. The three main purposes for writing are:
- To Inform:
- Writers provide facts, details, and explanations to educate the reader.
- Example: Textbooks, news reports, instructions.
- To Persuade:
- Writers try to convince the reader to agree with their opinion or take a specific action.
- Example: Advertisements, opinion essays, campaign speeches.
- To Entertain:
- Writers create stories, poems, or other texts designed to engage and amuse the reader.
- Example: Novels, short stories, plays.
How to Identify the Writer’s Purpose
- Look at the tone: Is the writer serious, humorous, or neutral?
- Examine the content: Does the text contain facts, opinions, or emotions?
- Consider the format: Is it a story, an article, or a letter?
- Think about the audience: Who is the writer speaking to? What do they want the reader to do or think?
Presentation:
Step 1:
The teacher revises the previous topic on comprehension skills and asks students to name different types of texts they have read recently.
Step 2:
The teacher introduces the concept of the writer’s purpose by explaining the three main purposes (to inform, to persuade, and to entertain). The teacher provides examples of each and writes them on the board.
Step 3:
The teacher engages the students by giving them sample texts. The students will read the passages and determine the writer’s purpose, identifying clues from the tone, content, and format.
Teacher’s Activities:
- Explain the different purposes for writing and how to identify them.
- Provide sample texts for students to analyze.
- Guide students in discussing their answers and correcting misunderstandings.
Learners’ Activities:
- Read the provided texts carefully.
- Identify the writer’s purpose in each text using the clues provided.
- Participate in class discussions and share their analysis.
Assessment:
Evaluation Questions:
- What are the three main purposes for writing?
- How can you identify the writer’s purpose in a text?
- What type of text is written to inform readers?
- What is the writer’s purpose in an advertisement?
- Give an example of a text that is written to entertain.
- How does the tone of a text help you understand the writer’s purpose?
- What should you look for in a persuasive text?
- Why is it important to know the writer’s purpose?
- How does the format of a text provide clues about the writer’s purpose?
- Can a text have more than one purpose? Explain with an example.
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions:
- A writer’s purpose can be to _______ the reader.
a) Annoy
b) Inform
c) Confuse
d) Distract - Writers create stories to _______ the reader.
a) Persuade
b) Entertain
c) Inform
d) Bore - When a writer wants to change your opinion, their purpose is to _______.
a) Confuse
b) Entertain
c) Persuade
d) Frighten - A textbook is written to _______ the reader.
a) Inform
b) Persuade
c) Entertain
d) Confuse - In a persuasive text, the writer wants to _______ the reader.
a) Bore
b) Convince
c) Scare
d) Confuse - A novel is an example of a text written to _______.
a) Entertain
b) Inform
c) Persuade
d) Explain - Writers use facts and data to _______ the reader.
a) Entertain
b) Persuade
c) Inform
d) Confuse - The writer’s tone can help identify if the text is meant to _______ the reader.
a) Persuade
b) Annoy
c) Entertain
d) Inform - In an instructional manual, the writer’s purpose is to _______.
a) Persuade
b) Entertain
c) Inform
d) Confuse - When a writer wants to make the reader laugh, their purpose is to _______.
a) Persuade
b) Inform
c) Entertain
d) Annoy - An opinion article is an example of a text written to _______.
a) Persuade
b) Entertain
c) Inform
d) Bore - Writers create speeches to _______ their audience.
a) Inform
b) Entertain
c) Persuade
d) Confuse - An example of a text that entertains readers is a _______.
a) Novel
b) Newspaper
c) Letter
d) Report - Writers of academic journals aim to _______ their readers.
a) Entertain
b) Inform
c) Persuade
d) Confuse - A writer’s main goal in a review article is to _______ readers about a product or service.
a) Entertain
b) Persuade
c) Inform
d) Confuse
Conclusion:
The teacher goes around to check students’ answers and understanding of the writer’s purpose. The teacher provides feedback and encourages students to practice identifying the writer’s purpose in their future readings.