Unlocking the Writer’s Purpose for Better Comprehension English Grammar JSS 3 First Term Lesson Notes 6

LESSON PLAN

Subject: English Grammar
Class: JSS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 6
Topic: Reading and Comprehension
Sub-topic: Understanding the Writer’s Purpose in a Passage
Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioural Objectives:

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define comprehension and explain its importance.
2. Identify the writer’s purpose in a given passage.
3. Answer questions based on a comprehension passage with clarity and accuracy.
4. Use contextual clues to interpret the writer’s thoughts and intention.

Key Words:

• Comprehension
• Writer’s purpose
• Contextual clues
• Understanding

Set Induction:

The teacher will begin by asking students to share their favorite books and explain what the authors were trying to convey. This will lead into a discussion about how understanding a writer’s purpose enhances comprehension.

Entry Behaviour:

Students can read basic passages and are familiar with answering questions based on texts.

Learning Resources and Materials:

• Comprehension passages
• Worksheets with questions
• Reference textbook: New Oxford English Course for Junior Secondary School (Upper Basic 3 Education)

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:

Students have done simple comprehension exercises in previous terms and are familiar with reading for understanding.

Embedded Core Skills:

• Reading
• Analytical thinking
• Interpretation

Instructional Materials:

• Comprehension passage from the textbook
• Writing materials for answering questions

Content:

What is Comprehension?
Comprehension is the process of reading, understanding, and explaining what is written in a passage. It helps the reader interpret the thoughts and ideas the writer is conveying.

Why is Comprehension Important?
Comprehension exercises test how well students can read a passage, understand the writer’s purpose, and explain what they have learned from the passage.

Understanding the Writer’s Purpose
Every writer has a purpose when creating a text. This purpose may be to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain something to the reader. By carefully reading and analyzing the passage, students can identify the purpose behind the writing.

Steps to Effective Comprehension:

1. Read the Passage Carefully: Focus on the details and key points presented.
2. Identify the Main Idea: What is the writer talking about?
3. Look for Context Clues: Words or phrases in the passage that help explain difficult parts or hidden meanings.
4. Understand the Writer’s Purpose: Is the writer trying to inform, persuade, or entertain?
5. Answer the Questions Clearly: Use the information from the passage to answer comprehension questions accurately.

Comprehension Passage:

Sample Passage from “New Oxford English Course for Junior Secondary School (Upper Basic 3)”

Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions:

Comprehension Passage: Understanding the Writer’s Purpose

Every day, we encounter different kinds of writing, whether it’s in books, articles, or even social media posts. What we often overlook, however, is the fact that every writer has a specific reason for putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). Understanding why a writer chooses to write a certain way can help us better grasp what they are trying to communicate. This is what we call the writer’s purpose.

Imagine you are reading an article about the benefits of healthy eating. The writer’s purpose here is likely to inform. The goal is to provide you with useful facts, such as how fruits and vegetables improve your immune system, or how water helps to detoxify the body. Informative writing is filled with facts and explanations, and it helps the reader learn something new.

Now, think of a novel you may have read, like a mystery or adventure story. The writer’s purpose in this case is to entertain. They aren’t necessarily trying to teach you anything, but instead, they want to take you on a journey. Writers of novels, short stories, and poems often create exciting or emotional experiences to keep their readers hooked until the very last page.

On the other hand, a newspaper editorial might have a very different purpose. Editorials are often written to persuade. Here, the writer wants to convince you to adopt a certain point of view. For example, an editorial may argue that more should be done to address climate change. The writer will present evidence, make a strong case, and try to get you to agree with their opinion.

Sometimes, a writer’s purpose is to explain something that may be confusing or difficult to understand. Textbooks, how-to guides, and manuals often serve this purpose. For instance, a guide to assembling furniture uses step-by-step instructions to explain how to put the pieces together correctly. In this case, the writer’s purpose is not just to inform but also to ensure that the reader can follow and apply the instructions successfully.

It’s important to remember that a piece of writing can serve more than one purpose. An article about the environment, for example, might both inform you with facts about pollution and persuade you to take action to reduce waste. A story about a historical event might entertain with interesting characters but also inform you about real events from the past.

As readers, identifying the writer’s purpose is essential to fully understanding what we are reading. It helps us grasp not just the surface meaning of the words, but the intention behind them. The next time you read something, ask yourself: What is the writer trying to achieve? Are they trying to inform me with facts, entertain me with a story, persuade me to agree with their viewpoint, or explain something in detail? By answering this question, you will not only improve your comprehension but also gain deeper insights into the material.

Questions:

1. What is the main idea of the passage?
2. Name the four main purposes a writer may have when writing a text.
3. What is the writer’s purpose in an editorial?
4. How does understanding the writer’s purpose improve your comprehension?
5. Can a piece of writing serve more than one purpose? Provide an example from the passage.

Sample Questions:

1. What is the main idea of the passage?
2. What do you think the writer’s purpose is?
3. Identify two important facts from the passage.
4. How does the writer use language to make their point clear?
5. In your own words, explain what the writer is trying to convey in the last paragraph.

Evaluation:

Answer the following based on the passage:

1. What is the writer’s main purpose in this passage?
2. Explain in your own words what the writer is trying to say about the topic discussed.
3. List any two new words you learned from the passage and use them in sentences.
4. How does understanding the writer’s purpose help you answer the questions correctly?

Class Activity Discussion (FAQs):

1. What is comprehension?
   Comprehension is the process of reading, understanding, and explaining a passage.
2. Why is it important to understand the writer’s purpose?
   Understanding the writer’s purpose helps you better grasp the meaning of the passage and answer questions accurately.
3. What are the types of purposes a writer might have?
   Writers usually write to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain something.
4. How can I identify the main idea of a passage?
   The main idea is usually found at the beginning or end of a passage and sums up what the writer is trying to say.

Presentation:

Step 1: The teacher introduces the topic of comprehension and explains its importance.
Step 2: The teacher reads the passage aloud and asks students to follow along silently.
Step 3: The teacher discusses the writer’s purpose and asks students to identify it in the passage.
Step 4: Students complete the comprehension questions individually and share their answers for class discussion.

Teacher’s Activities:

• Guide students through reading and understanding the passage.
• Explain how to identify the writer’s purpose in any given text.
• Help students with difficult vocabulary or phrases in the passage.

Learners’ Activities:

• Read the comprehension passage silently.
• Answer the comprehension questions based on the passage.
• Share answers with the class for peer evaluation.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed based on their ability to correctly identify the writer’s purpose and answer the comprehension questions.

Evaluation Questions:

1. Define comprehension.
2. Why is it important to know the writer’s purpose in a passage?
3. List the four main purposes writers have when creating texts.
4. What was the writer’s main purpose in the passage you read today?

Conclusion:

The teacher will summarize the lesson by reminding students of the importance of identifying the writer’s purpose to improve their comprehension skills. Students are encouraged to practice this skill with other reading materials.