Close Reading Nonfiction Texts Identifying Purpose Viewpoint Bias

Close Reading: Analyzing
Purpose, Viewpoint, Bias
S tructure
of text
L oaded
Language
O pinions
Versus
F acts
1
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Terms of Use CCSS Alignment
Close Reading Students Notes Guided Practice Worksheets
Independent Practice Close Reading Independent Close Reading Exercise
Active Listening Exercises Tone and Mood Quizzes
TEACHERS GUIDE
Active Use the video link and corresponding worksheet to facilitate the active listening exercise
Bias and Point of View https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MOQo0j_k3c
Listening
After completing the worksheet, facilitate a guided discussion of the students findings.
Exercises
Direct Use the background information from the active listening exercises along side the PPT and
student note sheet to facilitate a lecture on the essential terms necessary to understand
Instruction and analyze purpose and viewpoint within a text.
Guided Use the integrated exercises within the note sheet to provide guided practice on analyzing
structures, loaded language, and facts vs opinions to identify the purpose and viewpoint of a
Practice text of a text.. Facilitate discussion connected to students responses, and provide personal
insights to ensure correct understanding and for clarification
Independent Have students complete the close reading worksheet that guides them through the
systematic process of analyzing tone with Global Warming article speech. (in class or as
Practice homework)
1. Divide students into groups of 4-6 to discuss their answers. Have each group lead a
discussion on each of the different questions
2. Use the completed worksheets to develop classroom facilitated discussion
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CCSS Standards Alignment
Active CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1
Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in
Listening groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9-10 topics, texts, and issues, building
on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
Exercises & CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.2
Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually,
Note Taking quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.
Guided CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.2
Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text,
Practice including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective
summary of the text.
Analysis CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.6
Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses
Exercises rhetoric to advance that point of view or purpose.
(Comics & CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.1

Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as
Texts) well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.4
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative,
connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices
on meaning and tone.
Independent CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.2
Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text,
Practice including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective
summary of the text.
Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses
rhetoric to advance that point of view or purpose.
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as
well as inferences drawn from the text.
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative,
connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices
on meaning and tone.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and
information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of
content.
4
Name: _____________________ Period: _______
Active
Bias and Point of View
Listening Active Listening Exercise
INSTRUCTIONS: While listening to the video fill in the note sheet below.
What is bias/point of view? What are you being asked to look at considering an authors bias?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Why does the bias/point of view matter when reading a text?

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
What does the statement, every text has a bias mean?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
What does the statement, bias is not inherently bad mean?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
What do good readers and consumers of information do?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
What does S.O.A.P.S.tone stand for, and how does it help in evaluating the bias of a text?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

Name: _____________________ Period: _______
CL SE Determining Purpose,
READING Viewpoint, and Bias p. 1
Authors Purpose: P. I. E.
The reason or goal for writing or speaking
Persuade: Inform: Entertain:

using a variety of to objectively give Using narrative,
appeals to instructions, humor, anecdotes,
influence another compare/contrast, description, or
to accept/join your share cause and drama, to amuse,
position or point of effects, inform delight, and appeal
view on an issue. about new to imagination
information
Authors Viewpoint
The lens through which the author sees their subject. This lens creates
authors perspective, position, opinion, and/or bias within the text
Bias: Opinion:
Natural tendency A view or judgment
to feel a certain about a
way about things subject/issue
In non-fiction writing, authors purpose and viewpoint are closely related

and can be determined by analyzing the use of:
TEXT STRUCTURE LOADED LANGUAGE OPINIONS VS. FACTS

Name: _____________________ Period: _______
Common Text Structure/Organization

How the text is organized, constructed, or put together for audience
Structure/Organization Purpose
List or Classification
Typically to inform; however, if listed or
Information to support the main idea is either arranged in a specific categorized by value could be used to persuade
order or into specific categories
Definition and Example

Used to inform or instruct the audience on new
Typically involves one definition context clue, followed by examples to concepts.
clarify or support the original definition
Compare and Contrast Used for both informing and persuading

audiences. Can compare for greater
Information in the passage contains two or more elements that are understanding or to persuade that one thing is
compared, contrasted, or both compared and contrasted. better than another
Cause-Effect Typically to inform; however, can be used to

persuade one to make choices or take actions that
Information in the passage explains the relationship between a cause would serve as causes toward a desired effect.
and the resulting effects.
Problem-Solution Used for both informing and persuading

audiences. If the solution is predetermined, it
Information in the passage explores a problem and the actual or most likely is informative; if there are multiple
potential solutions to the problem. possibly solutions could be persuasive.
Counter-Argument/Rebuttal
Used to argue and persuade the audience to
Information in the passage presents debatable issue , first discussing accept the writers position or viewpoint.
the oppositions argument and then confronting weakness in
opponents position in a rebuttal argument.
Premise/Support/Conclusion
Mostly used to argue or persuade.
Providing a statement or proposition with supporting evidence
followed by the logical conclusion
Narrative/Anecdotal
Mostly used to entertain
Stories or short accounts involving characters, conflict, dialogue, etc

Name: _____________________ Period: _______
Analyzing Structure/Organization Exercise

Use your notes to analyze and identify the structure and purpose of the following examples
List/Classify Definition/Example Compare/Contrast Cause/Effect Problem/Solution

Counter-Argument/Rebuttal Premise/Support/Conclusion Narrative/Anecdotal
Structure: ___________________ Purpose: _________________ Because the car was old, the
engine overheated, leaving them stranded on the side of the road, resulting in them missing the
wedding.
Structure: ___________________ Purpose: _________________ The Iphones user interface is

more intuitive than the android phones, making it a better phone for first time smart phone
buyers.
Structure: ___________________ Purpose: _________________ There are several tips I follow

to get good sleep: drink no caffeine, no smoking, no watching television in bed, and good
exercise.
Structure: ___________________ Purpose: _________________ Sleep bruxism, also know as

nocturnal tooth grinding, is the medical term for clenching or grinding teeth during sleep.
Structure: ___________________ Purpose: _________________ A family of three tomatoes

were walking downtown one day when the little baby tomato started lagging behind. The big
father tomato walks back to the baby tomato, stomps on her, squashing her into a red paste,
and says, Ketchup!
Structure: ___________________ Purpose: _________________ Proponents of gun control may

argue that less guns will lower crime rates; however, what they fail to consider is the
constitutional rights of citizens to bear arms to defend themselves from criminal violence
Structure: ___________________ Purpose: _________________ If computer keeps crashing

because of being infected by viruses, you can avoid these issues with internet, anti-virus
software downloads.
Structure: ___________________ Purpose: _________________ If we dont make efforts to

control emissions, then environment will experience radical climate changes. The environment
is experiencing strong climate shifts. Therefore we should make efforts to control emissions.

Name: _____________________ Period: _______
READING Viewpoint, and Bias
Analyzing Structure/Organization Exercise (answers)

Use your notes to analyze and identify the structure and purpose of the following examples
List/Classify Definition/Example Compare/Contrast Cause/Effect Problem/Solution

Counter-Argument/Rebuttal Premise/Support/Conclusion Narrative/Anecdotal
Structure: CAUSE/EFFECT Purpose: INFORM Because the car was old, the engine overheated,
leaving them stranded on the side of the road, resulting in them missing the wedding.
Structure: COMPARE/CONTRAST Purpose: PERSUADE The Iphones user interface is more

intuitive than the android phones, making it a better phone for first time smart phone buyers.
Structure: LIST Purpose: INFORM There are several tips I follow to get good sleep: drink no
caffeine, no smoking, no watching television in bed, and good exercise.
Structure: DEFINITION/EXAMPLE Purpose: INFORM Sleep bruxism, also know as nocturnal tooth
grinding, is the medical term for clenching or grinding teeth during sleep.
Structure: ANECDOTAL Purpose: ENTERTAIN A family of three tomatoes were walking downtown
one day when the little baby tomato started lagging behind. The big father tomato walks back to
the baby tomato, stomps on her, squashing her into a red paste, and says, Ketchup!
Structure: COUNTER/REBUTTAL Purpose: PERSUADE Proponents of gun control may argue that
less guns will lower crime rates; however, what they fail to consider is the constitutional rights
of citizens to bear arms to defend themselves from criminal violence
Structure: PROBLEM/SOLUTION Purpose: INFORM If computer keeps crashing because of being

infected by viruses, you can avoid these issues with internet, anti-virus software downloads.
Structure: PREMISE/SUPPORT/CONCLUSION Purpose: PERSUADE If we dont make efforts to

control emissions, then environment will experience radical climate changes. The environment
is experiencing strong climate shifts. Therefore we should make efforts to control emissions.

Name: _____________________ Period: _______
Loaded Language/Words
Powerful words and phrases
that reveal the viewpoint or
opinion of the author. Loaded
words are often used to inspire
a certain response (pos. or
neg.) within the audience.
Loaded Language/Words Exercise

In the passages below, circle the words that reveal viewpoint or inspire certain emotions
If books show us the world, teen fiction can be like a hall of fun-house mirrors, constantly reflecting back hideously
distorted portrayals of what life is. There are of course exceptions, but a careless young readeror one who seeks out
depravitywill find himself surrounded by images not of joy or beauty but of damage, brutality and losses of the most
horrendous kinds.
-Meghan Cox Gurdon (Wall Street Journal, June 2011)-
What is the subject of this text?__________________. What is the texts purpose? PERSUADE INFORM ENTERTAIN
What do these words reveal about the viewpoint/opinion/bias of the author concerning this subject? (explain)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
And I find it amusing (and somewhat disconcerting) that people make excuses to escape whoever they are supposed to be
spending time with so that they can check in with other people who may not even be real-life friends. I like going out
to dinner with friends and am bewildered at how many people put their phone on the table and if it vibrates they
interrupt whatever is going on to tap a few keys and return to the conversation
-Dr. Larry Rosen (Huffington Post, October 2014)-
What is the subject of this text?__________________. What is the texts purpose? PERSUADE INFORM ENTERTAIN
What do these words reveal about the viewpoint/opinion/bias of the author concerning this subject? (explain)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name: _____________________ Period: _______
Use of Facts vs. Opinion

The authors viewpoint is often revealed through their use or omission of certain facts, and how
the balance between use of facts and opinions.
Fact: a specific detail that Opinion: a personal

is true based on objective
value or judgment
proof
IDENTIFYING FACTS AND OPINIONS

FACT OPINION
Is objective Is subjective
Is discovered Is created
States Reality Interprets Reality
Can be verified Cannot be verified
Presented without biased words Presented with biased words
Example: An orange is citrus. Example: An orange tastes great
WORDS THAT INDICATE BIAS/OPINION (Adj./Adv. That express value/judgment/interpretation)

Awful Best Favorite Great More Terrible
Amazing Better Frightful Handsome Most Unbelievable
Bad Disgusting Fun Horrible Smart Ugly
Beautiful Exciting Good Miserable Stupid very
WORDS THAT QUALIFY POSITIONS OR BELIEFS
All Could Likely Never Possibly Should

Always Every May Often Possible Sometimes
Appear Has/have to Might Only Probably Think
Believe It is believed Must Ought to Seem usually

Name: _____________________ Period: _______
Facts vs. Opinions Exercise

Use you notes to determine the facts and opinions in the following passages. Underline the facts,
circle any words that indicate bias/opinion, and place a box around the authors opinions.
Twilight is a series of four vampire-themed fantasy romance novels by American author Stephenie
Meyer. It charts a period in the life of Isabella "Bella" Swan, a teenage girl who moves to Forks,
Washington, and falls in love with a 104-year-old vampire named Edward Cullen. Although it has been
wildly popular, it could be one of the most poorly written examples of young adult literature. The
serious has sold millions of copies and grossed incredible returns in the box office as a movie
adaptation, despite its shallow character development and scattered plot-line.
What do the opinion statements reveal about the authors viewpoint? __________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NFL Football is wildly entertaining and quite possibly the best way to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon.
Up until the 1960s, the NFL was the dominant professional football league and faced little competition.
Recently the sport has come under attack because of concerns over violence and long-term injury.
Injuries can happen in any sport, and those who desire to limit the contact in the sport are ridiculous to
even suggest changing Americas greatest sporting competition. The NFL is and always will be an
amazing spectacle of athleticism and intense competition.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lotteries and gambling are horrible ways to generate revenue for government funds or for even a local
fundraiser. All state lotteries and gambling institutions should reconsider their practices and possibly
be made illegal as forms of revenue. Lotteries, like any form of gambling, are susceptible to fraud,
despite the high degree of scrutiny claimed by the organizers. Numerous lottery scams exist, and are
used to generate funds for corrupt or even illegal activities. Some advance fee fraud scams on the
Internet are based on lotteries. The fraud starts with spam congratulating the recipient on their recent
lottery win. The email explains that in order to release funds the email recipient must part with a
certain amount (as tax/fees) as per the rules or risk forfeiture.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name: _____________________ Period: _______
Purpose and Viewpoint/Bias Exercise

Use your notes to determine the purpose and viewpoint of this text. Look for patterns of
structure/organization of text, loaded language, and use of facts and opinions. Label any internal
structures you find, circle loaded words within the text, underline facts, and box opinion statements.
Answer the questions on the following page.
The global warming controversy is the public debate over whether global warming is occurring, how
much has occurred in modern times, what has caused it, what its effects will be, whether any action
should be taken to curb it, and if so what that action should be. In the scientific literature, there is a
overwhelming consensus that global surface temperature have increased in recent decades and that
the trend is caused primarily by the irresponsible, human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases. No
valid or authentic scientific body of national or international standing disagrees with this view, though a
few organizations with members in profit-obsessed, fuel industries hold non-committal positions. Most
likely these organizations feel threatened by the potential truth of global warming and losing profits on
fossil based fuels.
Primary issues concerning the existence and cause of climate change include the reasons for the
increase seen in the instrumental temperature record, whether the warming trend exceeds normal
climatic variations, and whether human activities have contributed significantly to it. Accomplished and
respected scientists have resolved many of these questions decisively in favor of the view that the
current warming trend exists and is ongoing, that human activity is the primary cause, and that it is
without precedent in at least 2000 years. It is amazing that any scientist could ignore the recorded
evidence and attempt to construct a legitimate rebuttal. Additional disputes have concerned estimates
of how responsive the climate system might be to any given level of greenhouse gases (climate
sensitivity), projections of continued warming in response to the existing buildup of greenhouse gases
plus future emissions, and what the consequences of global warming will be.
Global warming remains an issue of widespread political debate, sometimes split along party political
lines, especially in the United States. Many of the largely settled scientific issues, such as the human
responsibility for global warming, remain the subject of politically or economically motivated attempts
to downplay, dismiss or deny them an ideological phenomenon categorized by academics and
scientists as climate change denial. The sources of funding for those involved with climate science
both supporting and opposing mainstream scientific positions have been questioned by both sides.
There are debates about the best policy responses to the science, their cost-effectiveness and their
urgency. Climate scientists, especially in the US, have reported official and oil-industry
pressure to censor or suppress their work and hide scientific data, with directives not to discuss the
subject in public communications. These attempts to suppress truth and facts should be punished.
Legal cases regarding global warming, its effects, and measures to reduce it, have reached American
courts. The fossil fuels lobby and free market think tanks have often been identified as overtly or
covertly supporting efforts to undermine or discredit the scientific consensus on global warming.
Name: _____________________ Period: _______
Purpose and Viewpoint/Bias Exercise

Use your notes to determine the purpose and viewpoint of this text. Look for patterns of structure/organization of text,
loaded language, and use of facts and opinions. Answer the questions on the following page.
What internal structures/organization patters are apparent in the text? What is the authors purpose?
Structure: _____________________________ Evidence from text: _______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________ Purpose: ________________________
Structure: _____________________________ Evidence from text: _______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________ Purpose: ________________________
List the strongest loaded words found in the text and discuss what they reveal about authors bias and viewpoint.
Loaded Word: ___________________ Bias: _________________________________________________________________
Loaded Word: ___________________ Bias: _________________________________________________________________
Loaded Word: ___________________ Bias: _________________________________________________________________
Loaded Word: ___________________ Bias: _________________________________________________________________
Loaded Word: ___________________ Bias: _________________________________________________________________
How does the author use facts vs. opinions? List some of the opinion statements and their bias
Opinion statement from text: _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________ Bias: ___________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________ Bias: ___________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________ Bias: ___________________________
In a sentence explain the authors purpose and bias/viewpoint on the subject: ____________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Close Reading Nonfiction Texts Identifying Purpose Viewpoint Bias

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Close Reading: Analyzing

Purpose, Viewpoint, Bias

INCLUDED WITH THIS PACKET

Contact us at topwritingacademy@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

Purchase of this digital product includes a single-teacher, one classroom license.

Contact us at topwritingacademy@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

(Comics & CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.1

Why does the bias/point of view matter when reading a text?

Top Writing Academy 2015

Persuade: Inform: Entertain:

In non-fiction writing, authors purpose and viewpoint are closely related

TEXT STRUCTURE LOADED LANGUAGE OPINIONS VS. FACTS

Common Text Structure/Organization

Definition and Example

Compare and Contrast Used for both informing and persuading

Cause-Effect Typically to inform; however, can be used to

Problem-Solution Used for both informing and persuading

Top Writing Academy 2015

Analyzing Structure/Organization Exercise

List/Classify Definition/Example Compare/Contrast Cause/Effect Problem/Solution

Structure: ___________________ Purpose: _________________ The Iphones user interface is

Structure: ___________________ Purpose: _________________ There are several tips I follow

Structure: ___________________ Purpose: _________________ Sleep bruxism, also know as

Structure: ___________________ Purpose: _________________ A family of three tomatoes

Structure: ___________________ Purpose: _________________ Proponents of gun control may

Structure: ___________________ Purpose: _________________ If computer keeps crashing

Structure: ___________________ Purpose: _________________ If we dont make efforts to

Top Writing Academy 2015

Analyzing Structure/Organization Exercise (answers)

List/Classify Definition/Example Compare/Contrast Cause/Effect Problem/Solution

Structure: COMPARE/CONTRAST Purpose: PERSUADE The Iphones user interface is more

Structure: PROBLEM/SOLUTION Purpose: INFORM If computer keeps crashing because of being

Structure: PREMISE/SUPPORT/CONCLUSION Purpose: PERSUADE If we dont make efforts to

Top Writing Academy 2015

Loaded Language/Words Exercise

Top Writing Academy 2015

Use of Facts vs. Opinion

Fact: a specific detail that Opinion: a personal

IDENTIFYING FACTS AND OPINIONS

WORDS THAT INDICATE BIAS/OPINION (Adj./Adv. That express value/judgment/interpretation)

WORDS THAT QUALIFY POSITIONS OR BELIEFS

All Could Likely Never Possibly Should

Top Writing Academy 2015

Facts vs. Opinions Exercise

Top Writing Academy 2015

Purpose and Viewpoint/Bias Exercise

Purpose and Viewpoint/Bias Exercise

Top Writing Academy 2015

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