Author's Purpose
by Jackie Shortridge, jackie.shortridge@cpsb.org

Content Area(s)
English/Language Arts

Grade Level(s)
4, 

Overview
Students will practice writing with a purpose in mind. Other students will have to determine the purpose of the writers by listening to the stories.

Software
4 Palm Handheld Computers with Voice Memo

Technology

Objectives
Benchmark:
ELA-7-E3 Recognizing an author’s purpose and point of view

Students will practice writing with a purpose and determine the purpose of other authors.

Procedures
1. Review the 4 purposes authors have for writing
2. Divide the class into 4 groups
3. Give each group an index card with one purpose and a description of this purpose
4. Have the groups write a short story/paragraph for this purpose
5. Have the groups record the short story/paragraph on the Palm using the Voice Memo application
6. Gather all students on the carpet
7. Have each group play their Voice Memo recording
8. Have the class vote to decide which purpose went with each recording.
9. Continue this procedure until all groups have had a turn

Other Supporting Material

Submitted on: 5/10/2006 12:48:02 PM