"Solving Problems": Analyze an Author's Evidence

1. Grade 4, Unit 1, Week 1, Mini-Lesson 4 (15-20 min.)

2. I will be able to:
Refer to details and examples in a text when
explaining what the text says.
Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to
support particular points of view.
Draw on information known about a topic to explore
ideas under discussion.

3. When yoy read an informational text, you need to
decide how reliable it is. Good authors will provide
evidence to support the points they are making. A
strong reader analyzes the evidence to decide
whether or not the article is reliable.
How do you identify evidence in a text?

4. Let’s reread paragraph 2 of “Solving Problems.” As
we do, I’ll analyze the author’s evidence.
(TE p. 10)

5. Let’s reread “Solving Problems.” As we read, we will take notes
about the author’s point of view and the evidence provided by the
author. Let’s the think about the following questions as we read:
What evidence signal phrase can you find?
Are quotes a kind of evidence? Explain.
Let’s get started!
(TE page 11)
Use different colored highlighters to mark evidence on local, state,
and federal.
Write Author’s Point in text.

6. Now that we’ve had the chance to look at the
author’s point of view and the evidence an author
uses to support his point of view, let’s think about
the following question:
What is an example of evidence that might refute
rather than support the poing, “When disaster
strikes, the only available source of help is the
government.”

7. Using evidence from the text, let’s write a
paragraph supporting the statement that
government can influence how people live.