The Big Bad Wolf: Analyzing Point of View in Texts

Overview

Featured Resources

From Theory to Practice

 

OVERVIEW

Many students read without questioning a text or analyzing the author's viewpoint. This lesson encourages sixth- through eighth-grade students to question what they are reading by providing them with the language and skills needed to analyze a text. Students learn to look at the author's purpose, examine multiple viewpoints, and also recognize gaps in the text. By reading two versions of the same tale and completing an interactive Venn diagram, students recognize that there are not only different versions of a story, but also different viewpoints to consider when reading. Extension activities include debating a fairy tale using different character viewpoints.

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FEATURED RESOURCES

• Fractured Fairy Tales: Students can use this tool to read revise familiar stories in a variety of ways.
  
  
• Venn Diagram: Use this interactive online tool to help your students compare and contrast differing viewpoints in texts.
  
  
• The House: An original tale from the lesson author that will help your students further explore differing viewpoints and perspectives.

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FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE

Simpson, A. (1996). Critical questions: Whose questions? The Reading Teacher, 50, 118–127.

• Stories are not reflections of reality but are selective versions of it, told from a particular view.
  
  
• The author positions the reader to respond to a story in particular ways through the use of language, point of view, etc.
  
  
• There are a number of approaches to the teaching of critical text analysis, including juxtaposing texts, supplying alternative endings, role-playing, and role reversal.

   

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