(upbeat music) - Hello friends!

It is a great day to learn something new.

Have you ever read a text and noticed that the author seems to be giving you, as the reader, information that they want you to believe?

Well, there are three different reasons that authors write for.

They write to entertain you.

They write to persuade you, or to inform you about a particular topic.

Today we are going to talk about informational text.

So when we read a piece of informational writing, how do we know that what we read is true?

Should we just assume that if it's written down in a book or posted somewhere online that it must be factual or true?

Not a chance.

Instead we need to look for clues in the information that the author has done research or knows a lot about the topic.

What does the author have to do in order to support information they are providing you?

Authors need to provide us with reasons and evidence that give us proof that what they have written is accurate.

Sometimes the author, his point will be stated in the text, but not always.

Sometimes we need to figure out exactly what that author is trying to prove.

There's a great way to practice this skill and it's to look at pictures.

We can use images to see clues and discuss evidence as we try to figure out what the author, or in this case, the photographer feels or believes about a subject.

Okay, let's look at these pictures together and see what clues we can use as evidence to support particular points.

When you see these pictures and when you read, you should ask yourself, "What does the author want me to believe after seeing or reading this passage?

And what reasons or evidence is the author using to prove the information is true?

All right, let's look at this first picture together.

I see a really big mess.

I think about a family eating dinner together, cooking, and no one has stopped to clean up this mess.

What do you see?

Do you see anything that makes you think the author is trying to prove something or show something different?

All right, let's try it on a second picture.

Look at this picture with me.

Oh, I love this picture so much.

So I see a group of children outside playing together, having fun, getting along.

They look like they're enjoying a beautiful day.

What do you see?

And what do you think?

Do you see anything that makes you think the author's trying to prove something different?

Sometimes we just may not have enough evidence to make a point, or the evidence isn't going to be as clear as these pictures.

Okay.

Now that we've practiced with pictures, let's try the same activity but let's use a short informational text.

This is called "Total Eclipse".

Have you ever experienced a partial solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun which blocked the earth's view of the sun, either partially or totally.

While many people have seen a partial solar eclipse, a total eclipse is a rare and entirely different experience.

In the last 100 years there have only been three or four total eclipses that have crossed over large parts of the United States.

The greatest of these was called the Great American Eclipse of 2017 which traveled across the whole country from the Pacific Northwest to the East Coast.

Experiencing a total eclipse in your home state is something no one should miss.

While the last total eclipse to pass over Arkansas was in 1918, the Great North American eclipse is set for April 8th 2024, and Arkansas will be the perfect place to enjoy this historic event.

Two-thirds of the state will be in the path of totality which will run from the Northeast and includes a wide range of large cities like Hot Springs, Little Rock, and Jonesboro in its path.

What is the author's point in this text?

When I read this passage, I think the point is that the total eclipse is a rare and a once in a lifetime opportunity, and that no one should miss this amazing experience.

But what is the reason?

Why does the author feel this way?

Well, the text stated that in the last 100 years, there have only been three or four total eclipses that have crossed over large parts of the United States.

And that the last total eclipse to pass over Arkansas was in 1918.

That was over 100 years ago.

And so that is a pretty good reason.

What is the evidence?

How do the details support the author's thinking?

Well, Arkansas will be the perfect place to enjoy this historic event because two-thirds of the state will be in the path of totality.

It is important that when we are reading informational text that we understand how an author uses evidence to support particular points in a text, and that we know to look for clues in the information that the author has done research and knows a lot about the topic.

When you are reading, make sure that an author has provided you with reasons and evidence that give you proof about what they have written and that it's accurate.

Thanks for learning with us on Rise and Shine today, and I'll see you next time!

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