Reading comprehension is more than just understanding words on a page; it's about uncovering the deeper meaning behind a text. Part of that requires students to examine the background elements of a written work—the intent, the message, and the emotions behind the words.

Today, we’re looking at these elements and sharing different strategies for teaching students how to identify each one. Learning these skills not only makes reading more interesting for students but also helps them do better on assessments where understanding details and intentions can be what separates a good score from a great one.

Author’s Purpose

First up is author’s purpose—the reason why a text is written. Identifying the author's purpose helps readers understand the broader context of the text and its intended impact on the audience. An author usually writes for one of these five reasons:

• To Inform: The author gives information, facts, or explanations about a topic.
• To Persuade: The author wants to convince readers to agree with a certain viewpoint or take a specific action.
• To Entertain: The author engages readers through drama, humor, or storytelling.
• To Explain: The author tells readers how to do something or show them how something works.
• To Describe: The author helps readers imagine or visualize the subject using sensory details.

Strategies to Help Students Determine the Author’s Purpose:

• Look for Clues: Encourage students to examine the text for hints. For instance, persuasive texts might contain strong opinions and calls to action, while informative texts are packed with data and explanations.
• Ask Questions: Have students ask questions like, "What does the author want me to know or think after reading this?" or "Is the author trying to change my mind about something?"
• Practice with Varied Texts: Show students a range of texts with different purposes. Comparing a scientific report to a travel blog post, for instance, can help students see the clear differences in purpose.

Main Idea

Next, there’s the main idea—the central point or message of the text.

Figuring out the main idea is crucial for understanding the overall meaning and purpose of the content. In some texts, especially nonfiction, the main idea is often found in the title, introduction, or conclusion. Other times it’s vague, requiring the reader to infer the author’s overall message based on what’s written.

Strategies to Help Students Find the Main Idea:

• Summarize Paragraphs: Have students practice summarizing each paragraph in a sentence or two. Since each paragraph might add a piece of evidence to support the main message, simplifying the text can help students piece together the overall message.
• Look for Repetition: Many authors reinforce the main idea through repetition. Encourage students to look for recurring themes or statements.
• Use Graphic Organizers: Filling out visual tools like concept maps or charts can help students identify the relationship between the main idea and supporting details, clarifying the structure and key points of the text.

Tone

Finally, we have tone—the author’s attitude toward the subject matter.

Tone directly affects how readers interpret the text. A serious tone can make a subject feel important and weighty, while a funny one can make the same topic lighthearted and entertaining. Tone can also reveal the author's bias or perspective, whether it's a critical stance on a contentious issue or a nostalgic reflection on historical events.

Strategies to Help Students Identify Tone:

• Identify Descriptive Words: Teach students to pick out expressive or emotionally-charged language. For example, in a text about a moment in history, a reverent tone might use words like "honor" and "sacrifice," while a critical tone might use words like "misguided" and "failure."
• Read Aloud: Listening to a text can make tone more apparent, as changes in inflection and emphasis create different moods. A sarcastic tone might come across better when spoken, with an exaggerated emphasis on certain words.
• Compare and Contrast: Use example texts on the same subject with contrasting tones, like a simple news report versus a satirical article on a specific event. Discussing how different tones can influence the reader's perception of the same facts can be a valuable exercise.

Practice Makes Perfect

Like any skill, the most effective way for students to master these reading comprehension strategies is through regular practice. If you’re looking to add daily reading activities to your curriculum, check out Preparation for State Reading Assessments for grades 4-12!

Each book in the series provides reading practice, tips, and strategies for students that work—not only for acing standardized tests, but also for drawing key information from any reading material.

What’s inside Preparation for State Reading Assessments?

• 35 high-interest nonfiction reading passages similar to those found on widely used tests
• Multiple-choice and open-ended questions that explore author’s purpose, main idea, tone, context clues, inferences, and more
• Insightful test-taking tips for students to build confidence before any assessment