Before Reading

Learn about Aims

Read about a writer’s aim (purpose or goal) on page 656. As you read “Two Girls...,” try to figure out if the writer is trying to inform, tell a story, entertain, enlighten, or persuade.

During Reading

Determine the Author’s Aims

Read the poem looking for the writer’s aim. After you finish reading the poem, decide whether the author’s purpose is to inform, tell a story, entertain, enlighten, or persuade. Explain your answer in your notebook.

Fix-Up Idea: Use Guided Reading Questions

If you are having difficulty determining the author’s aim, read and answer the Guided Reading Questions. Then read the poem again, looking for why the author may have written the poem. There are several possible answers, but you must show how the poem supports the aim you select.

After Reading

Share Ideas about the Author’s Aims

Discuss your ideas about the author’s aims with the class. Be ready to show support for the aim you chose.