Read the Prereading information on page 789 and the author biography on page 792. Review the text under the Reader’s Toolbox, and discuss the author’s aims or purposes. Take into consideration that this selection is a speech, and discuss the likely aims of Chief Ten Bears in creating this speech. You will read to identify his purpose in writing and delivering the speech.
1. Follow along in the text as your teacher reads the first two paragraphs aloud. As a class, discuss the information contained. What purpose might Chief Ten Bears have had for including this information? Jot down clues from the text, such as loaded language and content.
2. Read the remainder of the selection independently. Record in your notebook your thoughts about Chief Ten Bears’s purpose for writing the selection.
If you have difficulty applying the reading strategy, try rereading the selection. Look for clues that lead you to the author’s purpose, including word choice, sentence structure, tone, and so on.
When you have finished reading, discuss with a group the thoughts you recorded about the author’s purpose for writing. Then, write a brief essay explaining your thoughts and using evidence from the text to support your opinions. Share your essay with your group.