Foundations of Literacy and Expression · Senior Infants

Active learning ideas

Analysing Author's Purpose and Rhetorical Strategies

Active learning works well for this topic because young children understand author's purpose and strategies best through hands-on exploration and discussion. When students move, talk, and create, they connect abstract concepts like 'persuade' or 'entertain' to real examples they see and hear, building lasting comprehension.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• NCCA: Junior Cycle English - Reading
• NCCA: Junior Cycle English - Engaging with and Responding to Texts

• 20–40 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Philosophical Chairs
• 20 min · Pairs

Pair Share: Purpose Detective

Partners read a picture book aloud. They discuss the author's purpose (entertain, inform, persuade) and circle one strategy like repetition or questions. Pairs share findings with the class.

How do authors use rhetorical devices (e.g., ethos, pathos, logos) to achieve their purpose?

Facilitation Tip

During Pair Share: Purpose Detective, provide picture books with clear purposes and a simple checklist so partners stay focused on identifying the author's goal together.

What to look for

Give students a picture book. Ask them to draw one picture showing the author's purpose (e.g., a happy face for entertainment, a lightbulb for information) and write one word explaining why they chose it.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Social Awareness

Activity 02

• Philosophical Chairs
• 30 min · Small Groups

Small Groups: Strategy Sort

Provide cards with book excerpts showing strategies (funny words, facts, commands). Groups sort them by purpose and explain choices to each other. Display sorts on a class chart.

What is the relationship between an author's purpose, their audience, and their stylistic choices?

Facilitation Tip

For Strategy Sort, give each group only three strategies and six short text snippets so they can test ideas quickly without feeling overwhelmed.

What to look for

During a read-aloud, pause and ask: 'Why do you think the author wrote this part? Is it to make us laugh, teach us something, or tell us what to do?' Record student responses on a chart.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Social Awareness

Activity 03

• Philosophical Chairs
• 40 min · Whole Class

Whole Class: Author Chair

One student sits as author and reads their favourite book page. Class guesses purpose and strategies, then votes on effectiveness. Rotate chairs for all to participate.

How can I identify and evaluate the effectiveness of an author's persuasive techniques?

Facilitation Tip

In Author Chair, model how to ask 'How does this choice help the author?' before passing the chair to keep discussions purposeful and on track.

What to look for

Present two simple texts, one to inform and one to persuade (e.g., a fact sheet about bees vs. a poster asking to save bees). Ask: 'How are these texts different? Who do you think each one is for? How do you know?'

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Social Awareness

Activity 04

• Philosophical Chairs
• 25 min · Individual

Individual: Persuade a Friend

Each child draws a picture and adds words to persuade friends to choose a game or snack. They present to a partner for feedback on strategies used.

How do authors use rhetorical devices (e.g., ethos, pathos, logos) to achieve their purpose?

What to look for

Give students a picture book. Ask them to draw one picture showing the author's purpose (e.g., a happy face for entertainment, a lightbulb for information) and write one word explaining why they chose it.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Social Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should approach this topic by reading aloud daily, pausing to name the author's purpose and point out strategies in the moment. Avoid over-explaining; instead, invite students to notice patterns first. Research shows that repeated exposure to varied texts helps children generalize purpose across genres, so rotate picture books regularly to reinforce the concept.

Successful learning looks like students confidently naming an author's purpose (inform, entertain, persuade, or share feelings) with evidence from the text. They should also explain how strategies like bold words or repeated sounds support that purpose, and adapt their thinking when audience or context changes.

---

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Pair Share: Purpose Detective, watch for students who say 'It's funny' without naming the broader purpose like 'entertain' or 'share feelings'.

  Prompt pairs with 'Does this story make you laugh, or does it want you to feel happy for the characters? How do you know?' to push them beyond surface reactions.

• During Strategy Sort, watch for students who think bold pictures or repeated words happen by accident.

  Have groups test their ideas by covering or removing a strategy and asking 'Does the text still feel the same? Why not?' to reveal author intent.

• During Persuade a Friend, watch for students who assume the same purpose works for every audience.

  Ask them to rewrite their text for a toddler versus an adult, then compare how choices change based on who will read it to highlight audience adaptation.

---

Methods used in this brief

• Philosophical Chairs