MAP 8th Grade Reading

A comprehensive course designed to prepare 8th graders for the MAP Reading assessment by building advanced reading comprehension, analysis, and real-world literacy skills.

Understanding Main Ideas and DetailsMaking InferencesInterpreting Literary Devices
Analyzing Author’s Purpose and PerspectiveEvaluating Arguments and EvidenceComparing and Contrasting Texts
Reading for InformationApplying Context CluesSynthesizing Information
Active Reading TechniquesTime Management for Reading Tests
Understanding Main I...Making InferencesInterpreting Literar...Analyzing Author’s P...Evaluating Arguments...Comparing and Contra...Reading for Informat...Applying Context Clu...Synthesizing Informa...Active Reading Techn...Time Management for ...
Advanced Topics

Analyzing Author’s Purpose and Perspective

Why Did the Author Write This?

Every author has a reason for writing, called the author's purpose. It might be to inform, persuade, entertain, or express feelings.

Finding the Purpose

  • Look at the type of text (story, article, ad, etc.).
  • Check how the author presents facts or opinions.
  • Notice the language—does it try to convince, tell a story, or share information?

Perspective: The Author’s Viewpoint

The author's perspective is their unique way of seeing the world, shaped by their background, beliefs, and experiences.

Real-World Value

Analyzing purpose and perspective helps you spot bias, understand arguments, and become a critical reader—important skills for school, media, and daily life.

Examples

  • An article about healthy eating uses facts to inform; an ad uses emotional language to persuade.

  • A story about moving to a new city may reflect the author’s own experiences.

In a Nutshell

Understanding purpose and perspective reveals why and how authors communicate.

Key Terms

Author’s Purpose
The reason an author writes a text.
Perspective
An author’s viewpoint or attitude toward a topic.
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Evaluating Arguments and Evidence