The Author's Point and Yours
A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on distinguishing your own point of view from that of the author of a text.
The Author's Point and Yours is a free 40-minute Grade 3 English lesson plan for Common Core standard RI.3.6 — separate what you think from what the author thinks. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Grade 3
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- RI.3.6
Grade 3 · Reading: Informational Text
RI.3.6
Distinguish their own point of view from that of the author of a text.
Objective
Students will be able to state the author's point of view from the text and their own separately.
Students are successful when they can
- States the author's view with evidence.
- States their own view.
- Names a word choice that revealed the author's view.
What you need
- A text with a clear stance
- Two columns: author, me
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — loaded words
5 min- Give three pairs: cheap and inexpensive, stubborn and determined, crowd and mob.
- Ask what each pair has in common and what differs.
Teach — the view is in the word choice
13 min- Read the text. State the author's view.
- Find the words that revealed it — usually adjectives and verbs, rarely a direct statement.
- Replace one with a neutral word and reread. The stance weakens.
- Fill your own column. Say that it needs no evidence from the text because it is not from the text.
- Compare. Note where you agree and where you do not.
“The author never says 'I think'. They chose the word 'crammed' instead of 'filled', and that is the same thing.”
Guided practice — find three words
12 min- Pairs find three loaded words and say what each reveals.
- They state the author's view and their own.
- They mark one place they disagree with the author.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the author's-view page.
- The passage is on the sheet.
Close
2 min- Take one loaded word and what it revealed.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Says the author has no view because it is a factual text.
Why: Facts feel neutral.
Fix: Ask which facts were chosen, and which words. Selection is a view.
States their own view as the author's.
Why: Agreeing with a text makes the two indistinguishable.
Fix: The author's column needs a quotation. Their own does not.
Looks only for 'I think' statements.
Why: That is what a stated view looks like.
Fix: Point at word choice. Most stances are carried in adjectives, not declarations.
If they are not there yet
- Give the author's view and find the words.
- A text with an obvious stance.
If they finish early
- Rewrite a paragraph with the opposite stance.
- Find a genuinely neutral passage.
- Compare two authors' views of one event.
Exit ticket
What is the author's view? Name a word that reveals it. What do you think?
What to look for: A named word. 'They think it is good' with no evidence means the loaded-words warm-up needs repeating.
Printable practice for RI.3.6
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- The Author's View and MineRead the text, then answer the questions.
Questions about The Author's Point and Yours
How long does the The Author's Point and Yours lesson take?
40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does The Author's Point and Yours teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.6 — RI.3.6, Reading: Informational Text for Grade 3: “Distinguish their own point of view from that of the author of a text.” In plain terms, separate what you think from what the author thinks.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
A text with a clear stance, two columns: author, me and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: says the author has no view because it is a factual text; states their own view as the author's and looks only for 'I think' statements. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “What is the author's view? Name a word that reveals it. What do you think?.” A named word. 'They think it is good' with no evidence means the loaded-words warm-up needs repeating. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with The Author's Point and Yours?
Yes — 1 printable RI.3.6 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is The Author's Point and Yours free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to RI.3.6 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.