Unit 3

How Does the Human Body Work?

Reader's Notebook

Reading in Science

Analyze What You Read, page 127 of Literacy in Action 5A. 


Click each coloured row for information about the activity.


Every author has a purpose when they write.


The author's purpose in writing the web pages Body Organs: Your Brain is to explain how the brain works. Reread the web pages here and here, to see how well the author has accomplished their purpose.

Good readers question what they read - they do not believe everything they read. This is called taking a critical stance. They ask questions and think carefully about what they are reading. When they read explanations, they start by asking themselves, "What does the writer or author want me to think or do?" Then, they analyze the ideas and information.

  1. Read Analyze What You Read on Page 127 of Literacy in Action 5A.
  2. Facts are objective and verifiable.  They are true and agreed upon. Facts are related to reality or the world you observe around you. Even if you are not aware of the fact that saliva helps you break down the food in your mouth as you chew, the fact does not change.  Both science and history rely on facts.  If your beliefs do not correspond to the world around you, it is a sign something is wrong.
  3. Answer Questions 1 to 3 in the During Reading section of the Reader's Notebook: Analyze What You Read.
    1.  How facts are communicated may differ.  For example people may use different forms: reports, presentations, letters, scientific logs, journals, and notebooks to share facts.  They may share facts in different orders: step by step, in time sequence (chronological), or from big idea to little idea. People may select different facts to share than others might select.  Or, they may explain the same science topic in different ways because they have different experiences, background knowledge, and points of view. For example, a parent probably would not explain how a heart works the same way that a doctor would. Or a student would not explain how to play a sport in exactly the same way that a coach would. Different communication styles however, do not change facts.
    2. Answer Questions 4 and 5 in the During Reading section of the Reader's Notebook: Analyze What You Read.




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      Points of View


      There are always different points of view and when reading explanations, it is a good idea to think about who wrote the piece and what background they have in the topic. It is also important to see what someone else might say about the topic. For example, when you read about body systems, you need to think about whether it is written from a medical point of view (where the scientific facts are likely to be true) or from someone who wants to sell me something like a new gym membership.

      Once again, examine the web pages Body Organs: Your Brain but try to think about it from a different point of view. To help you with this, answer the questions in the After Reading section of the Reader's Notebook: Analyze What You Read.


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