When authors write, their stories often reflect their own feelings or beliefs. 

This is call the

Author's Viewpoint

The author reveals his viewpoint through his choice of words. 

You can look for clues in the author's writing.

Read this article.  What is the author's viewpoint?  Look for clues.

         The average school day for kindergarteners is getting longer, and it's paying off in improved reading skills.  Public schoolchildren who attended kindergarten for a full day showed more improvement than those enrolled in half-day programs.  This improvement will be carried on in elementary school and even high school.  These children will be able to get better jobs when they are adults.

       What is the author's viewpoint of full day kindergarten?

                                He's in favor of it.

                     What are the clues?

                          improved reading skills

                      paying off

                       more improvement

                       get better jobs

Now read this article on the same topic.

       The trend toward full day kindergarten  
   programs in public schools is taking its toll on
   the young children of today.  Recent studies
   showing improved reading skills may be
   misleading. This improvement in reading is
   unlikely to carry on as these children progress
   through elementary school. 

What is the author's viewpoint
of full day kindergarten?

                           He doesn't favor it.

What are the clues?

                            taking its toll

                            studies are misleading

                            unlikely to carry on

Read another article.  What is the author's viewpoint?  Look for clues.

       This is the time of year when many young birds are preparing to leave the nest.  If you find a young bird on the ground peeping and looking deserted, leave it alone!  Birds often leave the nest before they can fly.  Too often well-meaning people will interfere with nature.  The sounds the bird makes are not cries for help.  The calls help the parents to locate the bird when they come back with food.

What is the author's viewpoint of helping birds?
People shouldn't interfere.

What are the clues?
leave it alone
well-meaning people will interfere
not cries for help

         I love to watch birds!  It always amazes me
   how they can build those nests!  I like to leave
   scraps of hair and yarn out for them to find. 
   They'll use these things and weave them into a
   nest.  Being a parent is a hard job, and the birds
   can use all the help they can get.

What is the author's viewpoint of helping birds?

          People should help the birds.

                       What are the clues?

                       leave scraps of hair and yarn out

                       a hard job

                       can use help