®
Guided
Reading
biography
790L
Dorothea Lange:
Photographer with
a Heart
Written by Sara McIntosh Wooten
Key IDEA This biography focuses on the life and work of
Depression-era photojournalist Dorothea Lange. Some of her
photographs have become lasting images of American life
during the Great Depression.
Session 1 Text Selection: pp. 5–16
Session Learning Focus/Standards
Students
key idea: text selection In chapters 1–2, the author states her point of view that Lange is one of
the greatest photographers of the twentieth century. Then, she provides details and evidence from
Lange’s early years to show how Lange achieved this status.
RI.4.1* Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a
text, referring to the text as the basis for the answers, both explicit and
implicit.
*standard adapted from another grade
SL.4.3 Identify the reasons and evidence a speaker provides to support
particular points.
Comments for future instruction:
✓= demonstrated/articulated
Previewing the Text X = not demonstrated/not articulated
5 minutes
ead the back cover quietly to yourselves. I think it’ll be interesting to find out what Lange
R
means when she says that photography alters or changes life by holding it still. How do you
think a photograph might hold life still?
What did you learn about Lange’s use of photography?
Reading the Text 10 minutes
In a biography, the author does not include every detail about a person’s life. They choose what
they think are the most important details to relate to readers. Many of the biographical details are
stated explicitly or directly. However, the author may have other ideas about the importance of
Mondo Bookshop Grade 4 1
these details that are implicit or suggested. As readers, we may ask and answer questions about
both types of ideas to help us understand the text. As we read today, pay close attention to the
stated details and to the suggested importance of these details. Who can ask a question about
Dorothea’s seventh grade year as the author describes it on page 9?
Who can tell us the answer based on explicit text details?
hy is it important that Dorothea knows what it feels like to be an outsider? Who can tell us the
W
answer based on the author’s implicit or suggested ideas?
ur work as readers today is to think about what the author tells us and why the author
O
chooses to relate these particular details by asking and answering questions. I wonder what
other struggles in Dorothea’s early life contribute to her interests as an adult.
Discussing the Text 10 minutes
hen you make a point during discussion, be sure to support it with reasons and evidence. In
W
addition to feeling like an outsider, what other important lessons or skills does Dorothea learn
during her early life?
Why might this skill be important for a photographer?
any English words are built from affixes and roots that come from Greek and Latin. By
M
knowing the meanings of common affixes and roots, you can often determine the meanings
of unknown words. For example, photo (Greek) means “light,” and graph (Greek) means
“write.” What is a photograph?
ou did a great job thinking about the relationship between explicit and implicit details.
Y
Remember to identify this relationship in other biographies you read.
2 Dorothea Lange: Photographer with a Heart
®
Guided
Reading
biography
790L
Dorothea Lange:
Photographer with
a Heart
Written by Sara McIntosh Wooten
Key IDEA This biography focuses on the life and work of
Depression-era photojournalist Dorothea Lange. Some of her
photographs have become lasting images of American life
during the Great Depression.
Students
Session 2 Text Selection: pp. 5–16
Session Learning Focus/Standards
RI.4.1* Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a
text, referring to the text as the basis for the answers, both explicit and
implicit.
*standard adapted from another grade
RI.4.6* Identify author’s point of view about the topic and determine if
there is a bias. Distinguish their own point of view and determine if the
author’s arguments are fair or unfair.
*standard adapted from another grade
RI.4.8 Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support
particular points in a text.
SL.4.3 Identify the reasons and evidence a speaker provides to support
particular points.
Comments for future instruction:
✓= demonstrated/articulated
Returning to the TExt X = not demonstrated/not articulated
5 minutes
Let’s quickly review our discussion from the last session.
Several of you found good details in the text to support this review.
Mondo Bookshop Grade 4 1
Reading the Text 10 minutes
e read to identify the explicit details the author provides and to understand the implied
W
importance of these details. Today, as we reread, we are going think about how the author’s
words convey her point of view toward the subject and how she supports this point of
view with reasons and evidence. Let’s read page 5. Read this text closely to ask and
answer questions that will help you determine the author’s point of view or attitude toward
Dorothea.
What reasons can you find that the author gives to support this point of view?
What evidence can you find that the author gives to support this reason?
t this point in the biography, do you think the author’s point of view regarding Dorothea’s
A
greatness fair? Why or why not?
Let’s keep reading to page 16.
Discussing the Text 10 minutes
emember that an author must support her point of view with reasons and evidence. What
R
other reasons can you find that the author gives to support her point of view regarding
Dorothea’s greatness?
Okay, what evidence supports this reason?
hy might studying photography in different ways and with different people lead to
W
greatness?
et’s have a close read of the first full paragraph on page 5. We already discussed the word
L
photograph. Notice here that the suffix -er has been added. This suffix means “person
connected with.” The suffix -s has also been added; this suffix forms the plural. who can tell
what are photographers?
e’ve talked a lot about the author’s point of view regarding Dorothea. We have also paid
W
close attention to how the author blends explicit and implicit ideas. How does identifying the
author’s point of view and identifying her reasons and evidence help us as readers?
e can use this same skill when listening to a speaker share a point of view with reasons and
W
evidence.
2 Dorothea Lange: Photographer with a Heart
®
Guided
Reading
biography
790L
Dorothea Lange:
Photographer with
a Heart
Written by Sara McIntosh Wooten
Key IDEA This biography focuses on the life and work of
Depression-era photojournalist Dorothea Lange. Some of her
photographs have become lasting images of American life
during the Great Depression.
Session 3 Text Selection: pp. 17–33
Students
key idea: text selection In chapters 3–4, Lange transitions from a portrait photographer to a
photojournalist. The author continues to support her point of view regarding Lange’s greatness with
reasons, implicit and explicit details, and other evidence.
Session Learning Focus/Standards
RI.4.1* Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a
text, referring to the text as the basis for the answers, both explicit and
implicit.
*standard adapted from another grade
RI.4.6* Identify author’s point of view about the topic and determine if
there is a bias. Distinguish their own point of view and determine if the
author’s arguments are fair or unfair.
*standard adapted from another grade
RI.4.8 Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support
particular points in a text.
SL.4.3 Identify the reasons and evidence a speaker provides to support
particular points.
Comments for future instruction:
✓= demonstrated/articulated
RETURNING TO THE TEXT X = not demonstrated/not articulated
5 minutes
s the author defends her point of view regarding Lange’s greatness, we note explicit details
A
and their implied importance. Also, we recognize supporting reasons and evidence. Who can
share how these strategies help us?
Mondo Bookshop Grade 4 1
READING THE TEXT 10 minutes
oday we will pay attention to how the author uses explicit and implicit reasons and evidence
T
to support her point of view. In chapter three, we learn something about Dorothea’s process
as a portrait photographer. Who can ask a question about her process?
Who can use explicit and implicit ideas to answer?
Let’s read to find out more about Dorothea’s greatness.
Discussing THE TEXT 10 minutes
et’s compare the author’s point of view regarding Dorothea with your point of view. Thus
L
far, do you think the author presented a fair evaluation of Dorothea?
Do you agree with the author that Dorothea is a great photographer?
ou’ll finish the rest of the book on your own. You may want to use two-column charts to
Y
record questions and answers or to list reasons and evidence that support the author’s point
of view. Why do you think it might be important to analyze the author’s argument?
Support your points with reasons and evidence.
2 Dorothea Lange: Photographer with a Heart