Minds On
Defining points of view
Explore the following passage and determine from whose perspective it is told. What clues help you determine the point of view or perspective? Record your ideas using a method of your choice.
I vividly remember the first day of seventh grade. I wish that I had not been so new to this school and community. I looked around the class at so many faces I had never seen before. I was so nervous! A quiet voice broke the silence.
“Hey, I’ve never seen you before.”
I have never felt such a wave of relief. I turned to face the voice. She was smiling at me and reached out her hand, a sense of welcoming in her gesture.
“It is really nice to meet you.” A great joy filled my heart. A wave of hope. I was no longer alone.
Action
Identifying perspective
Point of view is the perspective from which a story is told. There are three different perspectives that are commonly used in literature: first person, second person, and third person.
Press ‘Definitions’ to reveal definitions for the three different perspectives.
First person: In this perspective, a character in the story narrates the events that take place. First person pronouns include, I, my, me, mine, myself.
Second person: This perspective belongs to you! The reader is a character, or perhaps the main character, in a story and the story and/or events are happening to them. Second-person pronouns include, you, your, yourself.
Third person: This perspective belongs to the character(s) being talked about. The author narrates a story about the characters and uses third-person pronouns that can include, they/them/theirs/themself, she/her/hers/herself, he/him/his/himself, it/its/itself.
As pictured below, you can determine whose perspective is presented by the pronouns used. For example:
- First person: I, my, me, mine, myself
- Second person: you, your, yourself
- Third person: they/them/theirs/themself, she/her/hers/herself, he/him/his/himself, it/its/itself
First person “I, my, me, mine, myself,” second “You, your, yourself,” third “they/them/theirs/themself, she/her/hers/herself, he/him/his/himself, it/its/itself.”
First, second, or third?
Examine each example below and determine from which perspective it is told. First, second, or third? How do you know? Use clues from each example to explain your thinking. For each example, select the missing word from the drop-down menu.
Exploring perspective in articles
Authors who write articles make decisions about whose voices are being shared when they write their article. They are often informing or persuading their audience and need to tell their story from a certain perspective.
Explore “High-speed rail is a win for cities. But who loses?,” or select an article of your choice and respond to the following questions:
- Whose perspective is presented? Provide examples from the text to support your thinking.
- Are there alternative perspectives presented throughout this article? How do you know? Whose perspective is missing from this article?
- Suggest other possible perspectives that could be presented in the article.
Use the Perspective Chart to record your thinking or another method of your choice.
Press 'TVO.org' to access High-speed rail is a win for cities. But who
loses?
| Whose perspective is presented? | Evidence from the text: |
|---|---|
Complete the Perspective Chart in your notebook or by using the following fillable and printable document.
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the Perspective Chart.
Consolidation
Bringing it all together
Return to the article that you selected in the Action section. Use the following questions to reflect on the author’s perspective and the possibility of alternative perspectives.
- Do you agree with the author’s choice of perspective? Why or why not?
- Explain how the meaning of the text would change if the author selected a different perspective. How might the "feeling" of the article change? What other information would the text have to include?
Record your responses using a method of your choice.
Reflection
As you read the following descriptions, select the one that best describes your current understanding of the learning in this activity. Press the corresponding button once you have made your choice.
I feel...
Now, expand on your ideas by recording your thoughts using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
When you review your notes on this learning activity later, reflect on whether you would select a different description based on your further review of the material in this learning activity.