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Read Lost Star: The Story of Amelia Earhart, Chapter 1: “Flight into Yesterday” – Chapter 3: “Hard Times;” Complete Student Packet Worksheets for Chapters 1-3

Bring in two “treats” that strongly elicit different opinions—for example, a jar of pickles and a chocolate candy bar. Place both of these items in a brown paper bag, so that the class cannot see them. Ask for two volunteer students to describe each item in the bag using facts. For example, “the item is lumpy.” Then, have the remaining students guess what is in the bag. The group will discuss if they could tell what the student’s opinion about the item was, even though they were using facts to describe it. For example, if the student described the pickle as lumpy and green (as opposed to salty and crunchy), did students think that the student liked or disliked the pickle?

will explain that a biographer’s task is to retell the factual life of a person. Often a biographer has a strong opinion about the person they are writing about, as well as the other people and historical events surrounding that person. However, they will not say exactly how they feel because a biography is supposed to be a factual retelling. Just like we figured out the student’s unsaid opinion of the items in the paper bag from the facts that they shared, a good reader thinks about the biographer’s unstated opinion of the subject, to understand how the facts in the story support the author’s opinion.

How can I determine an author’s unstated opinion? First, I identify facts in the text about a particular subject or topic, and then I look for descriptive language that communicates the author’s opinion. Based on the facts that the author shares and the way the author tells the facts, I can draw a conclusion about the author’s opinion. I will model determining an author’s implied opinion in Lost Star: The Story of Amelia Earhart. I will start by answering the question, what is the author’s opinion of Amelia Earhart in the first chapter?

First, I will look for facts that will give me clues as to how the author feels about Amelia in Chapter 1. Fact: Amelia Earhart attempted to break a record by flying around the world at the equator. Fact: Amelia Earhart went on long flights including a 2,600 mile stretch across the Pacific Ocean. Fact: Amelia Earhart was world-famous at the time of her last flight. I will record these facts on Implicit Opinion Chart 1. Note: See Implicit Opinion Chart 1 for specific examples.

Next, I will look for strong, descriptive language that might suggest how the author feels about these facts. I will draw an arrow from the first fact on Implicit Opinion Chart 1 and write that the author describes Amelia as “daring” for her attempt to break records. (p. 1) I will draw an arrow from the second fact and note that the author describes Amelia as unworried by the risks. She “faced them and accepted them.” (p. 2) I will also write down that the author describes Amelia as having great skill. Finally, I will draw an arrow from the last fact and note that the author says that Amelia was not interested in fame, but instead on setting goals and doing them well, and on “encouraging other women to do what they were capable of.” (p. 3).

Finally, I will use the facts and descriptive language that I have recorded on Implicit Opinion Chart 1 to draw my conclusion about the author’s opinion. If the author described Amelia’s attempt to travel the world as unwise, I would know that the author thought Amelia was silly or foolish. Instead, the author describes her ambitions as daring. I can conclude that the author thinks that Amelia is brave, determined and humble. I will record my conclusion on the chart.

Ask: "How can I determine an author’s implied opinion?" Students should answer that you look for the facts that the author chooses to tell that influence your view of the subject. You can also look for strong, descriptive language about the subject of the book. You can then draw a conclusion about how the author feels or what the author thinks about the subject based on these facts.

will answer the question, "What is the author’s opinion about traditional gender roles?"  I will explain that gender roles are what boys and girls are expected to do in society (i.e. girls play with dolls, while boys play with cars). We will start by examining Chapter 2: “Good Times” for facts about gender roles and about Amelia Earhart’s actions in relation to these roles. For example, one fact that the author shares is that Amelia’s mother, Amy was the first woman to reach the top of Pike’s Peak in Colorado. We will record these facts on Implicit Opinion Chart 2. Note: See Implicit Opinion Chart 2 for specific examples.

We will then find descriptive language about gender roles and actions, recording the information on our chart. For example, to figure out whether the author thought Amy’s feat was a good or bad thing, we will want to see what she says about her. The author describes her as pleasant, strong-willed, a skilled-horseback rider and a good dancer. Finally, we will use the facts and descriptive language to draw a conclusion about the author’s opinion and record our conclusion on Implicit Opinion Chart 2.

will complete the Implicit Opinion Worksheet in your Student Packet, which will ask you to draw a conclusion about the author’s opinion of Amelia’s father, Edwin Earhart. (See page 7 in the Student Packet.)

will come together to share our answers to the Implicit Opinion Worksheet. We will discuss the facts that we used to come to our conclusions about the author’s opinion. We will discuss if the author and Amelia felt the same way about Edwin, and how a biography is different than an autobiography. Time permitting, we also might discuss the author’s opinion of hard work, adventure, family, etc.