Advanced

Tutor model

i62 💰:9.4

i52 💰:7.9

🏆 i67 💰:62.5

i70 💰:125.0

i68 💰:125.0

🏆 i66 💰:75.0

i65 💰:125.0

i63 💰:62.5

i61 💰:75.0

i60 💰:9.4

i60 💰:37.5

i58 💰:62.5

i57 💰:22.5

i57 💰:37.5

i56 💰:45.0

⚡ i55 💰:11.25

i55 💰:37.5

i54 💰:62.5

i52 💰:35.0

i51 💰:37.5

i49 💰:15.0

i49 💰:62.5

i48 💰:11.3

i47 💰:7.5

i44 💰:25.0

i43 💰:37.5

i42 💰:187.5

i40 💰:5.0

i39 💰:100.0

i38 💰:37.5

i37 💰:11.0

i36 💰:187.5

i34 💰:12.5

i33 💰:37.5

i30 💰:1.0

i29 💰:1.5

i28 💰:150.0

i23 💰:20.0

i20 💰:4.0

i18 💰:1.0

i16 💰:25.0

i13 💰:1.5

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Override for the tutor's lesson content generation calls. Auto uses the system default (Claude Sonnet 5 for lesson text, Opus 5 for diagrams).

Lesson generation model

System default

i58 💰:18.8

i31 💰:11.0

i25 💰:31.3

Tutoring abilities

If a friend runs up to you and shouts, "You have to play this new video game right now!" what is the very first thing you ask?

You ask, "Why?" When writers create informational texts, they answer that exact same question for you.

To understand how authors build their ideas, let's look at the relationship between what an author thinks and why they think it.

An author's **point** is the main claim or idea they want you to believe.

A **reason** is an explanation that tells *why* the author's point is true.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <meta name="aspect-ratio" content="4:3">
  <title>Author's Point and Reasons</title>
  <style>
    * {
      box-sizing: border-box;
      margin: 0;
      padding: 0;
      user-select: none;
      -webkit-user-select: none;
    }

    body {
      font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, sans-serif;
      background: transparent;
      color: #1e2945;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: space-between;
      min-height: 100vh;
      padding: 16px 12px;
      overflow: hidden;
    }

    /* Top Controls */
    .controls {
      display: flex;
      gap: 8px;
      margin-bottom: 8px;
      z-index: 10;
    }

    .btn {
      padding: 8px 16px;
      font-size: 14px;
      font-weight: 600;
      border-radius: 20px;
      border: 1px solid #cbd5e1;
      background: #ffffff;
      color: #475569;
      cursor: pointer;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 6px;
      box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
      transition: all 0.2s ease;
    }

    .btn.active {
      background: #0284c7;
      color: #ffffff;
      border-color: #0284c7;
      box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(2, 132, 199, 0.3);
    }

    /* Diagram Stage */
    .stage {
      position: relative;
      width: 100%;
      max-width: 440px;
      height: 280px;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: flex-end;
    }

    /* Table Structure */
    .table-rig {
      position: absolute;
      top: 24px;
      width: 100%;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      transition: transform 0.45s cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.3, 0.64, 1);
      transform-origin: center bottom;
      z-index: 5;
    }

    .table-top {
      width: 92%;
      background: #0284c7;
      color: #ffffff;
      padding: 14px 12px;
      border-radius: 12px;
      text-align: center;
      font-size: 18px;
      font-weight: 700;
      letter-spacing: 0.3px;
      box-shadow: 0 6px 16px rgba(2, 132, 199, 0.25);
      position: relative;
      z-index: 6;
      border: 2px solid #0369a1;
    }

    .pillars-container {
      width: 86%;
      display: flex;
      justify-content: space-between;
      gap: 12px;
      margin-top: -2px;
    }

    .pillar {
      flex: 1;
      height: 120px;
      background: #ffffff;
      border: 2px solid #e2e8f0;
      border-top: none;
      border-radius: 0 0 10px 10px;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      gap: 6px;
      cursor: pointer;
      box-shadow: 0 4px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);
      transition: transform 0.35s ease, opacity 0.35s ease, border-color 0.2s ease;
    }

    .pillar:hover {
      border-color: #0284c7;
    }

    .pillar-icon {
      font-size: 18px;
      color: #0284c7;
    }

    .pillar-label {
      font-size: 13px;
      font-weight: 700;
      color: #1e2945;
    }

    .pillar.removed {
      opacity: 0.15;
      transform: translateY(35px) scaleY(0.7);
      pointer-events: auto;
      border-style: dashed;
    }

    /* Table states */
    .table-rig.state-3 {
      transform: translateY(0px) rotate(0deg);
    }
    .table-rig.state-2-left {
      transform: translateY(8px) rotate(4deg);
    }
    .table-rig.state-2-right {
      transform: translateY(8px) rotate(-4deg);
    }
    .table-rig.state-2-outer {
      transform: translateY(0px) rotate(0deg);
    }
    .table-rig.state-1-left {
      transform: translateY(65px) rotate(24deg);
    }
    .table-rig.state-1-mid {
      transform: translateY(30px) rotate(-14deg);
    }
    .table-rig.state-1-right {
      transform: translateY(65px) rotate(-24deg);
    }
    .table-rig.state-0 {
      transform: translateY(115px) rotate(-7deg);
    }

    /* Floor */
    .floor {
      width: 100%;
      height: 12px;
      background: #e2e8f0;
      border-radius: 6px;
      position: relative;
      z-index: 1;
    }

    /* Status Indicator */
    .status-badge {
      display: inline-flex;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 6px;
      font-size: 13px;
      font-weight: 600;
      padding: 6px 14px;
      border-radius: 20px;
      margin-top: 4px;
      transition: all 0.3s ease;
    }

    .status-badge.stable {
      background: #e0f2fe;
      color: #0369a1;
    }

    .status-badge.unstable {
      background: #fee2e2;
      color: #b91c1c;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>

  
  <div class="controls">
    <button class="btn active" id="btnAll" onclick="setAll(true)">✦ Supported</button>
    <button class="btn" id="btnNone" onclick="setAll(false)">✕ No Reasons</button>
  </div>

  
  <div class="stage">
    <div class="table-rig state-3" id="tableRig">
      <div class="table-top">Point</div>
      <div class="pillars-container">
        <div class="pillar" id="p0" onclick="togglePillar(0)">
          <span class="pillar-icon">▲</span>
          <span class="pillar-label">Reason 1</span>
        </div>
        <div class="pillar" id="p1" onclick="togglePillar(1)">
          <span class="pillar-icon">▲</span>
          <span class="pillar-label">Reason 2</span>
        </div>
        <div class="pillar" id="p2" onclick="togglePillar(2)">
          <span class="pillar-icon">▲</span>
          <span class="pillar-label">Reason 3</span>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>

    
    <div class="floor"></div>
  </div>

  
  <div class="status-badge stable" id="statusBadge">
    <span>✓</span> Supported & Strong
  </div>

  <script>
    const pillars = [true, true, true];
    const rig = document.getElementById('tableRig');
    const badge = document.getElementById('statusBadge');
    const btnAll = document.getElementById('btnAll');
    const btnNone = document.getElementById('btnNone');

    function update() {
      // Update pillar element classes
      pillars.forEach((active, i) => {
        const el = document.getElementById('p' + i);
        if (active) {
          el.classList.remove('removed');
        } else {
          el.classList.add('removed');
        }
      });

      const count = pillars.filter(Boolean).length;

      // Update button highlights
      btnAll.classList.toggle('active', count === 3);
      btnNone.classList.toggle('active', count === 0);

      // Determine Table Rig transform state
      rig.className = 'table-rig';

      if (count === 3) {
        rig.classList.add('state-3');
        badge.className = 'status-badge stable';
        badge.innerHTML = '<span>✓</span> Supported & Strong';
      } else if (count === 2) {
        if (pillars[0] && pillars[1]) rig.classList.add('state-2-left');
        else if (pillars[1] && pillars[2]) rig.classList.add('state-2-right');
        else rig.classList.add('state-2-outer');
        badge.className = 'status-badge stable';
        badge.innerHTML = '<span>✓</span> Supported';
      } else if (count === 1) {
        if (pillars[0]) rig.classList.add('state-1-left');
        else if (pillars[1]) rig.classList.add('state-1-mid');
        else rig.classList.add('state-1-right');
        badge.className = 'status-badge unstable';
        badge.innerHTML = '<span>⚠</span> Weak Support';
      } else {
        rig.classList.add('state-0');
        badge.className = 'status-badge unstable';
        badge.innerHTML = '<span>✕</span> Falls Over';
      }
    }

    function togglePillar(index) {
      pillars[index] = !pillars[index];
      update();
    }

    function setAll(state) {
      pillars[0] = state;
      pillars[1] = state;
      pillars[2] = state;
      update();
    }
  </script>
</body>
</html>

Think of the point like a tabletop: without strong **reasons** underneath to hold it up, the claim falls right over.

So how do you track down these reasons when you are reading a long passage?

Authors leave trail markers called **signal words** to introduce their reasons.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<meta name="aspect-ratio" content="4:3">
<title>Signal Words Trail</title>
<style>
  * { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; }
  body {
    font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, sans-serif;
    background: transparent;
    color: #1e293b;
    padding: 12px;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    min-height: 100%;
    user-select: none;
  }

  .nav-tabs {
    display: flex;
    gap: 8px;
    margin-bottom: 20px;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    justify-content: center;
  }

  .tab-btn {
    background: #ffffff;
    border: 2px solid #e2e8f0;
    padding: 8px 16px;
    border-radius: 20px;
    font-size: 15px;
    font-weight: 600;
    color: #64748b;
    cursor: pointer;
    transition: all 0.25s ease;
  }

  .tab-btn.active {
    background: #0284c7;
    border-color: #0284c7;
    color: #ffffff;
    box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(2, 132, 199, 0.25);
  }

  .trail-container {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    gap: 10px;
    width: 100%;
    max-width: 580px;
    position: relative;
  }

  .trail-card {
    flex: 1;
    min-height: 140px;
    background: #ffffff;
    border-radius: 16px;
    padding: 16px 12px;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    text-align: center;
    box-shadow: 0 4px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05);
    border: 2px solid transparent;
    transition: transform 0.3s ease, border-color 0.3s ease;
  }

  .icon {
    font-size: 28px;
    margin-bottom: 8px;
    line-height: 1;
  }

  .label {
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 700;
    text-transform: uppercase;
    letter-spacing: 0.5px;
  }

  .value {
    font-size: 16px;
    font-weight: 600;
    margin-top: 4px;
  }

  /* Specific Card Styles */
  .card-point {
    border-color: #e2e8f0;
    background: #f8fafc;
  }
  .card-point .label { color: #64748b; }
  .card-point .value { color: #334155; }

  .card-signal {
    border-color: #f59e0b;
    background: #fffbeb;
    box-shadow: 0 6px 20px rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.15);
    transform: translateY(-4px);
  }
  .card-signal .label { color: #d97706; }
  .card-signal .value {
    color: #b45309;
    font-weight: 800;
    font-size: 17px;
    background: #fef3c7;
    padding: 3px 10px;
    border-radius: 8px;
  }

  .card-reason {
    border-color: #10b981;
    background: #f0fdf4;
  }
  .card-reason .label { color: #059669; }
  .card-reason .value { color: #047857; }

  .arrow {
    font-size: 20px;
    color: #94a3b8;
    font-weight: bold;
  }

  @media (max-width: 480px) {
    .trail-container {
      flex-direction: column;
      gap: 8px;
    }
    .trail-card {
      width: 100%;
      min-height: 70px;
      flex-direction: row;
      justify-content: flex-start;
      padding: 10px 16px;
      gap: 12px;
      text-align: left;
    }
    .card-signal {
      transform: none;
    }
    .icon {
      font-size: 24px;
      margin-bottom: 0;
    }
    .text-group {
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
    }
    .arrow {
      transform: rotate(90deg);
      line-height: 12px;
    }
  }
</style>
</head>
<body>

<div class="nav-tabs">
  <button class="tab-btn active" onclick="setSignal(0)">because</button>
  <button class="tab-btn" onclick="setSignal(1)">for this reason</button>
  <button class="tab-btn" onclick="setSignal(2)">since</button>
</div>

<div class="trail-container">
  <div class="trail-card card-point">
    <div class="icon">📌</div>
    <div class="text-group">
      <div class="label">Point</div>
      <div class="value">Claim</div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <div class="arrow">➔</div>

  <div class="trail-card card-signal">
    <div class="icon">🚩</div>
    <div class="text-group">
      <div class="label">Signal Word</div>
      <div class="value" id="signal-text">because</div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <div class="arrow">➔</div>

  <div class="trail-card card-reason">
    <div class="icon">💡</div>
    <div class="text-group">
      <div class="label">Reason</div>
      <div class="value">Why</div>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<script>
  const signals = ["because", "for this reason", "since"];
  const buttons = document.querySelectorAll('.tab-btn');
  const signalText = document.getElementById('signal-text');

  function setSignal(index) {
    buttons.forEach((btn, i) => {
      btn.classList.toggle('active', i === index);
    });
    signalText.textContent = signals[index];
  }
</script>

</body>
</html>

Whenever you spot words like **because** or **for this reason**, stop and pay close attention — an explanation is right around the corner.

Let's put this skill to work on a real science passage about ocean life.

Read the paragraph below and look for the author's central point and the reasons that support it.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <meta name="aspect-ratio" content="4:3">
  <title>Point and Supporting Reasons</title>
  <style>
    * {
      box-sizing: border-box;
      margin: 0;
      padding: 0;
      font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif;
      -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;
    }

    body {
      background: transparent;
      color: #1e2945;
      padding: 12px;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      min-height: 100%;
    }

    .container {
      width: 100%;
      max-width: 520px;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      gap: 12px;
      align-items: center;
    }

    /* Central Point Top Card */
    .roof-card {
      width: 100%;
      background: #ffffff;
      border: 2px solid #0284c7;
      border-radius: 12px;
      padding: 12px 16px;
      text-align: center;
      box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(2, 132, 199, 0.08);
      position: relative;
      transition: transform 0.3s ease, box-shadow 0.3s ease;
    }

    .roof-tag {
      font-size: 11px;
      font-weight: 700;
      text-transform: uppercase;
      letter-spacing: 0.5px;
      color: #0284c7;
      margin-bottom: 2px;
    }

    .roof-title {
      font-size: 16px;
      font-weight: 700;
      color: #0f172a;
    }

    /* Downward Support Arrows */
    .connectors {
      display: grid;
      grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
      width: 100%;
      text-align: center;
      color: #0284c7;
      font-size: 16px;
      line-height: 1;
    }

    /* Supporting Pillars Grid */
    .pillars-grid {
      display: grid;
      grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
      gap: 10px;
      width: 100%;
    }

    .pillar-card {
      background: #ffffff;
      border: 2px solid #e2e8f0;
      border-radius: 12px;
      padding: 14px 8px;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      text-align: center;
      gap: 6px;
      cursor: pointer;
      user-select: none;
      transition: border-color 0.25s ease, background-color 0.25s ease, transform 0.25s ease;
    }

    .pillar-card:active {
      transform: translateY(2px);
    }

    .pillar-card.active {
      border-color: #0284c7;
      background: #f0f9ff;
    }

    .pillar-icon {
      font-size: 26px;
      line-height: 1;
    }

    .pillar-tag {
      font-size: 11px;
      font-weight: 700;
      color: #0284c7;
      text-transform: uppercase;
    }

    .pillar-text {
      font-size: 13px;
      font-weight: 600;
      color: #334155;
      line-height: 1.2;
    }

    /* Stepper Controls */
    .controls {
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      gap: 8px;
      margin-top: 4px;
    }

    .btn-step {
      background: #f1f5f9;
      border: 1px solid #cbd5e1;
      border-radius: 8px;
      padding: 6px 12px;
      font-size: 12px;
      font-weight: 600;
      color: #334155;
      cursor: pointer;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 4px;
      user-select: none;
    }

    .btn-step:active {
      background: #e2e8f0;
    }

    .dot {
      width: 8px;
      height: 8px;
      border-radius: 50%;
      background: #cbd5e1;
      cursor: pointer;
      transition: background 0.2s ease, transform 0.2s ease;
    }

    .dot.active {
      background: #0284c7;
      transform: scale(1.25);
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <div class="container">
    
    
    <div class="roof-card" id="mainPoint">
      <div class="roof-tag">Central Point</div>
      <div class="roof-title">Otters Protect Oceans 🦦</div>
    </div>

    
    <div class="connectors">
      <span>▲</span>
      <span>▲</span>
      <span>▲</span>
    </div>

    
    <div class="pillars-grid">
      <div class="pillar-card active" data-index="0">
        <div class="pillar-icon">🦔</div>
        <div class="pillar-tag">Reason 1</div>
        <div class="pillar-text">Eat Sea<br>Urchins</div>
      </div>

      <div class="pillar-card" data-index="1">
        <div class="pillar-icon">🌿</div>
        <div class="pillar-tag">Reason 2</div>
        <div class="pillar-text">Save Kelp<br>Forests</div>
      </div>

      <div class="pillar-card" data-index="2">
        <div class="pillar-icon">⚖️</div>
        <div class="pillar-tag">Reason 3</div>
        <div class="pillar-text">Balance Ocean<br>Life</div>
      </div>
    </div>

    
    <div class="controls">
      <button class="btn-step" id="prevBtn">◀</button>
      <div class="dot active" data-index="0"></div>
      <div class="dot" data-index="1"></div>
      <div class="dot" data-index="2"></div>
      <button class="btn-step" id="nextBtn">▶</button>
    </div>

  </div>

  <script>
    const pillars = document.querySelectorAll('.pillar-card');
    const dots = document.querySelectorAll('.dot');
    const prevBtn = document.getElementById('prevBtn');
    const nextBtn = document.getElementById('nextBtn');

    let current = 0;
    const total = pillars.length;
    let autoTimer = null;

    function setStep(index) {
      current = (index + total) % total;

      pillars.forEach((p, i) => {
        p.classList.toggle('active', i === current);
      });

      dots.forEach((d, i) => {
        d.classList.toggle('active', i === current);
      });
    }

    function nextStep() {
      setStep(current + 1);
    }

    function prevStep() {
      setStep(current - 1);
    }

    function startAuto() {
      stopAuto();
      autoTimer = setInterval(nextStep, 3500);
    }

    function stopAuto() {
      if (autoTimer) clearInterval(autoTimer);
    }

    pillars.forEach((p) => {
      p.addEventListener('click', () => {
        stopAuto();
        setStep(parseInt(p.dataset.index, 10));
      });
    });

    dots.forEach((d) => {
      d.addEventListener('click', () => {
        stopAuto();
        setStep(parseInt(d.dataset.index, 10));
      });
    });

    prevBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
      stopAuto();
      prevStep();
    });

    nextBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
      stopAuto();
      nextStep();
    });

    startAuto();
  </script>
</body>
</html>

The author's main point is: **Sea otters are essential for healthy oceans.**

To find the reasons, ask: *"Why are sea otters essential?"* The author gives three clear answers.

1. They eat sea urchins so kelp forests can survive.

2. Kelp forests give shelter to fish, and 3. Kelp traps carbon dioxide to protect the climate.

What tricky mistake do readers often make when looking for reasons?

A common mistake is picking an interesting detail that does not actually answer the question *why*.

For instance, the sentence *"Sea otters have the thickest fur of any mammal"* is a true fact, but it doesn't explain why otters keep the ocean healthy.

To test whether a sentence is truly a reason, connect it to the main point using the word **because** and see if it makes sense!

Finding an Author's Reasons in an Informational Text. Identify the reasons an author gives to support a particular point in an informational text.

Explaining a Text's Reasons and Evidence | Guided Practice (Grade 4 Reading Informational Text)

Identify Supporting Details and Reasons in Informational Texts (Grade 4 Language Arts)

Reasons and Evidence Practice Exercises (RI.4.8)

When teaching RI.4.8 to 4th graders, structure lessons around the 'Table & Pillars' analogy so learners clearly separate the author's main claim (tabletop), the reasons (pillars), and supporting evidence/data (floor foundations). Use highlighters with two distinct colors (e.g., yellow for points, green for reasons) during guided close reading, and coach students to test candidates for 'reasons' by inserting the word 'Because...' before the sentence to verify logical cohesion.

Finding an Author's Reasons in an Informational Text

Point vs. Reason

Spotting Clue Words