Understanding Persuasive Text

EUNDERSTANDINGPERSUASIVEPERSUASIVETEXTTEXT

Reading andArgumentative Writing

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Five Parts for Focused Instruction

Part A: Understanding How to Read Complex Passages with rigorous passages and questions

Part B: How to identify a theme

Part C: Glossary of Complex Reading Terms

Part D: Instruction with increasingly complex texts

Part E: Independent Practice: Complex Reading Passages of multiple themes with multiple-choice and open-ended questions

Understanding Persuasive TextReading and ArgumentativeWriting



Five Parts for Focused Instruction

Part A: Understanding Persuasive writing

Part B: The Structure of a Persuasive Essay

Part C: Glossary of Persuasive Reading and Writing Terms

Part D: Instruction to develop the understanding of persuasive text structure and purpose, and understand techniques used to persuade readers.

Part E: Independent Practice: Persuasive Passages with multiple-choice and open-ended questions

Writing prompts for developingpersuasive writing skills includingeditorials, letters, speeches, essays,historical texts, scientific texts, andresponses to literature. Students willmake claims and produce well-

supported arguments for those claims.

UnderstandingPoetryReading to Analyze and Interpret


3 Parts for Focused InstructionPart 1: Glossary of poetry terms

Part 2: Poems are presented withbackground information tohelp readers better understand the poem.

Each poem is followed bycomprehension questions.

Part 3: Independent Practice: Poemswith comprehension questions for students toanswer on their own.

UnderstandingDramaReading to Analyze and Interpret


3 Parts for Focused InstructionPart 1: Glossary of drama terms

Part 2: Drama selections arepresented with backgroundinformation to help readersbetter understand drama.

Each selection is followed bycomprehension questions.

Part 3: Independent Practice: Drama selections withcomprehension questions forstudents to answer on theirown.

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Reading andArgumentative Writing

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ContentsIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Understanding Persuasive Reading and Writing . . . . . . . . . . .6

An Introduction to the Key Features of Persuasive Writing andthe Structure of Persuasive Essays

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Definitions of the Key Terms Needed to Analyze PersuasiveWriting

Instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Five Persuasive Texts with Background Information and Instruction

Independent Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Five Independent Practice Persuasive Texts and Four PersuasiveWriting Prompts

Part 1: Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Part 2: Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

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IntroductionUnderstanding Persuasive Text: Reading and Argumentative Writing teachesstudents how to understand and analyze persuasive texts and how to writepersuasive essays. Students will understand and analyze a range of persuasivetexts, including editorials, letters, speeches, essays, historical texts, scientifictexts, and responses to literature. Students will learn about the purpose andstructure of persuasive texts and will understand the techniques used topersuade readers.

Understanding Persuasive Text also includes writing prompts that will givestudents the opportunity to create persuasive writing. Students will makeclaims and produce well-supported arguments for those claims.

Understanding Persuasive Reading and WritingThis section of the book gives background information on persuasivewriting. It introduces and describes the key features of persuasive writing.The general structure of a persuasive essay is also described. Students canrefer to the structure when analyzing persuasive writing and when creatingpersuasive writing.

GlossaryThe glossary gives definitions of the terms that students will need tounderstand to analyze persuasive writing. Students can refer to the glossaryas they learn to analyze persuasive writing.

InstructionThis section contains five persuasive texts. Each persuasive text is introducedwith key information that will help students understand the purpose of thetext and the structure of the text. Key information is also given on the claimsmade, the arguments presented, and the evidence included. After readingeach persuasive text, the student then answers questions about it. Thissection of the book contains multiple-choice and open-ended questions.

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Independent PracticePart 1 of this section contains five persuasive texts. Each persuasive text isfollowed by several questions that students will answer on their own. Thissection of the book contains multiple-choice and open-ended questions.

Part 2 of this section contains four persuasive writing prompts. Studentswill apply their understanding of persuasive writing to create four essays.

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UnderstandingPersuasive Reading and Writing

Persuasive writing can have many different purposes. It can be written topersuade someone to do something. It can be written to convince readers tobelieve something. It can be written to persuade readers to accept the writer’sopinions, ideas, or judgments. The different types of persuasive writing oftenhave different forms. An editorial might focus on giving a personal opinion.A letter might focus on encouraging someone to do something. A sciencearticle might draw a conclusion about the topic, and then give details tosupport the opinion. One thing that is common to all persuasive writing isthat a claim is made or a position is taken and then supported.

The Structure of the Persuasive EssayThe chart on the next page shows a general structure for a persuasive essay.The essay starts with an introduction. The introduction usually introducesthe topic. It may provide background information as well. The mostimportant part of the introduction is that the claim is stated.

The next part of the essay is the body. In the body, information is given tosupport the claim. The information is sorted into several main ideas. Eachmain idea may include supporting information such as facts, statistics, data,quotes, or personal anecdotes.

The final part of the essay is the conclusion. The conclusion usually restatesthe main claim. It may also summarize the points made in the body. Insome essays, the conclusion will include a call to action. This is a statementthat will encourage the reader to take some action.

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The conclusion should:• restate the main claim• summarize the main ideas of the body• include a call to action, if appropriate

Main Idea #1• supporting details



The body should:• give information to support the claim• divide the information into several main ideas

Each main idea should:• be the focus of one section or paragraph• include supporting details or evidence

The evidence can be in the form of:• facts• data and statistics• quotes• expert opinions• personal anecdotes• reasoned arguments

The introduction should:• introduce the topic of the essay• give any necessary background information• state the main claim

The Structure of the Persuasive Essay

Paragraph 3

Paragraph 4

Paragraph 5

Paragraph 2

Paragraph 1

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

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Glossary

AnecdoteAn anecdote is an account of a certain event. An anecdote usually describesa personal experience.

ArgumentAn argument is a set of reasons designed to support a claim.

AssumptionAn assumption is something that is assumed to be true.

Call to ActionA call to action is a statement that encourages people to take action.

ClaimA claim is a statement that something is true. In persuasive writing, theclaim is the main idea that the author wants the reader to believe or accept.

ConclusionA conclusion is a decision reached by considering facts and other evidence.

Controlling IdeaA controlling idea is the main idea of an essay.

EditorialAn editorial is a piece of writing that expresses the author’s opinion.Editorials are commonly found in newspapers and magazines.

EvidenceEvidence refers to the facts, figures, quotes, data, examples, or other sourcesused to provide support for ideas.

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Expert OpinionAn expert opinion is an opinion given by someone who has strongknowledge of the topic.

FactA fact is a piece of information that can be proven to be true.

MoodMood refers to how a text or part of a text makes the reader feel, or thefeelings created in the reader.

OpinionAn opinion is a statement that cannot be proven to be true. It is a personalview of something.

Point of ViewPoint of view refers to the position of the speaker of a work. The point ofview can be first person, second person, third person limited, or thirdperson omniscient.

PositionIn persuasive writing, the author’s position refers to how the author feelsabout a topic, or the author’s viewpoint.

QuoteA quote, or quotation, is the repetition of exact words from a source. A quote can be someone’s exact spoken words, or it can be exact writtenwords from a source.

StatisticsStatistics are numerical facts and data.

ThemeA theme is the main topic or the main idea of a work.

ToneTone is how the author feels about the subject.

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InstructionEach persuasive text is introduced with key backgroundinformation that will help students understand thepurpose of the text, the structure of the text, and the

techniques used to persuade readers.

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Persuasive Text 1

Introduction: The main purpose of this article is to persuade people toconsider taking up photography. The author persuades the reader bydescribing the benefits of photography. The first paragraph introduces thetopic. The next four paragraphs each focus on one main benefit ofphotography. Each of these paragraphs begins with a statement of the mainbenefit. This is the main idea of the paragraph. Then information is givento support the main idea. The last paragraph sums up the article and thenends with a call to action. This call to action is designed to make the readerfeel excited about taking up the hobby.

/ Taking Up Photography \1 Photography is a hobby that everybody should consider trying. It hasmore benefits than most people realize. It is challenging and entertaining,and it gives you the chance to be creative. It is even good for your health.Here are just some of the reasons that you should consider taking upphotography.

2 Photography is a great way to challenge yourself. There arephotography competitions all the time, and taking photographs thatcan be entered presents a unique challenge each time. Manycompetitions have themes. The competition might ask for a portrait ofsomeone, a landscape, an action photograph, or a photograph in blackand white. Every time you accept the challenge, you get to try a newstyle. It is always a learning experience.

3 Photography is also entertaining. One of the things that many peopledo not realize is that photography is a great hobby to combine withother interests. If you love sports, you can go to sporting events andtake action photographs. If you love animals, you can focus on takingphotographs of animals. If you are interested in history, you can takephotographs of special landmarks. Many people end up having one

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special area of interest. Theybecome skilled in this area and caneven become famous for it. AnnieLeibovitz is an Americanphotographer who is famous fortaking photographs of people.Anne Geddes became famous fortaking photos of babies andtoddlers. She has sold millions ofbooks and calendars containingher images. Photography is a greatway to explore your interests and to share them with others. Imaginethat you love architecture. It would probably be hard to explain topeople what you love about it and to get them interested in it. Nowimagine that you take photographs of beautiful buildings and make adisplay of your photographs. Now you have a way to share your passionwith others. People are much more likely to see the beauty of thebuildings and then start to share your interest.

4 Photography also gives you the chance to be creative. I am not a goodartist and could never draw a beautiful sunset. Thankfully, photographygives me the chance to capture a sunset without having to have greatartistic skills. It makes it possible for everyone to be creative. Anotherkey part of photography is editing your photographs. Computersoftware can be used to create all types of effects. It is a great way toexperiment and try new things, and anyone can do it.

5 You might be surprised to hear that photography is also good for yourhealth. Last weekend, I hiked to the top of a mountain early in themorning to take a picture of the sun rising over the city. When I was onvacation last year, I walked over a mile down a beach just to get theperfect shot. When you are a keen photographer, exercise is not a chore.It becomes something you are more than willing to do to get a bettershot. Photography is a great hobby that gets you active without youreven realizing it.

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6 These are just some of the reasons you should consider taking upphotography. It is also a hobby that is not as expensive as many peoplethink. You can get a digital camera for quite a low price. Once you havea digital camera, there is no need to spend money getting photographsdeveloped. You can just put them on your computer, edit them as youplease, and then print them once you are happy with the result. Thismakes photography more affordable than many other hobbies. Thebenefits that it offers make it well worth the relatively small cost. Youmight even win a photography competition, sell a few photographs, ordecide to make photography your career. You could actually makemoney from your hobby! So why not give it a try? I am sure you willfind that it is worth it.

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1 How does the author support the argument that photography is goodfor your health?

A By listing medical facts

B By quoting experts

C By describing personal experiences

D By comparing photography to other hobbies

2 In paragraph 3, the information about taking photographs of buildingsis included to show —

A how photographs can be used to share your interests

B how there are opportunities for taking photographs everywhere you look

C how photography helps people notice and appreciate beauty

D how each photographer needs to find a unique area of interest

3 What is the main idea of the article?

A Photography is not as expensive as people think.

B Photography offers many benefits.

C Photography can be a hobby or a career.

D Photography is a good way to be creative.

4 Which statement would the author of the article most likely agree with?

A Photography is a difficult hobby that requires a lot of training.

B Photography is a flexible hobby that suits many different types of people.

C Photography is a hobby best suited to people with strong computer skills.

D Photography is a simple hobby that most people can be good atright away.

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5 Which benefit of photography does the author think readers will findmost unexpected?

A It is challenging.

B It is entertaining.

C It allows people to be creative.

D It has health benefits.

6 In paragraph 4, why does the author compare being a photographer tobeing an artist?

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Persuasive Text 2

Introduction: This passage is a book report a student wrote on StephenKing’s book titled On Writing. The main purpose of this book report is tostate whether or not people should read the book. The student does this bydescribing the benefits of reading the book. The student describes what thebook is about, but also focuses on what people can gain from reading thebook. The book report is partly a description of the book. However, it is alsoone reader’s opinion of the book.

/ A Book Report: On Writing \1 As the name suggests, Stephen King’s book titled On Writing is all aboutwriting. This focus means the book is mostly aimed at writers. Writerscan admire King and read his story of success. They can also apply whathe knows about writing to their own writing. The book also hassomething to offer for non-writers. The first section of the book is amemoir. It describes how King went from nothing but a child withdreams to a man with all the success he ever imagined. The book isworth reading because it has something for everyone.

2 The first section of the book describes King’s life. It begins with his timeas a child when he first wrote a story. It then describes his teenage yearswhen writing became a focus. It continues to when he achieved success.Whether the reader is a writer or not, this section is inspiring. We seehow King found his special skill early in his life and how he developedit. We see how King dreamed of being a successful writer. He workedhard and achieved his goal. The story of King’s life contains all theelements of a good fiction story. In the beginning of the story, we haveKing as a child with a dream. We follow him through his struggle andwe finally see him succeed against all odds. There is a message in thisstory for anyone with a dream who hopes to succeed. It does not matterwhether you want to be a writer or not. You can still see how hard work

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can lead to success. You can see how you can start working toward yourgoals even when you are young. You can be inspired by how muchsuccess this could lead to.

3 The second part of the book focuses more on the craft of writing. Thissection has something to offer the general reader, but much more tooffer the writer. For the writer, this section offers hints and tips on theactual craft of writing. Even though this section is written as a lesson inwriting, it is not done so in a dry and boring manner. It is filled withexamples and anecdotes that illustrate the points. For the non-writer,this section also has interest. There is an insight into the world of thewriter. You start to see how writers think about more than just plot.They think about characters and the language they use. For everyonereading this section, there is an opportunity to learn more aboutwriting. As a reader, you can then read a story with a greaterunderstanding of it.

4 In all, the book is well written, entertaining, and engaging. It is partly amemoir and partly a how-to guide. The story is especially aimed atwriters, but the story of a man who achieves his dream is broad enoughto interest any reader. For the writer, the book teaches a lot about how towrite well. For everyone, the book gives an insight that can allow thereader to understand and appreciate books and writing on a deeper level.

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7 Which sentence from the first paragraph describes the main claim ofthe passage?

A As the name suggests, Stephen King’s book titled On Writing is all about writing.

B They can also apply what he knows about writing to their own writing.

C The first section of the book is a memoir.

D The book is worth reading because it has something for everyone.

8 According to the passage, the book On Writing contains a message about —

A discovering what you are good at

B working hard to achieve your goals

C being open to new ideas

D listening to and learning from other people

9 Which sentence best supports the idea that Stephen King’s book is entertaining?

A We see how King found his special skill early in his life and how he developed it.

B The story of King’s life contains all the elements of a good fiction story.

C For the writer, this section offers hints and tips on the actual craft of writing.

D You start to see how writers think about more than just plot.

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10 Read this sentence from paragraph 3.

Even though this section is written as a lesson in writing, it is notdone so in a dry and boring manner.

Why does the author most likely include this sentence?

A To warn that this section may not interest all readers

B To show that the book is more interesting than it sounds

C To support the idea that Stephen King is a skilled writer

D To describe what writers can learn from the book

11 What does the author believe all readers can gain from the book On Writing?

A A better understanding of how to write a memoir

B The ability to write better fiction

C Encouragement to follow your dreams

D Information on how writers develop their ideas

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Persuasive Text 3

Introduction: This passage is a review of a children’s toy. The first paragraphintroduces the topic and gives background information by describing thetoy. The author then describes how the manufacturers claim that the toyhelps with infant development. The author then focuses on determiningwhether the toy does help with infant development. In the last paragraph,the author recommends the toy to parents and summarizes the benefits ofthe toy.

/ The Spin and Learn \1 The Spin and Learn is a toy designed for infants from 4 months untilthey walk. It is a toy that the infant sits in, with the seat able to bounceand swivel. On the outside of the Spin and Learn are various activitiesfor the infant. These activities include items that can be spun, pushed,or squeezed. It also has items that make noise when moved. All of theitems are bright and colorful. The manufacturers describe the Spin andLearn as being designed “to encourage hand-eye coordination andmental development.” The toy is expensive, so it is important to assesswhether it is more than just a toy. The question is whether the toy willactually help with infant development. If it does, it is worth the cost. Ifit does not, it is not worth paying a high price for something that willonly entertain the infant.

2 Reaching is one of the key motor skills developed during the infantstage. At 3 months old, reaching usually begins to occur and improvesover the coming months. At 7 months, reaching has improved andcontinues to develop over the next few months. Grasping is anothermotor skill associated with reaching. At 4 or 5 months, infants begin toexplore objects with their hands. They often grasp an object in onehand and explore it with the other. By 1 year old, infants are wellcoordinated in being able to grasp and control objects.

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3 Infants also develop their senses during these early years. Touch, sight,and hearing are three key senses for infants. They develop over themonths as infants gain more experience. At a few months old, infantsmay only be able to tell that objects feel hard or soft. They later learnthat hard objects can feel smooth or rough. Infants also learn how thesenses work together. For example, an infant might learn how objectsrattle when they are touched. Abilities related to sight also developduring infancy. At about 2 months, infants can focus on objects andrecognize colors. Vision then continues to develop until 6 months.

4 Considering the toy and how infants develop, I would recommend thistoy to parents. Dr. Rebecca Hill is an expert in child development. Shehas a degree in early learning and has worked with infants for over adecade. She has stated that infants learn a lot by grasping. They learnhow to move and work with items. She also states how important it isfor infants to use all of their senses. “Infants develop more quicklywhen they are able to use two or more senses at a time,” she says. “Thisgives them the chance to link new ideas together.” The Spin and Learnoffers the chance to practice grasping and the chance to use a range ofsenses. It encourages reaching and grasping by having a range of objectsthat the infant can reach for. These objects also respond in differentways. For example, some make noise, some can be pushed, some can bepulled, some feel fluffy, and some feel smooth. The way the objects canbe moved helps with developing motor skills. The way items feel, thenoises they make, and the colors that can be seen encouragedevelopment. Overall, the Spin and Learn is a good choice for infants. It will help infants develop the key skills they are learning at that age.

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12 The author mainly assesses the Spin and Learn toy based on —

A whether it is safe for infants

B whether it will entertain infants

C whether it benefits infants

D whether it is made well

13 The author includes the information in paragraphs 2 and 3 to —

A describe some of the key skills that infants develop

B compare infants in their first year and second year

C show her personal experience with using the toy

D demonstrate that infants have limited skills

14 Read these sentences from paragraph 4.

Dr. Rebecca Hill is an expert in child development. She has a degreein early learning and has worked with infants for over a decade.

What is the main reason the author includes these sentences?

A To show that the toy has been carefully tested

B To show that children’s toys are not as simple as they seem

C To show that Rebecca Hill’s opinion can be trusted

D To show that Rebecca Hill uses the toy

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15 Which sentence from the passage gives the author’s opinion?

A The Spin and Learn is a toy designed for infants from 4 months until they walk.

B On the outside of the Spin and Learn are various activities for the infant.

C The question is whether the toy will actually help with infant development.

D If it does not, it is not worth paying a high price for something that will only entertain the infant.

16 Which detail about the Spin and Learn best shows that it encourageshand-eye coordination?

A The seat bounces and swivels.

B The items on the outside are brightly colored.

C It has items that can be spun, pushed, and squeezed.

D Some of the items make noise.

17 Using information from the passage, explain why the Spin and Learn isa good toy for infants. Give at least two reasons.

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Persuasive Text 4

Introduction: This speech is adapted from part of a speech given byPresident John F. Kennedy on May 25, 1961. In this part of the speech,Kennedy states his wishes for America’s space program. Kennedy argues thatthe United States should commit to putting a man on the Moon within adecade. He asks Congress for the funding needed to achieve this goal. One ofthe purposes of the speech is to ask for this funding and explain why it isneeded. However, the speech is also made to encourage all people to supportthe goal. Kennedy emphasizes that a great commitment is needed, and showsthat the goal will not be easy to achieve. He then asks people to consider theissue and make a decision on whether or not to commit to the goal.

/ Sending a Man to the Moon \Adapted from a Speech by President John F. Kennedy

1 Since early in my term, our efforts inspace have been under review. With theadvice of the Vice President, who isChairman of the National Space Council,we have examined where we are strongand where we are not, where we maysucceed and where we may not. Now it istime to take longer strides. It is time for agreat new American enterprise. It is timefor this nation to take a clearly leadingrole in space achievement. This, in manyways, may hold the key to our future.

2 I believe we possess all the resources and talents necessary. But the factsof the matter are that we have never made the national decisions. Wehave never organized the national resources required for such leadership.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

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We have never stated long-range goals. We have never had an urgenttime schedule. We have never managed our resources and our time so asto ensure the goals are met.

3 I now ask the Congress to provide the funds which are needed to meetthe following national goal. I believe that this nation should commititself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a manon the Moon and returning him safely to Earth. No single space projectin this period will be more impressive to mankind. None will be moreimportant for the exploration of space. And none will be so difficult orexpensive to achieve. We ask for funds to develop appropriate lunarspace craft. We ask for funds for engine development. We ask for fundsfor unmanned explorations. These explorations are particularlyimportant for one purpose which this nation will never overlook. Thatpurpose is the survival of the man who first makes this daring flight.But in a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the Moon. It will be an entire nation. For all of us must work to put him there.

4 I believe we should go to the Moon. But I think everyone shouldconsider the matter carefully in making their judgment. It is a heavyburden. There is no sense in agreeing unless we are prepared to do thework. We must be prepared to bear the burdens to make it successful. If we are not, we should decide today and this year.

5 This decision demands a major commitment of scientific and technicalmanpower. It requires materials and facilities. We may take time andmoney away from other important activities where they are alreadythinly spread. It requires new commitment and organization. This isnot always how we have managed our research efforts. It means wecannot afford undue work stoppages. We cannot afford high costs. Wecannot afford waste. We cannot afford high turnover. New objectivesand new money cannot fix these issues. They could in fact worsenthem. We need every scientist to agree. We need every engineer toagree. We need every civil servant to agree. Everyone must agree thatthis nation will move forward in the exciting adventure of space.

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18 In paragraph 1, Kennedy says that “it is time to take longer strides.”This statement means that it is time —

A to take more chances

B to try to do more

C to give up and move on

D to create a new plan

19 Read these sentences from the speech.

But in a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the Moon. It will be an entire nation. For all of us must work to put him there.

These sentences are included to —

A emphasize the commitment required

B illustrate that the goal will take years to achieve

C explain how many challenges will have to be overcome

D show that the achievement will inspire people

20 What is the main purpose of the information in paragraph 2?

A To explain why progress has been slow in the past

B To describe how to achieve important goals

C To suggest that the United States will succeed

D To explain the benefits of space exploration

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21 The information in the last paragraph is mainly organized by —

A stating opinions about scientific research and then giving facts to prove them

B listing actions that need to be taken in the order they should occur

C describing problems and then stating the solutions to the problems

D comparing the workforce today with the workforce in the past

22 What is the tone of paragraph 4?

A Excited

B Cautious

C Demanding

D Impatient

Photo courtesy of NASA

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Persuasive Text 5

Introduction: This passage is an article describing how there may be icepresent on Mercury. The main purpose of the article is to inform people ofthis possibility and convince people to believe that there may be ice onMercury. The author uses details of scientific studies as evidence and alsomakes reasoned arguments that explain how ice could exist on the surfaceof Mercury. The author also recognizes that many people would not believeit was possible and addresses those concerns.

/ An Icy Possibility \

1 For a long time, scientists have wondered whether there could be water on other planets in the Solar System. The main reason this hasinterested scientists is that water is considered to be necessary for life. If there is water on other planets, there could also be simple forms oflife. Scientists have studied Mars and Venus because they seemed mostlikely to possibly have water on their surfaces. Scientists did not expectthat there would be water on the surface of Mercury. Most people wouldnot expect that there would be water on Mercury. However, carefulobservations have shown that there could actually be water on Mercury.

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2 Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. The temperature on Mercury ismuch higher than on Earth. The average temperature is about 150degrees Fahrenheit. When Mercury is close to the Sun, its surfacetemperature can reach about 800 degrees Fahrenheit. At thesetemperatures, any water would quickly evaporate. Mercury also lacks anatmosphere, so any water that evaporates would not remain in theatmosphere like it does on Earth. It would be lost into space. Thismakes it seem highly unlikely that there would be any water onMercury. That is why even scientists were surprised when studiesrevealed that there may be ice on Mercury.

3 Several studies completed by NASA have shown that there could be iceon the poles of Mercury. These studies have focused on how lightreflects off Mercury. They have found that at the poles, light reflects inthe same way it reflects off ice. If the surface was rocky, the light wouldreflect in a different way. An article published in the journal Sciencecompares the data from Mercury to data from other planets and moons.The article describes how the surface of Mercury in some areas seemsvery similar to icy regions on Mars and icy regions on the moons ofJupiter. The data gained is not enough to conclude that the polesdefinitely contain ice. However, it does suggest that it is possible.Photographs taken by later NASA missions also showed what appearedto be ice.

4 Scientists then began to consider if the conditions on Mercury wouldallow ice to survive. On Earth, the poles are always covered by ice andsnow. The poles do not receive enough light for the ice at the poles toever melt completely. But Mercury is a lot closer to the Sun than Earthis. Scientists have determined that direct sunlight would melt the ice onthe poles of Mercury even if the poles only received direct sunlight for a short time. How could there possibly be ice then? The answer thatscientists came up with relates to the surface of Mercury. Mercury iscovered with craters. These craters are created by meteor impacts. Some of these are hundreds of meters across, and the largest is about1,300 kilometers across. The depth of the craters has been estimated

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by studying shadows. It is thought that some could be a kilometer ormore deep. One theory about the ice on Mercury is that craters at thepoles are deep enough that the bottom of the crater is always shadedfrom sunlight. This would explain how the ice could remain there andnever melt.

5 Scientists are still undecided on whether there is actually ice on Mercury.There are theories that suggest that it is possible. However, the data onhow light reflects may not be caused by ice at all. Further studies in thefuture may solve this mystery for good. Until then, it is interesting toconsider whether water, and even simple life forms, could be living deepwithin the craters on Mercury’s surface.

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23 Which feature of Mercury best explains why water was not expected to be found on its surface?

A Its large number of craters

B Its high surface temperature

C Its rocky surface

D Its lack of any forms of life

24 Which idea from paragraph 1 does the author base on an assumption?

A Water is considered to be necessary for life.

B Scientists have studied Mars and Venus for signs of water.

C Most people would not expect that there would be water on Mercury.

D Studies have shown that there could be water on Mercury.

25 The author uses the third paragraph mostly to —

A give details that show that it is unlikely that there is water on Mercury

B describe the evidence supporting the belief that there could be water on Mercury

C explain how scientists could determine whether there is water on Mercury

D give the opinions of experts on whether there is ice on the surface of Mercury

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26 The photograph is included to support which idea?

A The surface of Mercury is covered with craters.

B The insides of some of Mercury’s craters are always in shadow.

C It seems unlikely that there could be water on the surface of Mercury.

D Any water on Mercury would quickly evaporate and be lost into space.

27 Which statement best describes the author’s view on whether there is water on Mercury?

A It is unlikely and will probably be disproved soon.

B It is possible but has not yet been proven.

C It is likely, and scientists will prove it in future studies.

D It is almost certain, but it is difficult to ever prove it.

28 Using the fact that Mercury has craters, explain why ice could bepresent on Mercury’s surface.

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Independent PracticePart 1 contains five persuasive texts with questions forstudents to complete on their own. Part 2 contains four

writing prompts to give students practice creatingpersuasive writing.

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Part 1: ReadingPersuasive Text 1

/ Letter to the Principal \Dear Principal Carter,

1 Last week, our school made a new rule saying that playing handball wasno longer allowed during breaks. The rule was made because handball isconsidered to be dangerous, is making people too competitive, is makingpeople antisocial, and provides no benefits to students. These claims arecompletely untrue. In fact, playing handball is making people moresocial and teaching people important social skills. Playing handball ismore than just a game. Playing handball is about being part of a group.From playing, I have learned a lot of important lessons that have helpedme in many ways.

2 First, I have learned that you have to earn respect. When you start outplaying handball, you have to wait patiently for a game. Once you areinvited in for a game, you play your game and then wait again. Youcannot force it here. Instead, you just have to wait your turn. This hastaught me a lot about acceptance. At the start you cannot makedemands. You just have to wait for the group to accept you. Once youhave proven yourself, then the group accepts you. But there is a certainamount of time that you have to pay your dues. You’ll be playing lessgames than the others and waiting for that approval to come. This hastaught me about being patient.

3 I have also learned a lot about sportsmanship by watching how otherpeople react to winning and losing. I have seen some people who gloateach time they win. Others either make excuses every time they lose orbecome annoyed. Those players that are respected are the ones thataccept either winning or losing without either gloating or reactingbadly to losing. I do not believe that handball is too competitive. It actually teaches a lot about how to compete in a fair way.

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4 I have also learned that to play the game well, you have to concentrateon yourself. Some players purposely annoy others to put them off theirgame. This does work sometimes, but usually does not. The best playersare those that remain calm and remain focused on their own game. Ihave applied this lesson to my studies. I have learned to focus on doingmy best in class. I have learned not to let other people distract me.

5 Probably the most important thing I have learned is that you neverknow what might happen. There is one player that is clearly the best,yet some days he is beaten. I have learned that everyone has their onand off days. The best way to look at it is to take every game as “just agame” and always remember that tomorrow is a new day. There is nevera certainty in handball. Anyone may win or lose, and you have to treateach new game separately.

6 Handball also brings a broad group of people together. In this way, it isa social game. In class, most people have a set group of friends and stickto those friends. But when we play handball, many different groups ofpeople come together. I play against people I rarely speak to at othertimes. It becomes like a common ground that brings us all together.Even if we are not friends, we cheer each other on and congratulate astrong player. How can this possibly be called antisocial?

7 I urge you to reconsider the rule banning handball. Without handball toplay, everyone is now sitting around in their own small groups and notsocializing at all. As I have described, handball has also taught me a lotabout myself and others, and I have changed how I approach manythings in life. I have described just some of the things I have learnedabout myself and about getting along with others. It is unfair and untrueto say that playing handball is antisocial. If you still do not agree, whydon’t you allow it again for a trial period? Then you should come downand watch us play. I am sure that you will see that it is not dangerous,too competitive, or antisocial. I am sure that you will see that it is apositive part of our school life that should be allowed to continue.

Yours with hope,Marty Stewart

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1 What does Marty hope to accomplish by writing his letter?

A To encourage more students to play handball

B To request that the ban on handball be removed

C To teach people how to act when playing handball

D To convince readers that sports are not dangerous

2 How does Marty mainly support his argument?

A By giving researched facts

B By comparing handball to other activities

C By telling about his personal experience

D By describing the rules of handball

3 In the first paragraph, Marty describes the reasons that handball wasbanned. Which reason listed does Marty fail to address in the letter?

A That it is dangerous

B That it makes people too competitive

C That it makes people antisocial

D That it provides no benefits to students

4 Which statement about handball would Marty most likely agree with?

A It teaches lessons that can be applied to other areas of life.

B It would be a better sport if there were fewer rules.

C It should only be played between people who are friends.

D It is more important than the classes that students take.

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5 What is the main reason Marty suggests that handball be allowed againfor a trial period?

A So the players can work on improving their behavior

B So students have time to find a new activity to take its place

C So Marty can continue to develop his personal skills

D So the principal can see students playing handball for himself

6 Using information from the letter, explain why you would or would notlike handball to be played at your school. Use at least two details fromthe letter to support your response.

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Persuasive Text 2

Introduction: This passage is adapted from a paper written by ThomasJefferson in 1784. At the time, America had just won its independence fromthe United Kingdom. There was not yet an accepted American currency.The states of America were using a mix of currencies. These includedPortuguese coins such as the gold half joe, Spanish coins such as the bit,the United Kingdom’s pound, and copper pennies. In this paper, ThomasJefferson describes what he believes should be the coinage adopted byeveryone in America.

/ Coinage for the United States \Adapted from a Paper by Thomas Jefferson

1 In fixing the unit of money, these circumstances are of principalimportance.

I. That it be of convenient size to be applied as a measure to the common money transactions of life.

II. That its parts and multiples be in an easy proportion to each other, so as to assist the arithmetic.

III. That the unit and its parts, or divisions, be so nearly of the value of some of the known coins, as that they may be of easy understanding for the people.

The Spanish dollar seems to fulfill all these conditions.

Condition I2 Taking into our view all money transactions, great and small, I questionif a common measure of more convenient size than the dollar could beproposed. The value of 100, 1,000, 10,000 dollars is easily understoodby the mind. The tenth or the hundredth of a dollar should also beeasily understood. Few transactions are above or below these limits.

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Condition II3 The easiest ratio of multiplication and division is that by ten. Everyoneknows the decimal system. Everyone remembers how much moredifficult it is to add pounds and ounces, or feet and inches. The bulk ofmankind are schoolboys through life. These little difficulties are alwaysgreat to them. And even mathematical heads feel the relief of an easierprocess taking the place of a harder one. Foreigners, too, who trade ortravel among us, will find great relief by a simpler system. Where we arefree to choose between easy and difficult options, it is most rational tochoose the easy. It is therefore proposed that our coins should be indecimal proportions to one another. If we adopt the dollar for our unit,we should strike four coins as follows.

1. A golden piece, equal in value to ten dollars2. The dollar itself, of silver3. The tenth of a dollar, of silver also4. The hundredth of a dollar, of copper

Condition III4 The third condition required is that the coins are similar in value tosome of the known coins. People should be able to easily estimate theirvalue. If this is not the case, people may take a long time to adopt thenew coins, or not adopt them at all. Let us examine, in this point ofview, each of the four coins proposed.

5 1. The golden piece will be 1/5 more than ahalf joe and 1/15 more than a doubleguinea. It will be readily estimated, then,by reference to either of them.

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6 2. The unit, or dollar, is a known coin, andthe most familiar of all to the minds of the people. It happily offers itself as a unitalready introduced. I know of no unitwhich can be proposed in competition with the dollar, but the pound. But what isthe pound? The pound is 1547 grains offine silver in Georgia. It is 1289 grains inVirginia, Connecticut, Rhode Island,Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. It is 1031 grains in Maryland,Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. It is 966 grains in NorthCarolina and New York. Which of these shall we adopt? It is difficultto familiarize a new coin to the people. It is more difficult tofamiliarize them to a new coin with an old name. Happily, the dollaris familiar to them all. It is already known as a measure of value.

7 3. The tenth will be precisely the Spanish bit. This is a coin perfectlyfamiliar to us all. When we shall make a new coin, then, equal invalue to this, it will be easily accepted by the people.

8 4. The hundredth, or copper, will differ little from the copper of thefour eastern states. It will differ less from the penny of New York andNorth Carolina. It will differ a little from the penny of Jersey,Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. It will be about the mediumbetween the old and the new coppers of these states. In Virginia,coppers have never been in use. It will be as easy, therefore, tointroduce them there of one value as of another.

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7 What is the main reason the pound is less suitable than the dollar?

A It is not known in all the states.

B It has a different value in all the states.

C It is already being used.

D It is made of fine silver.

8 What is the main purpose of paragraph 1?

A To describe the main purposes of money

B To list the requirements of suitable units of money

C To warn about problems with the current units of money

D To explain why several different types of money are needed

9 According to the passage, why is it important that the coins be similarto known coins?

A So many coins will already be available and not need to be made

B So regular people will be able to calculate with money

C So people will understand the coins easily and accept them

D So people in different states will not need to be trained

10 Which sentence from the passage gives a personal opinion?

A Where we are free to choose between easy and difficult options, it is most rational to choose the easy.

B The pound is 1,547 grains of fine silver in Georgia.

C The hundredth, or copper, will differ little from the copper of the four eastern states.

D In Virginia, coppers have never been in use.

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11 The passage states that the decimal system should be used because itmakes calculations easier. What does the decision to use the decimalsystem most influence?

A The value given to each coin

B What each coin is made of

C What current coin each new coin is similar to

D How many coins of each type there should be


Persuasive Text 3

/ Why Dodos are Extinct \1 The dodo was a large flightless bird that lived on the island ofMauritius. Dodos were discovered when the island of Mauritius wasexplored in the early 1500s. By the late 1600s, dodos were completelyextinct. There are several reasons for this extinction, and man played arole in all of them. People did not know they were doing it, but theydid cause the dodo’s extinction.

2 The first reason that dodo numbers beganto decline is that people sought out dodosfor their meat. In the 1500s, Mauritius wasa stopover point for ships. The dodobecame a welcome source of meat. Thedodo was a large bird. They were usuallyabout a meter tall and could weigh up to50 pounds. They were like an oversizedturkey. For sailors, the dodo was an easymeal. The large bird provided enough meatfor many people, and they were easy tocatch. Dodos had never been around people and had no fear of them.In fact, it was this behavior that gave them their name. When they werefirst discovered by the Portuguese, they seemed unafraid, unintelligent,and clumsy. The Portuguese gave them the name dodo, which is a slangterm for someone who is foolish and clumsy. These qualities made thedodo easy prey for the sailors. The dodos were not afraid and did notavoid people, and they were slow and clumsy. This made them easy tocatch. They also did not fly, and so this was not a means of escape forthem. Over time, dodo numbers began to decline as they were used as a source of food.

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3 The hunting of dodos for meat started the decline. However, it probablywould not have led to their complete extinction. It was another humanaction that caused this. In the 1600s, the island of Mauritius began tobe settled by the Dutch. The settlements were unsuccessful, and lessthan one thousand people ever lived on Mauritius. However, the Dutchpeople did one thing that changed Mauritius forever. They introducednon-native species including dogs, pigs, cats, and rats. The dodos hadlost the ability to fly because they did not need the ability. On theisolated island of Mauritius, there were no ground predators. Theintroduction of the new species changed everything. The dodo was nowhunted by these animals. With no experience of these predators, theydid not have any suitable way to defend themselves or escape. Mostbirds that can fly lay their eggs in nests high up in trees. This protectsthe eggs from predators on the ground. Dodos laid their eggs on nestson the ground. This had not been a problem before the new specieswere introduced. Now, the dodo eggs became easy meals for pigs, rats,and other introduced animals. Fewer and fewer new dodos were born to replace those being lost. The extinction of the dodo became almost a certainty.

4 One other action of the Dutch settlers was to clear forests. Mauritiushad large forests of Ebony trees. These trees are prized for their darkwood. The settlements on Mauritius began cutting down the trees andexporting the wood. The forests that were home to the dodo were nowbeing lost. As the dodo’s habitat disappeared, their chance for survivalfell even further.

5 The exact date of the extinction of the dodo is not known. There was asighting in 1662, which could have been the last ever sighting of thedodo. Scientists have used known data to calculate that the dodo wasprobably extinct around the year 1690, but almost certainly extinct by1715. Regardless of the exact date, the dodo became extinct withinabout 200 years. It was first sighted in 1505 when humans entered itshome of Mauritius for the first time. Almost immediately, the actionsbegan that would lead to the dodo’s decline. At first, dodos were hunted

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for their meat. Later, animals were introduced that hunted dodos andate their eggs. As forests were cut down, the dodo lost its habitat.Within about 200 years, the dodo was completely lost forever. Theactions of man led to the extinction of the dodo. This extinction of thedodo can be described as an accident. It can be assumed that the sailorsdid not know that hunting a few dodos would lead to their extinction.The Dutch probably did not realize the great impact the introduction ofground-based animals would have. The Dutch probably did not thinkthat cutting down some Ebony trees would cause the complete loss ofan animal. However, these actions did cause the loss of the dodo. It is avaluable lesson to all people to not underestimate the impact thathuman actions can have.

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12 What is the main argument in the passage?

A Human actions caused the dodo to become extinct.

B The dodo was not intelligent enough to survive.

C People should not interfere with nature.

D The actions of people alter the environment.

13 How is the information in paragraphs 2 through 4 organized?

A The paragraphs describe actions that impacted the dodo from most serious to least serious.

B The paragraphs describe the history of the dodo in Mauritius from earliest to latest.

C Each paragraph describes one factor that led to the dodo’s extinction.

D Each paragraph describes one feature of the dodo that led to its downfall.

14 Which word would the author most likely use to describe the loss of the dodo?

A Regretful

B Embarrassing

C Shameful

D Curious

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15 Based on the information in the last paragraph, how does the authormost likely feel about the people who caused the loss of the dodo?

A They were selfish and should have considered others.

B They were unaware of the impact their actions would have.

C They were heartless and should have been kinder to the natural wildlife.

D They were foolish and not intelligent enough to realize what they were doing.

16 Why does the author most likely compare the dodo to an oversizedturkey in paragraph 2?

A To suggest that the dodo was an appealing meal

B To explain why the dodo was unable to fly

C To show that animals similar to the dodo have survived

D To imply that dodos should have been able to protect themselves

17 Using details from the passage, explain why the dodo may havesurvived if dodos had been able to fly. Use at least two details from thepassage to support your response.

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Persuasive Text 4

/ Book Review \1 Ten Fun Things to Do Before You Die is a book by Karol Jackowski. In thebook, she gives advice on how to have a good life. The book is notmeant to be taken too seriously. It is humorous and includes manyfunny anecdotes. It even includes cartoons and funny illustrations.However, it does still offer some good advice on how to live a happylife. The book describes ten general lessons that can be applied to makelife better. I will now describe some of these lessons and considerwhether or not each one does offer useful advice.

Enjoying Life2 Jackowski says to have more fun than anyone else. Her idea of fun isalso focused on spending time with other people. She says to find funpeople, to be interested in other people, and to be a fun person. Shealso says that “each of us is endowed with a playful soul that alwaysexperiences as divine the most interesting and funniest of times” (p.11). The basic message of the first chapter is to enjoy life and to enjoyother people. It is good to see an approach to life that is not all aboutbeing completely serious. Part of life is about being joyful and enjoyingother people. So while there are struggles in life, I think it is importantto also enjoy life.

Knowing Yourself3 Jackowski advises people to get some insight. She says that “findingyour best self and being that person is the end result of getting someinsight” (p. 17). Jackowski also describes insight as occurring slowly andnaturally. The focus is on a journey to knowing yourself. Jackowski alsorefers to stillness, saying that “before you can get some insight, beforeyou can see and hear what’s going on within, you will most likely need

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some peace and quiet in order to hear yourself think” (p. 17). Knowingyourself is not something you can force, but more a process of beingquiet so you can hear yourself.

4 Jackowski continues with ideas on knowing yourself in chapter three,where she says that gaining insight and having fun will result ingaining depth. I thought one of the important things is that meaningdoes not come from looking outside. Instead, people need to look insidethemselves for the answers. In the end, knowing yourself is aboutunderstanding who you are and being happy with that. This is goodadvice that everyone can easily apply.

Escaping Reality5 Jackowski says when you’ve had enough and feel confused,overwhelmed, or overloaded, escape reality. Jackowski also says that youcan escape to “places inside and out” (p. 36). Escaping can be aboutphysically leaving a place to get away from your problems. It can beabout escaping to your inner world. Another way she says that peoplecan escape is by doing exercise. I think the important thing is to findwhatever escape works for you. I think the main point is that you havea way to get away from things, so you can relax and recharge.

6 In chapter eight on living alone, Jackowski also describes the peace andquiet of her home as “providing instant relief” (p. 95). This is a placeshe can go at the end of the day, and I think having this escape canhelp you get through the day and deal with things better.

Writing7 Jackowski says to write something at the end of every day. I think thisprocess is related to stillness and to knowing yourself. Writingsomething at the end of the day means thinking about yourself, yourday, and how you feel. It also means putting these thoughts into words.This is a way of getting to know yourself better and gaining insight.This means that you think about yourself and your life each day.

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Make Yourself Interesting8 One of the important things Jackowski says in the “Make YourselfInteresting” chapter is that you cannot blame life for not beinginteresting. Jackowski says that you have to blame yourself and makethe effort to make it interesting. I think this advice applies just as muchto other areas as it does to being interesting. Essentially, you can’t justlook at others and assume they have something you don’t or assumethat life is to blame. Instead, you have to take control and helpyourself. This is an important message that all people can apply.

Live Like You Have Nothing to Lose9 In this chapter, Jackowski refers to the “cyclic movements of life” (p.117). She talks about how winter may look dead, but the seeds of springare just under the snow. Jackowski also says that “having lost all therewas to lose, what remains is mysteriously not dead but secretly stirringwith some kind of new life” (p. 117). For Jackowski, nothing to loseseems to mean taking away all the complications of life. I think thathaving nothing to lose might mean different things to different people,depending on what we are most scared of losing. The main point seemsto be that you do not fear anything and just accept being yourself andbeing on your own journey.

10 Overall, I think the advice in the book is useful. It does offer goodadvice for how to live more happily no matter what your issues are inlife. It offers readers a chance to take control of their own lives andmake changes to improve their lives. These changes are about theperson changing how they think about things. This is something thateveryone can do. The way the book is written with humor also helps tocommunicate the message. It is reminding people not to take things tooseriously. The book encourages you to make the effort to make your lifebetter. I would recommend the book because it is entertaining andmeaningful and will inspire readers to be happier and better people.

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18 The author includes headings in bold print to —

A describe and assess each section of the book in turn

B show which ideas from the book were most important

C explain why the author wrote the book

D provide key background information on the author

19 The author describes how the book includes “cartoons and funnyillustrations.” Which idea does this detail best support?

A The book offers advice about how to live a good life.

B The book is not meant to be taken too seriously.

C The book describes ten lessons that people can follow.

D The book encourages people to be themselves.

20 Which sentence from the passage best supports the idea that Jackowskibelieves that people have to take control of their own lives?

A Jackowski says to have more fun than anyone else.

B Jackowski says to write something at the end of every day.

C Jackowski says when you’ve had enough and feel confused, overwhelmed, or overloaded, escape reality.

D Jackowski says that you have to blame yourself and make the effort to make it interesting.

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21 The author organizes the information in paragraph 2 by —

A stating a main idea and then giving evidence to support it

B describing the book and then giving her opinion on it

C contrasting Jackowski’s ideas with her own ideas

D listing ways that Jackowski could improve the book

22 How do the quotes included in the book review most add to the passage?

A They demonstrate that the book is humorous.

B They help the reader understand Jackowski’s advice.

C They show that the author researched the topic.

D They suggest that Jackowski believes in what she writes.


Persuasive Text 5

/ Is Honesty the Best Policy? \1 There is a common phrase that says that honesty is the best policy. Inmy life, I’ve often been told just to be honest. People seem to believethat as long as you tell the truth, everything will work out just fine. Itsounds simple enough, but it is not always easy to be honest. It is alsonot always beneficial to be honest. There are many times when beingdishonest makes life a lot easier.

2 One area where honesty is not always the best policy is in friendship. It is said that friends should always be honest with each other. Whilethis may be a nice statement in theory, in reality this is rarely the case.When your friend asks for your advice or opinion on something, it isnot always best to be honest. The otherday, my friend asked me what Ithought of her outfit. I did not like itat all. But it was the start of the dayand she would have to wear it allday. What would have been the pointof me telling her it was awful? I justwould have made her feel bad. Ilied a little and said it was “fun.”My other friends told her the samething. The interesting thing is thatshe spent the day appearing happyand confident, and by doing that,she pulled the outfit off. By the endof the day, I really thought it lookedfun and not ridiculous like I hadfirst thought. In this case, a fewsmall lies made things better.

©iStockphoto/Slobodan Vasic

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3 Of course, not all cases are about such simple things. The case maycome where the decision has to be made whether the issue is importantenough for the truth to be told. This sort of question arises when aperson realizes their friend is making a mistake. At this point, theperson has to make a decision. You can continue to pretend that thereisn’t a problem or you can really be honest and tell your friend whatyou think. Telling someone something they do not want to hear issometimes referred to as being “brutally honest.” The word brutallyshows just how hard this can be. Even if you know being honest is thebest thing, it is hard when you know you are going to hurt your friend’sfeelings. Being honest in this way can easily lose you friendships.

4 It is also not always a benefit to be honest in other situations. In classthe other day, I was asked what I thought of a poem we were studying.My truthful answer would have been that I had no idea what the poemwas about. It made no sense, it confused me, and I didn’t even want tolearn more about it. I did not give this response. I said it waschallenging, but I liked that it was making me think about issues andthat the language use was clever. Why did I lie? I did not want theteacher to think that I wasn’t trying, or to see how little understandingI had. I was also embarrassed and worried that I was the only one whodidn’t understand it. I lied and nobody knew how little I understood.This shows that being dishonest can keep you out of trouble. If I washonest all the time, I think my life would be a lot harder.

5 In some cases, I think people also expect you to be dishonest. Thinkabout what happens when someone asks you how you are. I alwaysreply by saying I am fine, or good, or great. I don’t think people want tohear how I really am. It is polite to ask someone how they are, and it isalso polite to respond by saying something positive. Now imagine youare sitting at the dinner table and there is one piece of garlic bread left.Your friend says, “Would anyone like the last piece of bread?” Youwould like the last piece, but everyone else is saying that they’re fine. It is expected that you will say no, so you do. This is an example of how having good manners sometimes requires being dishonest. There

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are answers you are expected to give, so you give them. If someone toldthe truth and said they wanted the last piece, they would look rude.

6 The thing about honesty is that it is a choice. It is good to be honest,but it’s not always the right choice. In many situations, it is better to bedishonest. Sometimes dishonesty is expected, sometimes it is easier,sometimes it prevents problems, and sometimes it saves you hurtingsomeone’s feelings. Is honesty the best policy? In some cases, it is.However, it is also important to realize that complete honesty is notnecessary all of the time.

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23 Which sentence from the first paragraph states the main claim of the passage?

A There is a common phrase that says that honesty is the best policy.

B In my life, I’ve often been told just to be honest.

C People seem to believe that as long as you tell the truth, everything will work out just fine.

D There are many times when being dishonest makes life a lot easier.

24 In paragraph 2, the author includes an anecdote about lying about herfriend’s outfit. What is the main point of the anecdote?

A It is not right to lie to your friends.

B Lying can have positive results.

C It is best when a group of people lie.

D There is no harm in lying about unimportant things.

25 In which paragraph does the author argue that people are expected to be dishonest?

A Paragraph 2

B Paragraph 3

C Paragraph 4

D Paragraph 5

26 In paragraph 3, the word brutally is emphasized to show —

A the consequences of lying to someone

B how hard it can be to hear the truth

C the best way to tell someone the truth

D that some situations require telling a lie

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27 Why does the author include examples of good manners?

A To educate readers about how to avoid being rude

B To suggest that lying is an example of having bad manners

C To show that having good manners requires that people lie

D To identify some of the problems that lying can cause

28 Using information from the passage, explain what you think is themain problem that occurs when people are too honest. Use details fromthe passage to support your answer.

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Part 2: Writing

/ Writing Prompt 1 \READ the following quotation.

It has been said that if you are never challenged, you will neverimprove.

THINK carefully about the following statement.

Challenges create a need for someone to do better. Challenges caninspire people and help them improve.

WRITE an essay supporting the opinion that challenges help people improve.

Be sure to —• clearly state your main claim or controlling idea• include 2 or 3 supporting ideas• organize and develop your explanation effectively• choose your words carefully• use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and sentences

Use the Space Below to Plan Your Composition

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/ Writing Prompt 2 \READ the following quotation.

A famous saying is, “Actions speak louder than words.”

THINK carefully about the following statement.

Sometimes what people do is more important than what they say.

WRITE an essay stating your opinion on whether a person’s actions arethe most important thing, or whether a person’s words are the mostimportant thing.



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/ Writing Prompt 3 \READ the information below.

Some people write in a diary every day. They write about things thathave happened, and they write about their thoughts and feelings.Many people find that writing in a diary makes them feel better.

THINK about how you could benefit by writing in a diary.

WRITE a persuasive essay arguing the benefits of writing in a diary. Explain how writing in a diary could help you.



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/ Writing Prompt 4 \READ the information below.

Everyone gets stressed sometimes. It is important to be able to find away to relax.

THINK about what you do to relax and how you feel after relaxing.

WRITE an essay arguing that it is important to relax.



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www.rallyeducation.com22 Railroad Avenue, Glen Head, NY 11545

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Understanding Persuasive Text: Reading and Argumentative Writing teaches studentshow to understand and analyze persuasive texts, how to write persuasive essays and preparesthem for the STAAR. Students will understand and analyze a range of persuasive texts thatappear on the STAAR, such as editorials, letters, speeches, essays, historical texts, scientifictexts, and responses to literature. Students will learn about the purpose and structure ofpersuasive texts, and will understand the techniques used to persuade readers.

Understanding Persuasive Text also includes writing prompts that will prepare students forthe STAAR Writing test. Students will make claims and produce well-supported arguments forthose claims.

The Instruction section contains five persuasive texts. Each text is introduced with keyinformation that will help students understand the purpose and structure of the text. Key information is also given on the claims made, the arguments presented, and the evidence included. Students then answer multiple-choice and open-ended questions abouteach persuasive text.

Part 1 of the Independent Practice section contains five persuasive texts. Each persuasivetext is followed by several questions that students will answer on their own. This section ofthe book contains multiple-choice and open-ended questions.

Part 2 of the Independent Practice section contains four persuasive writing prompts.Students will apply their understanding of persuasive writing to create four essays.

Understanding Persuasive Text

Documents

level d

level e

level h

level g

level f

persuasive passages

packlevel c

glossary of persuasive