RI.03 How an author writes to elaborate!

RI.03 How an author writes to elaborate!

Why is this important to know?

• helps us to better understand the topic the author is writing about

• makes us more observant as readers

• allows us to analyze and question what we read

• makes us better writers!

Multiple Choice

1. According to the author, an important event happened in the 1800s. Why does the author include this event in the text?

• a. To explain cuneiform

• b. To elaborate why cuneiform is important to ancient people

• c. To illustrate why Sumerians first invented writing

• d. To illustrate how modern people have added to their knowledge of the past

Multiple Choice

2. The author states that Sumerians invented writing to keep track of trading. How is this illustrated in the text?

• a. The author explains that the Sumerians were merchants and traders and needed to keep track of all of this trading.

• b. The author explains that the first type of writing was done on a bulla.

• c. The author explains how the pictures stood for syllables.

• d. The author explains that they traded grain, dates, wool, and dairy products.

Multiple Choice

3. The author says how the invention of cuneiform was helpful. How is this point illustrated in the text?

• a. The author uses a short story to illustrate the point.

• b. The author uses statistics to illustrate the point.

• c. The author gives examples to illustrate the point.

• d. The author uses quotes from the cuneiform tablets to illustrate the point.

Multiple Choice

4. Which quote shows the author elaborating the point that writing was an important invention?

• “The Sumerians needed to keep track of all this trading. Their first written symbols were pictures of the things they traded.”

• "But in the 1800s, an important translation was made by Sir Henry Creswicke Rawlinson."

• "Archaeologists today continue to translate the first writings."

• "Soon the Sumerians were combining those syllables into words."

Multiple Choice

1. Which one is NOT an elaboration technique?

• examples

• anecdotes

• simple sentences

• statistics

• quotes

Open Ended

Why does the author suggest that Sir Henry Creswicke Rawlinson’s translation was important? Justify your answer with evidence from the text.