MP Lesson - 8..Identify Purpose

​8.1 - Identify Purpose

Everything written in a paragraph should be there for a purpose.

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​8.2 - Learning Targets

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​Discern the main idea of a paragraph

Examine how each sentence functions in a good paragraph

Determine the best addition or deletion to a paragraph​

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Poll

Self-Assessment

Circle the number that corresponds to your confidence level in your knowledge of this subject before beginning the lesson. A score of 1 means you are completely lost, and a score of 4 means you have mastered the skills.

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​8.2 - Quick Check

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What are some reasons a writer might want to add information to a paragraph?

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What are some reasons a writer might want to delete information from a paragraph?​

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​8.3.1 - Getting the Gist

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Today you'll learn about adding or deleting information and explaining why.​

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​To Keep or Not To Keep?

If you aren't sure whether a part of a sentence should be kept or deleted, your best guess will be to keep it because, more often than not, it is the correct answer. Always try to find the right answer first, but choose to keep it if you're completely stuck.

​Relevant, Emphasize, Explain

A phrase or sentence is a good addition to a paragraph if it is relevant to the rest of the paragraph and emphasizes or explains information related to the focus of the paragraph.

Multiple Choice

If we were going downtown, we would try to find a parking spot on the street. But if this wasn't possible, we could look for one of the public lots and pay for a space. Then, our wallets a bit lighter, we would walk into town. Unfortunately, even in public lots, parking spaces are few. My friends and I typically drive a sedan. The lots become full early in the day, after which it becomes very difficult to find a place at all.

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Determine what information, if any, could be deleted without changing the meaning or main idea of the paragraph.

• If we were going downtown

• we could look for one of the public lots and pay for a space

• My friends and I typically drive a sedan.

• after which it becomes very difficult to find a space at all

Multiple Choice

The search for the pharaoh's tomb began in the desert. Signs of the tomb had been detected for years by numerous archaeologists excavating in the area. The archaeologists had discovered artifacts that seemed to indicate the pharaoh was buried nearby. After examining such artifacts—including what appeared to be an ancient map of the region—archaeologists finally set up their excavation.

A phrase or sentence is a good addition to a paragraph if it is relevant to the rest of the paragraph and emphasizes or explains information related to the focus of the paragraph.

Which phrase should be added?

• They chose the coordinates for the dig based on clues from the map, which indicated a more western burial site than previously thought.

• Archaeologists excavate in numerous regions, including Egypt, Iceland, Australia, and many more.

• In the 1970s, archaeologists excavated the remains of a dinosaur in the same region.

• The year before, a museum put on an exhibit about King Tut that generated increased interest in mummies.

Multiple Choice

My garden in Pinewood, Washington, was enclosed by a long wooden gate. Large trees gave the small but elegant garden ample shade and even shielded it from heavy rainstorms. Red roses grew along the eastern-facing side, and an herb garden sprawled near the house. Pests could be a problem; surprisingly, rabbits were the worst offenders. A few hungry rabbits would all but destroy months of careful cultivating.

A phrase or sentence is a good addition to a paragraph if it is relevant to the rest of the paragraph and emphasizes or explains information related to the focus of the paragraph.

Which phrase should be added?

• Pinewood is a little town about twenty miles out from Seattle.

• Sometimes storms would be accompanied by thunder and lightning.

• Other pests included mice, deer, and a variety of bugs.

• Many people prefer red roses, but white roses are my favorite

Multiple Choice

Not all guests, however, have been so well-behaved. A few years ago, a class came to the museum and knocked over a series of expensive statues from the Renaissance era. A few of these priceless pieces shatered on the marble floor. Luckily, the museum's insurance covered the cost of most of the damages, though that particular school was not invited back to visit.

Which sentence should be added?

• The museum had many exhibits:

  some of sculptures, others of paintings, and still others of historical artifacts.

• Insurance is always highly advisable for businesses, especially those open to the public.

• Michelangelo was a famous sculptor from that time.

• A few of the students scrambled to try to put the pieces back together, but to no avail.

Multiple Choice

The Garcia family always took a long road trip during the summer, driving from Texas to the Denver mountains or the California coast. Their father loved to go hiking and spend time outdoors. Their mother preferred snapping photos and visiting small, quaint towns along the way. The Garcias were adventurous and good-natured, and they always ended a road trip with a picnic on a hill, watching the sunset as they talked about their experiences.

Which sentence should be added?

• Picnics generally attract ants, so it is important to bring bug spray.

• Beaches are generally crowded at this time of year.

• Sometimes they would take backroads and admire the natural beauty of the landscape.

• The Garcias also took vacations in winter, either to ski or to visit family.

Multiple Choice

8.4.1 - Set 1

As the road lengthened behind me, the brilliant sun gave way to an inky night. Memories from my youth rapidly occupied the darkening emptiness. I saw my brother grinning before a cake at our parents' house when I graduated high school. We feasted on brisket, latkes, and dozens of fresh figs. I can still see the two grinning faces next to my brother—Dad with his laughing eyes and Mom with her big white teeth showing as she smiled—both congratulating me on my success at beginning college in New York.

1. At this point, the author is considering adding the following true statement:

In Hebrew, mazel tov means "congratulations."

Should the author make this addition here?

•     Yes, because it clarifies what the narrator believes were his parents' true emotions.

•     Yes, because it supports the rest of the paragraph by explaining a Jewish tradition.

• No, because it distracts readers from the main focus of this paragraph

• No, because it creates confusion between the narrator's culture and his college choice.

Multiple Choice

8.4.1 - Set 1

The University of Notre Dame was established in 1842, but football didn't come to the school until 1887. That year, University of Michigan paid a visit and taught students there how to play the game. Since then, Notre Dame has established itself as a premier athletic team, despite remaining outside any athletic conferences. The team claims eleven consensus national championships and has the highest winning percentage in NCAA history. Unsurprisingly, many great football players began their careers at the University of Notre Dame. 2

The author is considering adding the following true information at the end of the previous sentence:

including Heisman winners Paul Hornung and Tim Brown

Should the writer add this phrase, assuming a comma would be placed after the word Dame?

•       Yes, because it helps explain why Notre Dame eliminated its football program

•       Yes, because it adds evidence that supports the sentence's claim.

•       No, because the addition diverts the sentence's focus on the university

• . No, because the level of detail added isn't consistent with the detail provided in the rest of the paragraph.

Multiple Choice

8.4.1 - Set 1

Joel Embiid was born and raised in Cameroon.  The son of a military officer, he first held ambitions to be a professional volleyball player. However, at sixteen, Joel was discovered by Luc Mbah a Moute, a fellow Cameroonian, who encouraged him to try out for the National Basketball Association. Lager, Joel moved to the United States to attend the University of Kansas. He left the university after only one year to become the third pick in the 2014 NBA draft, despite having been raised as a volleyball player.    

The writer is considering deleting "in the 2014 NBA draft" from the preceding sentence. Should the phrase be kept or deleted?         

The son of a military officer, he first held ambitions NBA draft" from the preceding sentence. Should the phrase be kept or deleted? to be a professional volleyball player. However

• Kept, because it specifies where the player was raised.

• Kept, because it provides important details to clarify Joel's successes.

• Deleted, because it provides redundant information

• Deleted because it distracts the reader from Joel's athleticism

Multiple Choice

8.4.2 - Set 2

Sperm whales are the largest toothed predator in the world. Male whales can reach up to sixty seven feet, although they average fifty-two feet. They are found throughout the world but typically only in areas more than 3,300 feet deep that are also free of ice. In the Gulf of Mexico, at the mouth of the Mississippi River, sperm whales are able to survive because the river deepens the ocean floor.

10 Here, shrimpers, cargo ships, and oil rigs stake a working space in the waters for their business operations.

The author is considering deleting this phrase from the preceding sentence (and correcting capitalization as needed):

In the Gulf of Mexico, at the mouth of the Mississippi River,

Should the phrase be kept or deleted?

• F.     Kept, because it explains that sperm whales live only at the mouth of the river inside of the Gulf of Mexico.

• Deleted, because the information is stated later in the paragraph

• Kept, because it provides details referred to by "here" in the following sentence

• F.     Deleted, because it opposes the previous sentence, which makes it clear that whales live

Multiple Choice

8.4.2 - Set Two

Harry Caray was a baseball announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland Athletics, Chicago

White Sox, and most famously, the Chicago Cubs. His unique broadcasting style distinguished him from other sports commentators. Expressions like "Holy cow!" became synonymous with his name because he used them so frequently. Caray's play by-play brought color and life to the players and their teams by using clever turns of phrase. For example, he liked saying a player's name backwards:

The author is considering changing "Mota became Atom" to:

Mota became Atom so that Caray could announce, "Atom hit that right at 'em."

Assuming the new phrase is accurate, should the author make the revision or keep the phrase as it appears?

Mota became Atom.

• Make the revision, because the change contributes to the information about key players Caray discussed.

• Make the revision, because it illustrates how saying names backwards enhanced Caray's broadcast.

• Keep the phrase as is, because the unchanged phrase illustrates ow to say a name backwards.

• Keep the phrase as is, because the focus is on Caray, not on his broadcasts techniques.

Multiple Choice

8.4.2 - Set 2

Longboards are becoming increasingly popular in today's society. They are useful modes

of transportation as well as enjoyable recreational vehicles. People especially enjoy using longboards on downhill trails. Most longboards have decks constructed of varying types of wood, bamboo, fiberglass. The decks are cut into shapes similar to skateboards but are always greater in length.

The author is considering deleting the preceding sentence. Should the sentence be kept or deleted?

• Kept, because it's important that the reader understands the various longboard types.

• Kept, because it aids the reader in visualizing a longboard.

• Deleted, because it distracts from the focus in the previous sentence.

• Deleted, because it is overly wordy.

Sum It Up

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A phrase or sentence is a good addition to a paragraph if it is relevant to the rest of the paragraph and emphasizes or explains information to the focus of the paragraph. ​

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Poll

Self-Assessment

Circle the number that corresponds to your confidence level in your knowledge of this subject after the lesson. A score of 1 means you are completely lost, and a score of 4 means you have mastered the skills.

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

​Exit Ticket

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Go to your Mastery Prep account and complete the Exit Ticket for Lesson 8.

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Remember, you only have 2 minutes to complete the 3 questions. ​

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​Independent Assignment

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Complete Sets 3, 4 & 5 in your Mastery Prep English Workbooks. (pages 120 - 125)​

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