EOC: Research Questions

A student is writing a research paper on whether or not zoos are effective in the ethical treatment of animals. Which pieces of information should be included in the paper? Select ALL that apply.

• Animals are confined in less than ideal environments -- often in small cages.

• Some facilities have staff who research the special dietary needs of the animals.

• People are able to view animals they never would have seen in their natural habitats.

• Many facilities economically impact their environment due to their selection of animals.

• Many zoos have successfully bred endangered animal species and introduced them back into the wild.

Answer explanation

Only facts about the main idea -- the ethical treatment of animals -- should be included.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

A student is writing an informative essay about cryptozoology. Read the paragraph from the essay and answer the question that follows.

1) Cryptozoologists are open-minded but skeptical about their findings. 2) Advancements in technology have allowed them to confirm many biological discoveries while debunking others. 3) The broadening field of biological science has also made use of DNA research to differentiate between documented sightings and the factual evidence of cryptids.

After doing more research, the student wants to add the following sentence:

To be a cryptozoologist, you have to have your feet firmly planted in biological data while embracing the belief that the fantastical can be a real thing in nature.

Where would the sentence best be added to provide specific support?

• before sentence 1

• after sentence 1

• before sentence 3

• after sentence 3

Makayla is a tenth-grade student interested in designing her schedule and college plans around a career path that would provide employment quickly after college graduation. She has started using the internet to research "getting a job after graduation." Her teacher suggests asking a question as a search strategy in order to conduct a more relevant search. What is the most effective research question to meet Makayla's needs?

• What businesses in my community are currently hiring?

• What medical careers are most in need of college graduates?

• What careers will be most in demand within the next ten years?

• What college degrees are most popular with high school seniors?

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.1

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

Read the following paragraph about whether dinosaurs were warm-blooded or cold-blooded and answer the question that follows.

1) The scientists who contend that dinosaurs were ectothermic point to the bone structures seen in dinosaur fossils: dinosaurs' bone structures are like those of many reptiles, and reptiles are, of course, cold-blooded. 2) Moreover, revisionist scientists point out, modern birds display bone structures which suggest they have descended from dinosaurs, and birds are warm-blooded.

The student wants to replace the transition word at the beginning of sentence 2 to more logically connect the ideas expressed in the two sentences. Which transition words or phrases would achieve this goal? Select ALL that apply.

• However

• Therefore

• Furthermore

• Besides which

• On the other hand

Answer explanation

Be sure to choose all of the options that show the same type of relationship (in this case, two of them show a CONTRAST).

Eduardo, a sophomore, has written a letter to the school board requesting they purchase new uniforms for the high school band.

Select the word/phrase to complete the following sentence that maintains a style and tone appropriate for his audience.

Did you know that our score in competitions is partially based on _____?

• style and artistry

• how we look

• flashiness

Answer explanation

The audience is educated adults, so the word choice should appeal to them. (They don't care how flashy the band looks!)

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Eduardo, a sophomore, has written a letter to the school board requesting they purchase new uniforms for the high school band.

Which sentence should he omit to strengthen his writing?

• I am a band major, and this letter represents the feelings of the high school band.

• It's not fair that the cheerleaders get new uniforms every year.

• Part of our performance is based on how our uniforms look on the field.

• If we had new band uniforms, we would definitely have a chance to score better and bring home more awards.

Answer explanation

1. Stick to the topic. (What does cheerleading have to do with buying band uniforms?)

2. Watch the tone. (The board members probably approved those cheer purchases, so you can't risk offending them and think they'll give you what you want.)

A student has written an essay about cryptozoology. Read the draft of a paragraph from the essay.

It deals in relict hominoids, surviving species of an otherwise extinct group, and mythical creatures. Cryptozoologists spend their lives investigating claims of fantastical sightings and making remarkable discoveries.

Which of these would be the BEST introductory sentence for the paragraph?

• Cryptids present observers with ample information to study species that are rumored to be alive.

• The study of animals that currently do not exist but are thought to be real is called cryptozoology.

• Have you ever wanted to take a selfie with a Yeti, go deep-sea diving with a mermaid, or hold hands with a Chupacabra?

• The first grouping includes animals that have been rediscovered in nature such as the gorilla, giant squid, okapi, and Komodo dragon.

Answer explanation

Keep in mind the first word of the next sentence is "it," so the introductory sentence MUST clarify what "it" is.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Read the paragraph and select the BEST transition word to connect the ideas in the paragraph.

Maya was nervous upon waking up. Today was her sixteenth birthday, and her older brother had promised to take her to get her driver's license. As she rolled out of bed, she yelled his name. _____, he didn't answer. "Great," thought Maya, "he's not here. How will I ever get to the license bureau?"

• Moreover

• Furthermore

• Nevertheless

• Unfortunately

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

If you are asked to write a research paper about Japanese internment camps in America in the 1940s, which of the following sources would be least useful?

• maps showing the locations of the camps in the US and maps showing the layouts of the camps themselves

• a blog written by a college student who likes history

• a speech given by the President announcing the end of the internment camps

• a first-hand account written by someone who lived in one of the camps

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

If your science teacher asks you to write a paper about the coronavirus, which of the following things should you consider when choosing a source? Select ALL that apply.

• the author's qualifications and background

• the date the information was published

• whether or not the information is research-based with sources cited

• whether or not it appears on the first page of a Google search

• how many other students are using the same source

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.9