Week #15 Assignment (8th Grade)

What is the author’s argument in “At Your Fingertips”?

• Smartphones are useful tools that can help students learn.

• Students should be able to use smartphones as they please.

• Smartphones should be available for use in emergencies.

• Only students who own smartphones can do well in school.

Which sentence from the article is the best evidence for the answer to

#1

• A huge percentage of high school students have smartphones.

  (paragraph 2)

• But many educators say allowing students to use their smartphones in class

  supports learning, cooperation, and discussion. (paragraph 2)

• Students with cell phones can always share their devices with students

  who don’t own them. (paragraph 2)

• Students aren’t likely to be texting their friends if they are actively

  involved in a lesson. (paragraph 3)

Which statement from “At Your Fingertips” is an example of an appeal to reason?

• One need only enter a coffee shop, restaurant, or library, or step onto a

  busy street to see just how distracted society is by mobile technology.

  (paragraph 1)

• With access to cell phones, students will learn more effectively and be

  able to find historical documents or view animations of cell division at

  the touch of a finger. (paragraph 2)

• Denying eager students their smartphones is disempowering them, for

  we all know information is power. (paragraph 2)

• Teachers should hang out with their students! (paragraph 3)

Thirty years ago, students writing research papers used the school library. They would wade

through encyclopedias and articles from newspapers and magazines to find information.

They were at the mercy of what was available in their school library. No more. With the

Internet and smartphones, students have ACCESS to nearly every piece of information

imaginable. Instantaneously. As the problem of access to information has faded, a new one

has arisen in its place—a lack of attention.

Using context clues, what can you most logically conclude is the meaning of the

word accessin the paragraph?

• an entrance

• a passage through

• permission to use

• a way of getting to

Which of these sentences uses pronouns correctly?

• Both of the girls had their notebooks with them.

• All of the girls had her notebook with her.

• Each of the girls had their notebook with them.

• Few of the girls had her notebook with her.