Day 6 STAAR® Blitz Assignment: Argumentative Texts

Part A Which sentence best states the author’s main claim?

• Students need a break from the stress of standardized tests.
• Students need to have more instructional time in class to increase their academic achievement.
• Students need to have more time to socialize during their lunch breaks.
• Students need to have more transition time between classes to better meet their needs.

Part B Which quotation from the selection best supports the answer to Part A?

• There is no denying that students need time to meet their needs and connect with others. . . . (paragraph 1)
• . . . the current state of the American school system has left students with few opportunities to do that. (paragraph 1)
• Students need more time to transition between classes so that they can meet their social, emotional, and basic needs. (paragraph 1)
• Today’s students are experiencing mounting pressure and stress in their lives. (paragraph 3)

Paragraph 2 provides support for the author’s claim that –

• students' basic needs are not being met
• students' social needs are not being met
• students' emotional needs are not being met
• students' academic needs are not being met

Read this quotation from paragraph 2. Why does the author of the article include a question and answer in paragraph 2? Select TWO correct answers.

• To demonstrate that she will solve the problem presented in the question throughout the rest of the selection
• To prove that the lack of transition time is only a problem for a few students
• To suggest that the current amount of transition time is not working for students
• To introduce a discussion of high school students’ time management skills and why they contribute to the problem
• To highlight the problem of students not being able to meet their basic needs during the short transition times

Which word best describes the overall tone of the selection?

• Sarcastic
• Factual
• Annoyed
• Playful

In paragraph 5, what does plagues mean? Enter the answer below.

What is the author’s main purpose for writing this article?

• To inform the reader of the daily schedule for typical high school students
• To argue that students do not have enough transition time during the school day
• To criticize administrators for making the decision to shorten transition time during the school day
• To analyze the ideal amount of time that should be given to students during transition times

What change should be made in sentence 1?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Sentence 2 is unclear. How should it be revised?

• A goal of students filing into the hallways is to scan for available paths, opportunities to merge and press forward is what they look for.
• Because students file into the hallways, they scan for available paths to look for opportunities to merge and press forward.
• Students file into the hallways, scanning for available paths, looking for opportunities to merge and press forward.
• The hallways have students file into them, who scan for available paths, and who look for opportunities to merge and press forward.