5th Grade Opinion/Expository Writing Practice

Which statement best explains the relationship between constructive and destructive forces?

• Constructive forces are more important because they create new land, while destructive forces only cause damage.

• Destructive forces are more important because they reshape land, while constructive forces are rare.

• Constructive forces build land, while destructive forces break it down; both work together to shape Earth's surface.

• Constructive and destructive forces never occur in the same location.

Which of the following is an example of a constructive force from the sources?

• A volcanic eruption creating a new island

• Waves eroding a sea cliff

• Ice breaking apart a rock in the mountains

• An earthquake causing a landslide

Which example from the sources shows how both constructive and destructive forces can work together?

• A river carving a canyon over millions of years

• A sand dune growing taller from windblown sand

• A volcanic mountain forming and then being worn down by erosion

• A glacier moving downhill and carving a valley

Which detail from Source #2 supports the idea that landforms are always changing?

• The Grand Canyon is deep and wide.

• The Hawaiian Islands are popular for their beaches.

• Glaciers are large sheets of moving ice.

• The Mississippi River carries sediment that builds new land at its mouth.

Consider what you have learned about landforms and the forces that shape them from reviewing the three sources. You will now construct an original text using your own ideas to answer the research question for the specific purpose and audience shown below.

Research Question: How do constructive and destructive processes shape Earth’s surface?

Purpose: to provide and support your opinion about why constructive and destructive forces are both important in shaping Earth’s surface.

Audience: visitors to the new exhibit at the nature center, your teacher, and your classmates.

Be sure to give reasons for your opinion and support these reasons with information from the sources. Refer to the Writer’s Checklist as you write and edit your text.