IDENTIFY THE CLAIM.

Grocery stores should eliminate disposable plastic bags because they are harmful to the environment. Critics claim that plastic bags only account for a small amount of waste and banning them wouldn't make that much of a difference. Plastic bags, though, are a major problem. Plastic bags never break down or disintegrate. They break into smaller pieces but they will always be in the landfill. Also, they are very hard to recycle so many people throw

them away.

IDENTIFY THE CLAIM.

Students should have to pay fees in order to play high school sports because school

budgets are decreasing. Schools across the country have lost money in their budgets and have eliminated some extracurricular activities. Critics argue that students who come from lower-income families might not be able to participate because of these fees. Fees, though, will allow schools to offer students the activities they want. 

Read the passage: Mars has long fascinated scientists and dreamers alike... Ultimately, the question remains: Should humanity risk billions of dollars and human lives to settle Mars, or focus on preserving Earth? RI7.8: Which sentence best states the author’s position?

RI7.8: What claim does the author make about colonizing Mars?

Read the passage: Mars has long fascinated scientists and dreamers alike... Ultimately, the question remains: Should humanity risk billions of dollars and human lives to settle Mars, or focus on preserving Earth? RI7.8: Identify two reasons provided to support colonizing Mars.

Read the passage: Mars has long fascinated scientists and dreamers alike... Ultimately, the question remains: Should humanity risk billions of dollars and human lives to settle Mars, or focus on preserving Earth? RI7.8: What counterargument is presented in the passage?

Proof from a credible source; facts, statistics, quotes, dates, and examples. Tells HOW.

Statement supporting the claim; tells WHY

What is the first thing the readers need to identify?

RI7.3: Which detail from the passage supports the idea that Mars colonization is becoming more possible?

A statement OPPOSING claim; the other side.

An argument is when an author wants to convince you of their position.

An argument needs to be supported by data, facts, evidence, and reasons.

Use this evidence to find the claim.

Should twelve year old be allowed to work?

Evidence:

Children in the workplace can create safety issues.

Work would interfere with the education of children.

Too many hours of school and work could be bad for a growing adolescent.

Beyond Earth (Poem) Your dreams are rockets blazing bright, They pierce the dark of endless night. Beyond the clouds, beyond the sky, A call to soar, a will to try. The stars are whispers, soft and near, They speak of hope, they banish fear. Though space is vast and cold and wide, Your courage is your trusted guide. So lift your gaze, let doubts depart, For journeys start within the heart. Beyond Earth’s bounds, your path is clear, Adventure waits among the spheres. RL7.2: What is the theme of the poem Beyond Earth?

Beyond Earth (Poem) Your dreams are rockets blazing bright, They pierce the dark of endless night. Beyond the clouds, beyond the sky, A call to soar, a will to try. The stars are whispers, soft and near, They speak of hope, they banish fear. Though space is vast and cold and wide, Your courage is your trusted guide. So lift your gaze, let doubts depart, For journeys start within the heart. Beyond Earth’s bounds, your path is clear, Adventure waits among the spheres. Beyond Earth (Poem) Your dreams are rockets blazing bright... RL7.4: Identify two examples of figurative language in the poem.

What is the main idea?

You should determine the main idea by combining the supporting details.

There are many fun things to do at the beach.  Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach.  Snorkeling is another thing that can be enjoyed.  Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun.  It is also fun to look for shells.  Some people simply like to sunbathe.
What is the main idea?

Benjamin Franklin loved to write.  When he was twenty-two, he set up his own printing shop and started a newspaper.  He also printed a book called Poor Richard’s Almanac.  It had funny stories, information about the weather, and wise sayings.

I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!
What is the main idea?

Sharks can lose up to 30,000 teeth in their lifetime. Sharks have teeth arranged in rows inside their mouths. These teeth do not have roots like human teeth do, so they fall out easily. When a shark takes a powerful bite into its food, several teeth are lost. When these teeth are lost, new ones push forward from the back rows to replace them. Luckily, sharks continually grow new teeth to replace the thousands they lose.

IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA

Yellowstone National Park is mainly located in Wyoming, although three percent is located in the state of Montana. The Continental Divide of North America runs diagonally through the southwestern part of the park. The park sits on the Yellowstone Plateau, which is an average elevation of 8,000 feet above sea level. This plateau is bounded on nearly all sides by mountain ranges. There are 290 waterfalls that are at least fifteen feet in the park, the highest being the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, which falls 308 feet.

IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA

It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year. Brach's, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end. That's a lot of candy corn, but that's nothing compared to the production of Tootsie Rolls. Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day! But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry's staple product: chocolate. Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year. Now that's a mouthful!

What are connotations?

What word gives a POSITIVE connotation?

What word gives a NEGATIVE connotation?

What is a denotation?

What word gives a NEGATIVE connotation?

Which word gives a POSITIVE denotation?

What is the difference between denotations and connotations?

Which sentence is the denotation of the word "fuzzy"?

The author is trying to convince the reader to do something or think a certain way 

A story about a family trying to stick together and survive during the Great Depression 

A section in a history book describing the conditions and causes of the Great Depression in the Midwest in the 1930s 

A paragraph telling you about how a piece of candy smells, looks, feels, sounds and tastes. 

A recipe for cookies giving step by step instructions 

Persuade means...

what does describe mean?

Entertain means...

what does explain mean?

what does inform mean?

What is the authors purpose?
"Eating too much cake and not exercising will give us health problems."

What is the authors purpose?
"Every house should have a dog. They are cute, loyal and will protect your house."

What is the authors purpose?
"She threw the paper airplane. It looped through the trees, under the dogs belly, up into the sky and landed in the hot air balloon."

In a non-fiction book, the author's purpose is to:

A child’s letter to Santa asking for a bicycle because the child has been good all year is meant to: