CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.8

Description: Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not.
Maps to Reading Plus skills: 8A, 8B

Exemplars

8A: Judging Validity

8A: Judging Validity

Description: Judge Validity

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: F-17

F-17

Grade level: 6
Word count: 1710 words
Author: Randi Bender
Synopsis: At the U.S. Space Camp, campers find out what it is like to work and travel in space.
Excerpt: Other campers get to experience zero gravity under water. Real astronauts get much of their training in weightlessness under water. Being under water is the closest thing on Earth to the feeling of zero gravity in space. Astronauts spend hours practicing their specialty tasks in large pools that hold hundreds of thousands of gallons of water.

Question: Which is the best example of how some space campers experience training conditions similar to those of real astronauts?
  1. feeling what zero gravity under water is like
  2. visiting the flight center for a rocket launch
  3. practicing swimming in a large pool
  4. studying space science and technology

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Imagine you are an attorney. Write an opening statement to the jury that argues the validity of a selection you read. Provide supportive evidence.

Evaluator

Organization: Curriculum Design Institute

8B: Reasoning

8B: Reasoning

Description: Reasoning

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: F-19

F-19

Grade level: 6
Word count: 1719 words
Author: Beth Renaud
Synopsis: Disabled people gain strength and confidence from horseback riding.
Excerpt: One of the most effective things about hippotherapy is that it puts riders in the mood to learn. Like Sarah, most riders are excited, comfortable, and joyfully distracted when they are on a horse. In common therapy situations, Sarah tends to be reluctant to follow instructions and do her exercises. On Oakley, she's cheerful and relaxed. In this state, she is much more willing to take part in the training that builds her strength and teaches her important life skills.

Question: Choose the one sentence that explains how therapy with horses helps riders develop a positive mindset.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: How would you apply what you learned in a selection to your own life?

Evaluator

Organization: Curriculum Design Institute