RI.LCS.8.2

Description: Interpret and analyze the author’s use of words, phrases, text features, conventions, and structures, and how their relationships shape meaning and tone in print and multimedia texts. Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the text features and structure an author uses to shape meaning and tone.
Maps to Reading Plus skills: 5A, 5C

Exemplars

5A: Examining Text Structure

5A: Examining Text Structure

Description: Examining Text Structure

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: L-13

L-13

Grade level: 12
Word count: 2479 words
Author: Peter Kupfer
Synopsis: Americans are great at producing, marketing, and of course eating junk food.
Excerpt: Junk food -- defined as food with high calories and little nutritional value -- has been around for hundreds of years, in many parts of the world. But no one has done a better job of creating new varieties of it, mass producing it, marketing it, making people rich off it, and, of course, eating it than Americans.

Question: Read this excerpt. What is the author implying about the American attitude toward junk food in the second sentence?
  1. The second sentence uses sarcasm to congratulate Americans on excelling at something that is detrimental to health.
  2. The second sentence laments the fact that Americans do not embrace new marketing.
  3. The second sentence uses facts to show how junk food has no relevance in the market economy.
  4. The second sentence employs understatement to argue that junk foods' recent introduction has minimal impact on nutrition.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Choose an informational text that presents information in a cause-and-effect or problem-and-solution manner. Describe why the organization of information did (or did not) help you understand the main idea of the selection.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

5C: Examining Genre

5C: Examining Genre

Description: Examining Genre

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: L-16

L-16

Grade level: 12
Word count: 1930 words
Author: Erica Cirino
Synopsis: Many historical sites are fragile and need to be protected from modern human activities.
Excerpt: People also benefit from the existence of coral reefs. Coral reefs protect coastlines by absorbing the impact of rough waves before they hit land. This can help prevent erosion and flooding in seaside communities. In addition, chemical compounds found in corals can be used to formulate new types of medicines. Use of coral chemicals for medicinal purposes has led to many discoveries that have improved human health. For instance, Australian chemists have recently found a substance in some corals on the Great Barrier Reef that contains a natural "SPF 50" sunblock that could be used to protect people from skin cancer.

Question: Read this excerpt. If it were part of a news story, how might it be different?
  1. It would probably include a quote from one of the Australian chemists described.
  2. It would probably be written from a first-person point of view.
  3. It would probably be written with a greater sense of emotion.
  4. It would probably include a quote from the author of the selection.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Choose an expository piece, such as a speech or an essay. Describe how the author uses language to relay information, or make (or respond) to an argument.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions