E4.8.F

Description: Evaluate how the author's diction and syntax contribute to the effectiveness of a text.
Maps to Reading Plus skills: 5C, 6A

Exemplars

5C: Examining Genre

5C: Examining Genre

Description: Examining Genre

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: K-45

K-45

Grade level: 11
Word count: 2261 words
Author: Kate Scoville
Synopsis: Mules, dolphins, and dogs are well suited to carry out military operations.
Excerpt: No excerpt is available for this question.
Question: The genre of this selection is best described as
  1. nonfiction.
  2. historical fiction.
  3. realistic fiction.
  4. biography.

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

6A: Recognizing Author's Intent

6A: Recognizing Author's Intent

Description: Recognizing Author's Purpose

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: K-39

K-39

Grade level: 11
Word count: 1650 words
Author: Christopher Morley
Synopsis: If you have ever been asked to write a certain number of words on a topic, you'll certainly understand the frustration expressed by the newspaper reporter who penned this essay.
Excerpt: We thought of some books we had seen up on East Fifty-ninth Street, in that admirable row of old bookshops, particularly Mowry Saben's volume of essays, "The Spirit of Life," which we are going back to buy one of these days, so please let it alone. We then got out a small notebook in which we keep memoranda of books we intend to read and pored over it zealously. Just for fun, we will tell you three of the titles we have noted there: "The Voyage of the Hoppergrass," by E.L. Pearson, "People and Problems," by Fabian Franklin, and "Broken Stowage," by David W. Bone.

Question: Why does Morley list the names of the books he purchased on Fifty-ninth Street in this essay?
  1. Listing the books adds words to the essay and brings him closer to meeting his word count.
  2. He wanted to make sure the books received some publicity.
  3. Listing the books allows him to demonstrate he is a well-read person.
  4. He was friendly with the authors of the books he mentions.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: How effective were the words and writing style used by the author of a selection? Explain why.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions