LAFS.7.RI.3.8

Description: Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient to support the claims.
Maps to Reading Plus skills: 8A, 8B

Exemplars

8A: Judging Validity

8A: Judging Validity

Description: Judge Validity

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: G-20

G-20

Grade level: 7
Word count: 1713 words
Author: Tamara Ellis Smith
Synopsis: Derrick Redmond becomes a hero, with his father's help.
Excerpt: Derrick Redmond, a British runner, is one of these hopeful athletes. Born on September 3, 1965, he had been training for this day in Barcelona for the last 20 years. Jim Redmond, Derrick's father, was a tremendous supporter of his son, and they were exceptionally close. Jim attended all of Derrick's meets, and he encouraged his son's aspirations.

Question: Choose the sentence in this excerpt that indicates the dedication needed to win an Olympic gold medal.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: What can you do to verify statements made by an author if he or she does not include supporting facts in the selection? What would you do if you found conflicting sources?

Evaluator

Organization: Curriculum Design Institute

8B: Reasoning

8B: Reasoning

Description: Reasoning

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: G-21

G-21

Grade level: 7
Word count: 1583 words
Author: Mike Buchanan
Synopsis: Convincing others that the Sun was the center of the solar system was not easy.
Excerpt: Well, almost five centuries ago, that's exactly what happened to the scientist Galileo Galilei. At that time, scientific research was not a common pursuit. Many people got their information from religious authorities, who based their claims on scripture. In the end, his story is one of tragedy and triumph. It took hundreds of years for his vindication and he now is considered "The Father of Modern Science."

Question: Choose the two sentences in this excerpt that explain why Galileo's heliocentric theory was so severely criticized.

Writing
✓ standard met

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

Evaluator

Organization: Curriculum Design Institute