8.RI.2
Description:
Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Maps to Reading Plus skills:
1A, 2A, 2B, 2C, 7C
Exemplars
1A: Recalling Explicit Details
1A: Recalling Explicit Details
Description:
Identifying explicit details including character, time, setting and speaker
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
H-8
H-8
Grade level: 8
Word count: 1818 words
Author: Tamara Ellis Smith
Synopsis: Roselind Franklin was a scientist whose contributions were ignored.
Excerpt:
Fascinated by mathematics and numbers, she spent her free time studying mathematical concepts for enjoyment. In addition, she possessed an impressive memory, excelling not only in mathematics and science in school but also in athletics. Her friends described her as being the best at everything she attempted with her hand, her brain, and her foot. This early, repetitive, and intense training of both her mind and body probably shaped her subsequent steadfast determination and dedicated work ethic.
Question:
Based on this excerpt, which two factors laid the foundation for Franklin's work ethic?
- athletic training for her body
- mathematical studies for her mind
- artistic endeavors for her creativity
- research success for her reputation
- learning from failure for her confidence
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Create a website for a non-fiction selection you read. Include the main idea and supporting details. Include images that would help viewers of your website better understand the topic.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions
2A: Determining Main Idea
2A: Determining Main Idea
Description:
Determining Main Idea and Themes
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
H-11
H-11
Grade level: 8
Word count: 1830 words
Author: Ben Robinson
Synopsis: On a memorable night in Florida, Cassius Clay faces Sonny Liston, the world champion.
Excerpt:
No excerpt is available for this question.
Question:
Which of these is the best alternative title for this selection?
- Beat the Unbeatable
- Try, Try Again
- Liston's Second Chance
- From Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
List three supporting details from a selection and explain how those details helped you determine the selection's main idea.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions
2B: Analyzing Relative Importance
2B: Analyzing Relative Importance
Description:
Determining Relative Importance
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
H-15
H-15
Grade level: 8
Word count: 1731 words
Author: Peter Kupfer
Synopsis: For ecotourists, it's all about preserving the environment.
Excerpt:
Businesses like underwater hotels, helicopter tours, and wildlife theme parks are often guilty of greenwashing. Other examples of greenwashing might be a hotel that claims to be eco-friendly simply because it uses energy-efficient light bulbs, a wildlife park that sells items made from an endangered species, or a desert resort with a golf course that needs a lot of water.
Large corporations are often the worst offenders when it comes to greenwashing. These corporations make huge profits from the development of ecotourism projects, while the local communities often get few, if any, benefits. In Nepal, for example, more than 90 percent of the money from ecotourism is sent out of the country while less than 5 percent goes to the local communities.
Large corporations are often the worst offenders when it comes to greenwashing. These corporations make huge profits from the development of ecotourism projects, while the local communities often get few, if any, benefits. In Nepal, for example, more than 90 percent of the money from ecotourism is sent out of the country while less than 5 percent goes to the local communities.
Question:
Put these greenwashing practices in order, from the most offensive and harmful to the least.
- A country, like Nepal, receives only five percent of the money from ecotourism.
- A wildlife park sells items made from an endangered species.
- A desert resort uses a lot of water to keep its golf course green.
- A hotel uses only energy-efficient lightbulbs and calls itself green.
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Create a Facebook fan page for a selection. Include the most important information to share with fans.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions
2C: Summarizing
2C: Summarizing
Description:
Summarizing
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
H-16
H-16
Grade level: 8
Word count: 1759 words
Author: Diane Lang
Synopsis: A Mexican American author draws on her heritage for inspiration.
Excerpt:
This novel and many of the author's other works reflect Cisneros' experiences while growing up. Like many young people, she struggled with cultural loyalties and feelings of isolation and low self-esteem associated with poverty. She often portrays the consequences of Mexico's economic hardships and the struggle of Mexicans to survive in America while endeavoring to acclimate to its culture.
Question:
Cisneros is sympathetic to poor Mexican immigrants because
- she experienced the same problems of adjusting to a new culture.
- she researched the challenges they faced in coming to America.
- while growing up she had a best friend who was an immigrant.
- she read about the hardships in Mexico that drove people to leave.
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Imagine you are an attorney. Prepare a summation of a selection you have read to present to a jury for deliberation.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions
7C: Interpreting Images
7C: Interpreting Images
Description:
Intepreting Images and Maps
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
H-38
H-38
Grade level: 8
Word count: 1787 words
Author: Luke Cooper
Synopsis: After parachuting into the dense jungle, the crew puts its fate into the hands of the natives.
Image:
Question:
Based on the selection, which characteristic of this plane helps to identify it as a B-24 bomber?
- long, slender wings
- propeller engines
- flat, painted tail
- wide fuselage
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Can an image help you understand a selection's main idea or theme? Choose two selections you have read and explain how the image did or did not help you understand the selection.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions