CCRA.R.2
Description:
Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
Maps to Reading Plus skills:
2A, 2A, 2C, 2C, 5B
Exemplars
2A: Determining Main Idea
2A: Determining Main Idea
Description:
Determining Main Idea and Themes
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
L-10
L-10
Grade level: 12
Word count: 2596 words
Author: Edgar Allan Poe
Synopsis: Edgar Allan Poe's classic short story gives a whole new meaning to the term "solitary confinement."
Excerpt:
No excerpt is available for this question.
Question:
The events in this tale could best be described by the expression
- "Stuck between a rock and a hard place."
- "Actions speak louder than words."
- "Don't bite the hand that feeds you."
- "The pen is mightier than the sword."
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
(Theme: environment) Describe a selection in which a nature or the environment was represented in either a positive or negative way, and how this positive or negative view affected the characters and events in the selection.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions
2C: Summarizing
2C: Summarizing
Description:
Summarizing
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
L-24
L-24
Grade level: 12
Word count: 2818 words
Author: Geoffrey Chaucer
Synopsis: The General Prologue is the first part of a text written by Geoffrey Chaucer. Here, the first half of the Prologue is presented.
Excerpt:
"The Canterbury Tales," a collection of stories penned by renowned British poet Geoffrey Chaucer in the late 14th century, is thought by scholars to be one of the most influential contributions ever made to English literature. Praised not only for its representations of nearly every social type in the Middle Ages but also for its portrayals of complex and often contradictory personalities, "The Canterbury Tales" is often referred to as Chaucer's magnum opus. Despite the fact that the collection is unfinished (Chaucer died in 1400 before completing the tales) it quickly gained popularity and remains one of the most highly regarded and widely read literary achievements.
The collection is written as a frame narrative with the tales assembled in a specific order and preceded by an introduction. The characters are Christians from various walks of medieval life who assemble to go on a pilgrimage, or holy journey, from Southwark (a district of Central London) to Canterbury Cathedral (approximately 70 miles to the east). However, some of the pilgrims are social or political caricatures and the stories they tell cross a broad range of genres, reflecting Chaucer's literary dexterity and ability to write for nearly any purpose, from courtly tales of chivalry to scathing satire to rollicking comedy.
The collection is written as a frame narrative with the tales assembled in a specific order and preceded by an introduction. The characters are Christians from various walks of medieval life who assemble to go on a pilgrimage, or holy journey, from Southwark (a district of Central London) to Canterbury Cathedral (approximately 70 miles to the east). However, some of the pilgrims are social or political caricatures and the stories they tell cross a broad range of genres, reflecting Chaucer's literary dexterity and ability to write for nearly any purpose, from courtly tales of chivalry to scathing satire to rollicking comedy.
Question:
Based on the selection, "The Canterbury Tales" can best be described as
- an unfinished but valuable text that provides social and political commentary about a certain time and place.
- a fascinating but largely trivial work that functions more as an entertaining travel guide than a literary text.
- a compilation of personal letters and diaries that serve as a reminder of the difficulties of everyday medieval life.
- an anthology of formal documents esteemed for its precise explanations of both religious and secular laws.
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
2A: Determining Main Idea
2A: Determining Main Idea
Description:
Determining Main Idea and Themes
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
L-2
L-2
Grade level: 12
Word count: 2262 words
Author: Beth Renaud
Synopsis: The Harlem Renaissance brought talented African American writers and artists into the mainstream of American culture.
Excerpt:
No excerpt is available for this question.
Question:
What is the main idea of this selection?
- The Harlem Renaissance gave voice to African American's discontent in America.
- During the Harlem Renaissance, African American musicians expressed their ideas through jazz.
- The Harlem Renaissance showed that African Americans were not content to accept racial discrimination.
- During the Harlem Renaissance, a middle class of educated black Americans emerged.
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Using the Internet or other research tools, find three additional pieces of information that support the main idea stated in the selection.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions
2C: Summarizing
2C: Summarizing
Description:
Summarizing
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
L-8
L-8
Grade level: 12
Word count: 2551 words
Author: President John F. Kennedy
Synopsis: President Kennedy was convinced the Cold War would be won in space.
Excerpt:
"We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won. And they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man. Only if the United States occupies a position of pre-eminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new terrifying theater of war. I do not say the we should or will go unprotected against the hostile misuse of space any more than we go unprotected against the hostile use of land or sea. But I do say that space can be explored and mastered without feeding the fires of war, without repeating the mistakes that man has made in extending his writ around this globe of ours."
Question:
Choose the sentence in this excerpt that best summarizes President Kennedy's desire to bring the United States to global prominence in a peaceful way?
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Create a news report based on a selection you have read. Report facts from the selection as well as additional facts you researched from reputable sources.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions
5B: Examining Sequence
5B: Examining Sequence
Description:
Examining Sequence of Ideas and Events
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
L-7
L-7
Grade level: 12
Word count: 2446 words
Author: R. Bender
Synopsis: The Soviets shot down an American pilot during the Cold War. What happened when it was revealed the pilot was on a spy mission?
Excerpt:
"The pilot, as are all pilots used on NASA's program of upper atmosphere research with the U-2 airplane, is a civilian employed by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, builders of the plane."
To add credence to the smokescreen, the United States proclaimed it was grounding all U-2 aircraft for inspections of their oxygen systems before authorizing any additional weather research missions.
On May 6, 1960, the American Embassy in Moscow sent a communique to the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
To add credence to the smokescreen, the United States proclaimed it was grounding all U-2 aircraft for inspections of their oxygen systems before authorizing any additional weather research missions.
On May 6, 1960, the American Embassy in Moscow sent a communique to the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Question:
Immediately following the announcement that Powers' plane was missing, the U.S. government took steps to support its cover story. According to the selection, what was the government's first step?
- It grounded all U-2 planes for inspection of their oxygen systems.
- It grounded all U-2 planes for inspection of their surveillance systems.
- It re-certified all U-2 pilots to ensure they were trained to properly operate the aircraft.
- It launched multiple weather research missions through NASA.
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Think about the selections you have read that explain how something happens or is done. Explain the process in complete detail in your own words, so that people reading your instructions are able to understand or perform the entire process successfully on their own.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions