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11-12.RN.3.2

Description: Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the structure an author uses in an argument including whether the structure makes points that are clear and convincing.
Maps to Reading Plus skills: 5A, 5C, 6A, 8A

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

6A: Recognizing Author's Intent

6A: Recognizing Author's Intent

Description: Recognizing Author's Purpose

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: No excerpt is available for this question.
Question: Who was President Kennedy's real target audience for his September 1962 moon speech?
  1. the Soviets
  2. Rice University students and faculty
  3. Texas state officials
  4. astronauts

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Describe how the author of an argument tries to prove that he or she is right.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

8A: Judging Validity

8A: Judging Validity

Description: Judge Validity

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: Continental had been making sponge cakes for strawberry shortcake, but since strawberries were in season only during the summer, the machinery used to make the cakes sat idle the rest of the year. Dewar, a Chicago bakery manager, came up with the idea for a banana cream-filled cake that could be sold year-round at the price of two for a nickel.

Question: The author describes junk food makers as innovative. Which sentence supports that claim?
  1. A Chicago bakery manager came up with the idea for a banana cream-filled cake that could be sold year-round.
  2. Fans of the treat were happy that the new owners planned to continue producing Twinkies.
  3. Dewar said he named his creation after an advertisement he saw for the Twinkle Shoe Company.
  4. After the war, Twinkies became the best-selling snack cake in America.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Think about how an author's bias affects the validity of a claim. Choose a selection you have read and explain whether or not the author's bias has caused him or her to make a false claim.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions