Question
Key words: Define the following in your own words
Word
Definition
central idea
claim
evidence
Check-In (page 3): For each sentence about wolves, choose the evidence that best supports it.
Wolves are similar to humans in their social organization.
A wolf pack may have as many as twenty wolves.
By three weeks of age, wolf pups are able to play.
Most packs are led by an adult male and adult female.
The average size of a wolf litter is around four pups.
Killing predatory wolves can lead to other problems.
Moving cattle regularly can nearly eliminate danger from wolves.
Conservationists support the return of wolves to western ranges.
Wolves recently returned to California after nearly ninety years.
Without wolves, deer now invade communities, destroying gardens.
Some ranchers are proving that livestock and wolves can coexist.
Bad weather kills vastly more sheep than wolves do.
Modern ranchers use tracking devices to monitor wolves.
A Washington rancher claims to have lost $1 million in cattle to wolves.
Oregon ranchers may kill wolves found in the act of attacking livestock.
Practice (page 12): This excerpt contrasts two central ideas about wolves. Look for evidence in the excerpt that supports each analysis. List the reasons and examples.
Tension exists between the ranchers who feel threatened by wolves and the conservationists who want to see wolves protected. Many ranchers want to remove federal protection for the gray wolves. They want to allow hunting again. They point to increased wolf populations in several states. Numbers have grown from under 1,000 to more than 5,000. The increase has led to more wolf attacks on sheep and cattle. Conservationists say that current wolf packs and populations are not at all stable. They point to the fact that wolves neared extinction before laws protecting them were enacted. Allowing hunting could eliminate the gains.
Competing Ideas
Evidence
Wolves still need protection.
Wolves no longer need protection.
* * *
Unit 2 Lesson 10: Supporting Inferences
Video Link: Making inferences in informational texts | Reading | Khan Academy
Key word: define the following in your own words.
Word
Definition
evidence
inference
Check-In (page 3): Read this paragraph about wildfires. Then choose the best answer for each question that follows.
Most forest fires and wildfires are natural. They clear away debris, old brush, and dying trees, leaving heartier trees better able to grow. Certain trees, in fact, produce seeds only when fire heats them. If the fire removes thick shrubs and undergrowth, the water supply increases, aiding other plants and local animals. Fire also may kill predatory insects or pests that live on and damage otherwise healthy trees.
What inference can you make from this paragraph?
A fire can have many causes.
Forest fires can be beneficial.
Trees usually survive forest fires.
Fires move upward from the forest floor.
Which piece of evidence helps to support this inference?
Heartier trees grow faster.
Most wildfires are natural.
Fire may kill predatory pests.
Certain trees produce seeds.
Practice (page 12): Use this excerpt from Sachiko’s reading to make an inference about whether rebuilding after a wildfire is safe.
Much has been written about people who rebuild after a flood, but now thousands of people must decide whether to do the same after a fire. Can it be done thoughtfully and safely? People have different opinions.
Certainly builders can create houses that are more fire-resistant. Houses should have sprinklers, steel frames, strong glass, and fire-resistant roofs. In addition, residents must avoid having vegetation near their homes, because sparks can fly between trees or shrubs and houses. So residents need to be sensible and vigilant.
Towns and counties must build firebreaks, whether those are roads or just wide strips of bare land. They must make sure that there are good emergency routes for evacuations. After all, no matter what the building codes are, fires will still happen.
Prompt
Response
I can infer that _____.
Some evidence that supports my inference includes _____, _____, and _____.
(1-2 sentences, write like a high schooler, answer all)
Word
Definition
central idea
claim
evidence
Check-In (page 3): For each sentence about wolves, choose the evidence that best supports it.
Wolves are similar to humans in their social organization.
A wolf pack may have as many as twenty wolves.
By three weeks of age, wolf pups are able to play.
Most packs are led by an adult male and adult female.
The average size of a wolf litter is around four pups.
Killing predatory wolves can lead to other problems.
Moving cattle regularly can nearly eliminate danger from wolves.
Conservationists support the return of wolves to western ranges.
Wolves recently returned to California after nearly ninety years.
Without wolves, deer now invade communities, destroying gardens.
Some ranchers are proving that livestock and wolves can coexist.
Bad weather kills vastly more sheep than wolves do.
Modern ranchers use tracking devices to monitor wolves.
A Washington rancher claims to have lost $1 million in cattle to wolves.
Oregon ranchers may kill wolves found in the act of attacking livestock.
Practice (page 12): This excerpt contrasts two central ideas about wolves. Look for evidence in the excerpt that supports each analysis. List the reasons and examples.
Tension exists between the ranchers who feel threatened by wolves and the conservationists who want to see wolves protected. Many ranchers want to remove federal protection for the gray wolves. They want to allow hunting again. They point to increased wolf populations in several states. Numbers have grown from under 1,000 to more than 5,000. The increase has led to more wolf attacks on sheep and cattle. Conservationists say that current wolf packs and populations are not at all stable. They point to the fact that wolves neared extinction before laws protecting them were enacted. Allowing hunting could eliminate the gains.
Competing Ideas
Evidence
Wolves still need protection.
Wolves no longer need protection.
* * *
Unit 2 Lesson 10: Supporting Inferences
Video Link: Making inferences in informational texts | Reading | Khan Academy
Key word: define the following in your own words.
Word
Definition
evidence
inference
Check-In (page 3): Read this paragraph about wildfires. Then choose the best answer for each question that follows.
Most forest fires and wildfires are natural. They clear away debris, old brush, and dying trees, leaving heartier trees better able to grow. Certain trees, in fact, produce seeds only when fire heats them. If the fire removes thick shrubs and undergrowth, the water supply increases, aiding other plants and local animals. Fire also may kill predatory insects or pests that live on and damage otherwise healthy trees.
What inference can you make from this paragraph?
A fire can have many causes.
Forest fires can be beneficial.
Trees usually survive forest fires.
Fires move upward from the forest floor.
Which piece of evidence helps to support this inference?
Heartier trees grow faster.
Most wildfires are natural.
Fire may kill predatory pests.
Certain trees produce seeds.
Practice (page 12): Use this excerpt from Sachiko’s reading to make an inference about whether rebuilding after a wildfire is safe.
Much has been written about people who rebuild after a flood, but now thousands of people must decide whether to do the same after a fire. Can it be done thoughtfully and safely? People have different opinions.
Certainly builders can create houses that are more fire-resistant. Houses should have sprinklers, steel frames, strong glass, and fire-resistant roofs. In addition, residents must avoid having vegetation near their homes, because sparks can fly between trees or shrubs and houses. So residents need to be sensible and vigilant.
Towns and counties must build firebreaks, whether those are roads or just wide strips of bare land. They must make sure that there are good emergency routes for evacuations. After all, no matter what the building codes are, fires will still happen.
Prompt
Response
I can infer that _____.
Some evidence that supports my inference includes _____, _____, and _____.
(1-2 sentences, write like a high schooler, answer all)
Answers
GPT-4o mini
**Key Word Definitions:**
- **Central Idea:** The main point or primary message conveyed in a text, explaining the overarching theme or argument that ties all the details together.
- **Claim:** A statement or assertion that serves as the basis for an argument, which may be supported by evidence and is meant to convince others of its validity.
- **Evidence:** Facts, statistics, examples, or expert opinions that are used to support a claim or argument, lending credibility and weight to the assertions made.
---
**Check-In:**
1. **Wolves are similar to humans in their social organization.**
**Evidence:** Most packs are led by an adult male and adult female.
2. **Killing predatory wolves can lead to other problems.**
**Evidence:** Without wolves, deer now invade communities, destroying gardens.
3. **Some ranchers are proving that livestock and wolves can coexist.**
**Evidence:** Bad weather kills vastly more sheep than wolves do.
---
**Practice:**
*Competing Ideas*
- **Wolves still need protection.**
**Evidence:** Conservationists say that current wolf packs and populations are not at all stable. They point to the fact that wolves neared extinction before laws protecting them were enacted.
- **Wolves no longer need protection.**
**Evidence:** Many ranchers want to remove federal protection for the gray wolves. They want to allow hunting again and point to increased wolf populations in several states.
---
**Unit 2 Lesson 10: Supporting Inferences**
- **Evidence:** Facts, statistics, examples, or expert opinions that support a claim or argument, lending credibility and weight to the assertions made.
- **Inference:** A conclusion or belief reached based on evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements, requiring the reader to interpret information beyond the surface level.
---
**Check-In:**
*Inference from the paragraph about wildfires:*
**Inference:** Forest fires can be beneficial.
*Supporting evidence:*
Fire may kill predatory pests.
---
**Practice:**
**Prompt Response:**
I can infer that building after a wildfire can be done safely with the right precautions in place.
Some evidence that supports my inference includes the recommendation for houses to have fire-resistant features like sprinklers and strong roofs, the importance of avoiding vegetation near homes to prevent sparks, and the need for towns to establish firebreaks and good emergency routes for evacuations.
- **Central Idea:** The main point or primary message conveyed in a text, explaining the overarching theme or argument that ties all the details together.
- **Claim:** A statement or assertion that serves as the basis for an argument, which may be supported by evidence and is meant to convince others of its validity.
- **Evidence:** Facts, statistics, examples, or expert opinions that are used to support a claim or argument, lending credibility and weight to the assertions made.
---
**Check-In:**
1. **Wolves are similar to humans in their social organization.**
**Evidence:** Most packs are led by an adult male and adult female.
2. **Killing predatory wolves can lead to other problems.**
**Evidence:** Without wolves, deer now invade communities, destroying gardens.
3. **Some ranchers are proving that livestock and wolves can coexist.**
**Evidence:** Bad weather kills vastly more sheep than wolves do.
---
**Practice:**
*Competing Ideas*
- **Wolves still need protection.**
**Evidence:** Conservationists say that current wolf packs and populations are not at all stable. They point to the fact that wolves neared extinction before laws protecting them were enacted.
- **Wolves no longer need protection.**
**Evidence:** Many ranchers want to remove federal protection for the gray wolves. They want to allow hunting again and point to increased wolf populations in several states.
---
**Unit 2 Lesson 10: Supporting Inferences**
- **Evidence:** Facts, statistics, examples, or expert opinions that support a claim or argument, lending credibility and weight to the assertions made.
- **Inference:** A conclusion or belief reached based on evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements, requiring the reader to interpret information beyond the surface level.
---
**Check-In:**
*Inference from the paragraph about wildfires:*
**Inference:** Forest fires can be beneficial.
*Supporting evidence:*
Fire may kill predatory pests.
---
**Practice:**
**Prompt Response:**
I can infer that building after a wildfire can be done safely with the right precautions in place.
Some evidence that supports my inference includes the recommendation for houses to have fire-resistant features like sprinklers and strong roofs, the importance of avoiding vegetation near homes to prevent sparks, and the need for towns to establish firebreaks and good emergency routes for evacuations.