-
An explicit point made in the text is that Junior helped the older woman cross the street and waited with her for the bus, even though he was late for his baseball game.
-
One inference that can be made about Junior from the text is that he is compassionate and values helping others over his own immediate interests or commitments.
-
The text evidence that supports this inference is the part where it states, "Even though it would make him late for his game, Junior took the time to see her safely across the street." This indicates that Junior is willing to prioritize the needs of the woman over his own desire to get to the game on time.
Junior loved baseball. He started playing when he was four and had been playing for 10 years
now. He was on a the local baseball team and today he was running late for a game. As he
was walking down the street he saw an older woman trying to cross, but she seemed to be
struggling. He went over to find out if he could help. She told him that she was late for a
doctor's appointment but was afraid she would not be able to cross the street and get to the
bus stop before the light changed. Even though it would make him late for his game, Junior
took the time to see her safely across the street. He also took some extra time to sit with her
while she waited for the bus.
1) What is an explicit point that is made in the text?
2) What is one inference you can make about Junior from the text?
3) What text evidence supports your inference in question 2?
11 answers
Another inference that can be made about Junior is that he possesses a strong sense of responsibility and community spirit.
This inference stems from his willingness to assist the older woman despite his own commitments. It suggests that he feels a duty to help those in need and is attentive to the well-being of others in his community.
Tone
Author’s voice
Point of View
Text Organization
Sure! Here are simple descriptions for each term:
-
Purpose for Writing: The reason the author writes something, such as to inform, entertain, persuade, or express feelings.
-
Tone: The overall attitude or mood of the writing, which can be serious, playful, sarcastic, etc.
-
Author’s Voice: The unique style and personality of the author that comes through in their writing, influenced by word choice, tone, and perspective.
-
Point of View: The perspective from which a story is told, such as first person (I, we), second person (you), or third person (he, she, they).
-
Text Organization: The way information is structured in a piece of writing, including formats like chronological order, cause and effect, or problem and solution.
1) The main thing that determines the methods used in a piece of writing is the author’s ______.
2) When writing on the same topic, different authors can choose to use a different ______, ______, and ______.
3) The overall method an author uses to present ideas is called ______.
Here are the completed sentences:
-
The main thing that determines the methods used in a piece of writing is the author’s purpose.
-
When writing on the same topic, different authors can choose to use a different tone, point of view, and text organization.
-
The overall method an author uses to present ideas is called style.
Passage 1
Our Wonderful Wetlands
A wetland is an ecosystem where the land is covered by water, either freshwater,
saltwater, or a mix of the two called brackish. Two examples of wetlands are marshes
and swamps. Wetlands also lie along ocean shores, lakes’ edges, or deltas where rivers
empty into the sea. Wetlands are low-lying areas that experience frequent flooding.
Wetlands provide habitats for many species of plants and animals. The residents vary
according to each specific location. Three types of plants grow in wetlands—those that
remain submerged under water, those that float on the surface, and “emergent” plants
such as reeds, rushes, and trees. Mammals such as beavers, otters, and deer make their
homes in wetlands, along with amphibians and reptiles such as alligators, turtles, and
salamanders. Crayfish and other invertebrates inhabit these ecosystems, too. Herons
and other waterfowl live in wetlands, and many species of migrating birds rely on them
as resting places during their long journey.
Few people live in wetlands; nevertheless, they rely on them in many ways. Wetlands
are the world’s water filters. Much of the water that arrives in a wetland contains
pollution. That’s because chemicals from factories often seep into groundwater. Farm
runoff contains fertilizers, pesticides, and excess nitrogen. Wetlands trap these
pollutants in their soil. Wetlands also benefit people because they form a protective
boundary. Their plants’ deep root systems help prevent soil erosion as they break up
waves from storms and tides, reducing inland flooding. They also absorb water to
reduce flooding after heavy rains.
Passage 2
Save Mistway Marsh
In September, the City Council will vote on whether to allow developers to fill in
Mistway Marsh to make way for a shopping complex. Councilors promoting this
development argue that it will boost the local economy by providing new stores and
restaurants in a convenient location. However, this shortsighted view fails to consider
what is likely to occur if we destroy this precious wetland: more pollution, increased
flooding, and a loss of an essential natural resource. Please join me in urging the City
Council to vote NO on this resolution.
Many residents do not want Mistway Marsh to be destroyed. Thousands of us have
signed petitions calling on the Council to save the marsh. We are not against shopping
centers. However, putting one in this location will cause irreparable damage for years
to come. Our marsh is a wetland, a type of ecosystem that is covered in freshwater,
saltwater, or brackish water. Mistway Marsh sits on a river delta. Other wetlands may
lie along lakes or ponds or on the seashore.
Why do we need wetlands like Mistway? Consider, first of all, that it provides a habitat
for thousands of plant and animal species. Where will that wildlife go? Even if you’re
not one of the hundreds of bird- and animal-watchers who frequent the marsh, consider
this: Plants in Mistway Marsh—as in all wetlands—protect all of us humans farther
inland. Their deep roots enable them to hold back stormwaters, preventing floods.
While most land cannot absorb excess water from storms, the soil and moss in Mistway
act as sponges to soak up and store the water. Remember the mild flooding we had last
April? Think about how much worse that flood would have been if the marsh didn’t
exist. And Mistway Marsh protects us against more than floods. Its soil filters pollution
from area farms and industries.
Wetlands once covered 221 million acres in America. We have destroyed so many
wetlands that less than half of that—only about 103 million acres—remain. We know
how valuable Mistway Marsh is. Let’s stop it from becoming part of the lost acreage.
Here's a comparison and analysis of the methods used by the authors in the two passages about wetlands:
| Aspect | Passage 1: Our Wonderful Wetlands | Passage 2: Save Mistway Marsh | |----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | Purpose | To inform readers about wetlands, their characteristics, and benefits. | To persuade readers to take action against the development of Mistway Marsh. | | Tone | Neutral and informative; presents facts without strong opinion. | Urgent and persuasive; conveys a sense of importance and concern. | | Point of View | Third-person objective; focuses on wetland characteristics without personal opinion. | First-person plural; includes the collective voice of the community. | | Text Organization | Structured in a clear, descriptive manner, detailing the features and functions of wetlands. | Begins with a call to action, presents arguments for preservation, then provides factual information. | | Use of Evidence | Provides extensive factual information about the ecosystem, inhabitants, and ecological functions of wetlands. | Uses statistics about wetland loss and personal testimonials to emphasize the urgency of conservation. | | Imagery | Descriptive language that creates a vivid picture of wetland ecosystems. | Appeals to emotions and local concerns with vivid descriptions of the potential negative impact of development. |
Summary of Differences in Methods:
- Purpose: Passage 1 focuses on educating readers about wetlands, while Passage 2 aims to mobilize community action against development.
- Tone: Passage 1 maintains a factual tone, whereas Passage 2 adopts a passionate, urgent tone.
- Point of View: The first passage maintains an objective third-person perspective, while the second uses a collective first-person perspective to engage the audience.
- Organization: Passage 1 is organized primarily around defining and explaining wetlands, while Passage 2 is structured to persuade and rally community action.
- Evidence and Imagery: Passage 1 relies on factual and descriptive information, while Passage 2 uses a combination of statistics and emotional appeals to underline the importance of preserving the marsh.
Passage 1 aims to inform readers about wetlands through neutral tone and factual details, while Passage 2 seeks to persuade the community to oppose development of Mistway Marsh using an urgent tone, emotional appeals, and a collective voice. Overall, the first passage educates about wetland ecosystems, whereas the second emphasizes the need for conservation action.