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Read the excerpt below, then respond to the following questions.

NYC students learn about renewable energy with school rooftop solar panel installations

New York City schools have a new solar technology program. Solar technology relies on solar panels. These are devices that generate electricity from sunlight.

Solar panels blanket the rooftops of 60 public schools in the city. The solar panels provide clean energy for the city. They also give students a chance to learn about renewable energy up close. Renewable energy refers to energy from resources that do not run out when used. These resources include sunlight and wind.

Thomas Edison High School in Queens is one of these schools. A new solar installation on the roof generates electricity. The solar panels produce enough electricity to meet 65 percent of the school’s energy consumption. They also provide a learning opportunity for students.

Megawatts

In 2016, the New York City officials began surveying city-owned buildings. They wanted to find spaces suitable for installing solar panels. Their goal was to produce 100 megawatts of solar energy per year by 2025. A megawatt describes the output of a power station. It is a unit of power equal to one million watts.

So far, the program has been responsible for building solar panels on 110 buildings, including 60 schools. These solar installations generate 16 megawatts of energy a year. That’s enough to power 2,600 homes.

The city partnered with the Department of Education (DOE). It began expanding its efforts to teach about renewable energy in schools.

The DOE also partnered with an organization called Solar One. They helped train teachers and started a solar energy study track for students. DOE officials said 1,350 teachers and 3,200 students have taken advantage of the solar education offerings so far.

Rooftop Field Trips

Edison High is one of the city’s largest Career and Technical Education high schools. It started its solar program in 2018. The program was a way to help students keep up with the changing job market.

“They really enjoyed the experience, working alongside the contractors,” said Anthony Cooper. He teaches about solar energy at Edison High.

Students from Edison’s solar program didn’t get to participate in the installation on their own school’s rooftop. Most of the work happened over the summer. However, the students studied the blueprints, or design plans, for the panels. They also took frequent field trips up to the roof. They are planning to help with the upkeep of the solar panels, too.

At Edison High, teachers hope the solar program will help students no matter what field they choose. “Everything we do in the solar installations really makes them more confident and employable,” Cooper said.


Which of the following best summarizes the author's perspective on the use of solar energy in schools?

(1 point)
Responses

Renewable energy is a really important investment, and all businesses and people should install solar panels.
Renewable energy is a really important investment, and all businesses and people should install solar panels.

Students are not directly benefitting from the installation of solar panel's on their school's rooftop.
Students are not directly benefitting from the installation of solar panel's on their school's rooftop.

Installing solar technology in schools is an unnecessary expense to the city of New York.
Installing solar technology in schools is an unnecessary expense to the city of New York.

Installing solar technology in schools is both good for the environment, but also helps to engage students in learning and provides them with important life skills.
Installing solar technology in schools is both good for the environment, but also helps to engage students in learning and provides them with important life skills.
Question 2
Which of the following sentences from the passage support the author's claim that the installation of solar panels at schools has provided a learning opportunity for students?(1 point)
Responses

Students from Edison's solar program didn't get to directly participate in the installation on their own school's rooftop.
Students from Edison's solar program didn't get to directly participate in the installation on their own school's rooftop.

However, the students studied the blueprints, or design plans, for the panels closely this year.
However, the students studied the blueprints, or design plans, for the panels closely this year.

Edison High is one of the city's largest Career and Technical Education high schools.
Edison High is one of the city's largest Career and Technical Education high schools.

Solar technology relies on solar panels.
Solar technology relies on solar panels.
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9 answers

Question 1: Which of the following best summarizes the author's perspective on the use of solar energy in schools?

Response: Installing solar technology in schools is both good for the environment, but also helps to engage students in learning and provides them with important life skills.

Question 2: Which of the following sentences from the passage support the author's claim that the installation of solar panels at schools has provided a learning opportunity for students?

Response: However, the students studied the blueprints, or design plans, for the panels closely this year.

Read the sentences from the passage. What is the text structure of the sentences?

Solar panels blanket the rooftops of 60 public schools in the city. The solar panels provide clean energy for the city. They also give students a chance to learn about renewable energy up close. Renewable energy refers to energy from a resource such as water or wind that does not run out when used.

(1 point)
Responses

Cause/Effect
Cause/Effect

Description
Description

Problem/Solution
Problem/Solution

Compare/Contrast
Compare/Contrast
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The text structure of the sentences is:

Description

Read the sentences from the passage.

The city partnered with the Department of Education (DOE) and began expanding its efforts to teach about renewable energy and climate change in schools. The department partnered with an organization called Solar One. They helped train teachers and started a solar energy study track for students that now operates in 14 schools. DOE officials said 1,350 teachers and 3,200 students have taken advantage of the solar education offerings so far.

Which piece of evidence would further strengthen the argument that the Solar One training is meaningful for students and staff?

(1 point)
Responses

Solar energy is a very interesting and growing industry.
Solar energy is a very interesting and growing industry.

Most of the teachers who have completed the training have left the school district to work elsewhere.
Most of the teachers who have completed the training have left the school district to work elsewhere.

Next year, an additional 2,000 students are registered for training.
Next year, an additional 2,000 students are registered for training.

The school is unlikely to ever been entirely dependent on solar energy.
The school is unlikely to ever been entirely dependent on solar energy.
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The piece of evidence that would further strengthen the argument that the Solar One training is meaningful for students and staff is:

Next year, an additional 2,000 students are registered for training.

Another author has written an article about the solar installation program in New York Schools, but had a different interpretation of the facts than the original author.

Read the two statements from the different articles below:

Original article: At Thomas Edison High School in Queens, a new solar installation generates electricity. In fact, it produces enough electricity to meet 65 percent of the school's energy consumption.

Second article: The solar installation project at Thomas Edison High School in Queens isn't as effective as it could be. In fact, 35 percent of the school's energy consumption isn't supported by the solar panels at all.

What is the key difference in how the two texts interpret the facts differently?

(1 point)
Responses

The original article has a less favorable explanation of how solar energy is benefitting the school system
The original article has a less favorable explanation of how solar energy is benefitting the school system

The original article uses more emotional language to explain the impact of solar energy.
The original article uses more emotional language to explain the impact of solar energy.

The second article is more objective.
The second article is more objective.

The second article has a less favorable explanation of how solar energy is benefitting the school system
The second article has a less favorable explanation of how solar energy is benefitting the school system
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The key difference in how the two texts interpret the facts differently is:

The second article has a less favorable explanation of how solar energy is benefitting the school system.

Read the passage below, and identify the author's perspective

"While some people think social media helps teenagers build connections and express themselves creatively, I believe it creates unhealthy comparisons and contributes to anxiety. Teens often compare their lives to others' highlight reels, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy."

(1 point)
Responses

The author is writing an entertaining story about how they went viral TikTok
The author is writing an entertaining story about how they went viral TikTok

The author is writing an argument to explain the benefits of social media
The author is writing an argument to explain the benefits of social media

The author is writing an argument to discuss the dangers of social media
The author is writing an argument to discuss the dangers of social media

The author is writing an informational piece about the various types of social media popular with teenagers today.
The author is writing an informational piece about the various types of social media popular with teenagers today.
Question 2
"While some people think social media helps teenagers build connections and express themselves creatively, I believe it creates unhealthy comparisons and contributes to anxiety. Teens often compare their lives to others' highlight reels, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy."

After reflecting on the passage and your own experiences, use the RAD Method to explain whether or not you find the author's perspective convincing. Why or why not? Find a graphic organizer here if you need help with your writing. Find the rubric used to grade your response here.

(4 points)
ONLY 4 SCENTENCES!

Question 1: The author is writing an argument to discuss the dangers of social media.

Question 2: I find the author's perspective convincing because it highlights a real issue that many teenagers face today. Social media often showcases the best moments of people’s lives, leading to unrealistic standards and unhealthy comparisons. Personally, I have experienced feelings of inadequacy after scrolling through others' posts, which aligns with the author's view. This perspective encourages a more critical evaluation of social media’s impact on mental health.