This is an example of what will be on the Georgia Milestone's this year. Students will have two writings with multiple choice questions and writing with textual evidence.
Disadvantages of Technology Advances
by Lynda Moultry Belcher, Demand Media
In today's world, where just about everything is more convenient and accessible due to advances in technology across almost all sectors, it may seem as though it's a misnomer to even mention any disadvantages of technological advances. However, despite how far technology has taken humans and no matter how convenient it may make things, there are some disadvantages accompanying this level of access.
Disadvantage: Dependency
The more advanced society becomes technologically, the more people begin to depend on computers and other forms of technology for everyday existence. This means that when a machine breaks or a computer crashes, humans become almost disabled until the problem is resolved. This kind of dependency on technology puts people at a distinct disadvantage, because they become less self-reliant.
Disadvantage: Less Value in Human Workers
At the same time, human workers retain less value, which is a disadvantage of technological advances. Because machines automate processes and do the work of 10 people with one computer, companies find they don't need to employ as many people to get the job done. As machines and computers become even more advanced and efficient, this will continue to be a growing disadvantage of technology and an issue that has a global impact.
Advantages of Technology Advances
by Lynda Moultry Belcher, Demand Media
Advantage: Great Discoveries in All Industries
Technology advances show people a more efficient way to do things, and these processes get results. For example, education has been greatly advanced by the technological advances of computers. Students are able to learn on a global scale without ever leaving their classrooms. Agricultural processes that once required dozens upon dozens of human workers can now be automated, thanks to advances in technology, which means cost-efficiency for farmers. Medical discoveries occur at a much more rapid rate, thanks to machines and computers that aid in the research process and allow for more intense educational research into medical matters.
Advantage: Cost Efficiency
Cost efficiency is an advantage in some ways and a disadvantage in others. As technology improves on existing processes and showcases new ways to accomplish tasks, machines are able to produce the same -- if not more -- output than humans in certain industries. This results in cost savings for business owners, allowing them to invest in growth in other areas of the business, which contributes on a positive level to the economy as a whole.
Questions for Advantages & Disadvantages of Technology Advances
Name ___________________________________
- What is the main idea of the first selection (Advantages) as it relates to education?
- “Technology advances show people a more efficient way to do things, and these processes get results.”
- “Students are able to learn on a global scale without ever leaving their classrooms.”
- “Cost efficiency is an advantage in some ways and a disadvantage in others.”
- “This results in cost savings for business owners, allowing them to invest in growth in other areas of the business, which contributes on a positive level to the economy as a whole.”
- What is the main idea of the second selection (Disadvantages) concerning the loss of jobs?
- “However, despite how far technology has taken humans and no matter how convenient it may make things, there are some disadvantages accompanying this level of access.”
- “The more advanced society becomes technologically, the more people begin to depend on computers and other forms of technology for everyday existence.”
- “At the same time, human workers retain less value, which is a disadvantage of technological advances.”
- “Because machines automate process and do the work of 10 people with one computer, companies find they don’t need to employ as many people to get the job done.”
Constructed Response: Give a brief answer (using textual evidence) about each author’s purpose and reasons why each supports his/her stance. MUST be at least four sentences. Use textual evidence introduction #7 (Based on what I read...)
An Exemplary response (for the constructed response) would be:
Both articles addressed technological advances. The author for the first article on the "Disadvantages of Technology Advances" is giving information and trying to persuade the reader that technology has been a detriment to society. He states two reasons for his stance: dependency and less value on human workers. Based on what I read, the author believes that technology makes "people less self-reliant" and that machines can "do the work of 10 people" so companies do not need to employ as many workers.
The second author who wrote the article about the "Advantages of Technology Advances" is trying to persuade the reader that technology is an asset to society. Two reasons for his stance include cost efficiency and that there have been many great discoveries in all industries. According to the text, technology "results in cost savings for business owners" and also helps medically. The text states that "medical discoveries occur at a much more rapid rate."
Both authors were trying to persuade the reader to their point of view. It is easy to see that this is a controversial subject and one that has many points to consider on each side.
Milestones things to Know
Active/passive voice
Alliteration
Protagonist/antagonist
Appositives
Verbals [participle/gerund/infinitive]
Citation
Connotation/denotation
Ellipses
Simile
Metaphor
Personification
Hyperbole/exaggeration
Understatement
Foreshadowing
Onomatopoeia
Primary source
Secondary source
Pun
Oxymoron
Parallel structure
Comma rules - especially with phrases/clauses
Colloquial language
Paraphrase
Internal citation
Text evidence
Analysis
Evaluate
Summarize
Point of view
Figurative language [know how to find/explain from a passage]
Compare/contrast
Verb moods [imperative/indicative/conditional/subjunctive]
Idiom
Cliché
Allusion
Constructed Responses:
R – Restate the question
A – Answer
C – Citings from the text in quotation marks with introduction
E – Examples/Elaboration
Example of “R” and “A” and “C”. Don’t forget to put the “E”.
Prompt from “Stalin” in commonlit.org
What were Khrushchev’s likely motivations in delivering his “Secret Speech”? Consider what he covered, what he left out, and what he emphasized in the speech, according to the text. Cite evidence from the text in your answer.
Khruschchev’s likely motivations when he delivered his “Secret Speech” included… (and here you would tell the motivations-plural-found in the text but put in your own words). According to the text, he stated that “-put quote here-“. The quote explains how he was motivated by political issues. Some of what he covered included, “quote”. EXPLAIN. However, Khruschchev left out other information like “quote”. Things he emphasized included, “quote” and “quote”. EXPLAIN.
- keep them simple; cut out the “fluff”
- use transitions:
- additionally
- in addition to
- likewise
- moreover
- furthermore
- on the other hand
- try not to use 1st and 2nd person pronouns [I, me, we, our, any form of “you”]
- be SPECIFIC in your response – refer to the text whenever possible
- Ways to introduce evidence:
- According to the author…
- In the passage it states…
- As stated in paragraph 4…
- Also, the author writes/states…
- As stated in the text…
- The author illustrates this point when she states…
- For example…
- For instance…
- In addition to…
- Words That Can Be Used Instead of “Said”:
- states
- implies
- writes
- discusses
- argues
- defends
- explains
- concludes
- comments
- suggests
- claims
- demonstrates
- infers
- paraphrase instead of looking for a direct quote to use
Pony Express
The low morning sun stretched across the hotel dining room as a young cowboy walked toward the lone occupant. Shafts of light shone through the dust, producing golden bands not quite parallel to the floor. Holding his new Stetson hat respectfully at his side, the cowboy walked toward the lone man. The man noted the cowboy’s approach, rose, and extended his hand. “Ah, Mr. Sewell, I presume. I’m Derek Bollinger.” Caleb Sewell was taken off guard at being addressed as Mister, especially by a man wearing a suit that Caleb couldn’t afford with the wages of his last month’s work.
“Yep. Howdy.” The words were out automatically, and Caleb immediately regretted his lack of formality as he shook the man’s hand and sat down. He fidgeted with his hat, not knowing where it should go, but certain that it couldn’t go back on his head. Bollinger, sensing Caleb’s discomfort, pulled out one of the empty chairs and nodded to it.
“In the interest of saving valuable time, Mr. Sewell, I’ve ordered for us both.” Caleb nodded approval and restrained himself from saying something silly like, “Aw, that’s right neighborly of ya.” A waitress filled his coffee cup. To avoid embarrassment, he added only about half his usual amount of sugar. He watched the expensively dressed man for clues as to what to do with his stirring spoon, how to hold the delicate cup, and where to put his napkin.
Mercifully, two orders of steak, eggs, beans, and sourdough biscuits arrived before any more pauses set in. Eating made it easier for Caleb to avoid talking, though he continued to watch Bollinger’s actions closely. The man began enumerating Caleb’s responsibilities as a Pony Express rider. Mail, he said, was a precious commodity. It both connected and fulfilled lives on each end of the route. He must never exhaust the horses; he would ride six or seven each day, and they were the lifeline of the whole enterprise. He should report conditions on the trail—fallen trees, landslides, washed-out bridges—at the nearest transfer station. He was to ride alone except when an escort with the local law was arranged. He would have protection on the Humboldt Pass section, where robberies had become frequent of late.
Caleb had been briefed on most of this when he filled out an application back home in Wheeling, so the best information he took from Bollinger was that it was acceptable to sop his bean juice with a biscuit. Bollinger did all of the talking. To Caleb’s great relief, Bollinger did not ask what had brought a man out to the wilds of the frontier when he could have enjoyed the security of working in the family business as part of a comfortably successful family in the quiet state of West Virginia. He didn’t know how to explain what a burden it was to have a family that wanted to determine how the rest of your life should proceed. He had no words to explain their disappointment at his wanting to chart his own course, not to mention how effortlessly he’d settled into a life on the plains.
At length, the man stood, shook hands with Caleb a last time, and told him he was to pick up his horse and packet of mail at the livery stable. “Good to have you with us on the Pony Express, Mr. Sewell. We have begun forging a strong tradition throughout the West and the nation. Now, do us and yourself proud.” Caleb bent down and retrieved his hat from the chair, and when he stood back up, Bollinger was gone.
The handlers were ready for him at the stable. Two saddlebags straddled a bar outside a box stall that said “Pony Express Only.” In the stall, his own personal saddle was already on a small Appaloosa. The horse shifted and paced nervously, a sign that he’d been given a more than ample breakfast of oats. Caleb led the horse into the street and was tightening the cinch of the saddle when a clerk came up to him with a delivery log. Caleb signed it, secured the saddlebags, and threw his leg up over the saddle. The horse bolted for the open road, but Caleb’s deft touch convinced the horse of the pace they would maintain.
Caleb Sewell’s first day as a Pony Express rider had begun. It would end twelve hours and eighty miles later.
Item 1 Selected-Response
Which detail from the story indicates that Caleb is self-conscious?
A. The low morning sun stretched across the hotel dining room as a young cowboy walked toward the lone occupant.
B. Holding his new Stetson hat respectfully at his side, the cowboy walked toward the lone man.
C. He fidgeted with his hat, not knowing where it should go, but certain that it couldn’t go back on his head.
D. He was to ride alone except when an escort with the local law was arranged.
Item 2 Selected-Response
Read the sentence from the story. Mercifully, two orders of steak, eggs, beans, and sourdough biscuits arrived before any more pauses set in. In what way is the arrival of food a merciful event?
A. Caleb is in need of food because he has not been making much money.
B. Caleb is less likely to embarrass himself while he is busy eating.
C. The Pony Express delivers meals to those who are going hungry.
D. The breakfast is provided free of charge to Pony Express riders.
Item 3 Selected-Response
Which detail would be BEST to include in an objective summary of the story?
A. A waitress filled his coffee cup.
B. He should report conditions on the trail ...
C. At length, the man stood, shook hands with Caleb a last time ...
D. In the stall, his own personal saddle was already on a small Appaloosa.
Item 4 Evidence-Based Selected-Response Technology-Enhanced
This question has two parts. Answer Part A, and then answer Part B.
Part A What motivates Caleb to want to become a Pony Express rider?
A. a desire to be independent from his family
B. a need for adventure in his life
C. a desire to make a great deal of money
D. a need to travel to other places
Part B Which sentence from the story BEST supports the answer in Part A?
A. Caleb Sewell was taken off guard at being addressed as Mister, especially by a man wearing a suit that Caleb couldn’t afford with the wages of his last month’s work.
B. He must never exhaust the horses; he would ride six or seven each day, and they were the lifeline of the whole enterprise.
C. He had no words to explain their disappointment at his wanting to chart his own course, not to mention how effortlessly he’d settled into a life on the plains.
D. The horse bolted for the open road, but Caleb’s deft touch convinced the horse of the pace they would maintain.
Living in the Darkness under the Sea
Marine biologists patrol an undersea world that resembles a rocky landscape more than it does an ocean floor. The scientists cruise through the water in a remote-controlled submarine in complete darkness. If they shine a light, what they see is something totally unexpected: tall rock formations jutting up from the ocean floor and surrounded by black smoke, similar to underwater chimneys. Circling these rocky peaks are worm-like organisms. They resemble red-and-white tubes—like giant peppermint sticks. What is even more amazing is that these odd creatures are not only alive but living in this dark underworld away from light and the sun’s energy. So how is that possible?
Underwater vents somehow create an environment where these striped creatures can exist. Ever since the discovery of the creatures in 1977, scientists have been both baffled and intrigued by the very existence of these strange creatures that grow out of vents on the ocean floor away from sunlight.
What scientists have learned is that there are large cracks, or vents, in the ocean floor where these creatures exist. These deep-sea vents can be compared to the kinds of geysers you see on land. But, instead of shooting up from the ground, they shoot up from the bottom of the ocean floor. According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the billowing black smoke that exists on the ocean floor is probably the result of hot liquids bursting from the vents and mixing with the extremely cold ocean water.
What is so shocking about this information? Well, scientists always believed that life on Earth could not exist without sunlight. Yet somehow energy is being released below the surface of the water, and all without the benefit of the sun. It’s as if these undersea vents have created a unique ecosystem, deriving energy from Earth itself.
These underwater creatures are known to scientists as extremophiles—a fancy name for organisms that live in an extreme environment. Scientists continue to study these extremophiles to determine just how the creatures turn ocean vents into sources of usable energy.
Item 6 Selected-Response
Which detail from the article BEST supports the conclusion that the deep-sea organisms described in the article may have changed our understanding of life?
A. tall rock formations jutting up from the ocean floor and surrounded by black smoke
B. odd creatures are not only alive but living in this dark underworld away from light
C. large cracks, or vents, in the ocean floor where these creatures exist
D. energy is being released below the surface of the water
Item 7 Selected-Response
Which word BEST expresses the meaning of deriving in the sentence? It’s as if these undersea vents have created a unique ecosystem, deriving energy from Earth itself.
A. depositing
B. emptying
C. extracting
D. wasting
Directions: Identify the type of sentence from the example below. (Simple, Compound, Compound-Complex, or Complex)
|
1. When I get home from school, | I'm going to take a nap. __________________________
2. I got in trouble | so I can't go to the party, | but it would have been fun. ________________________
3. Being alone can be scary | unless you keep yourself busy. __________________________
4. Mr. Morton, the best reading teacher in the world, taught me sentence structure. _________________
5. Keith, Carrie, and Kyle bought donuts and ate them down by the river. _______________________
6. I left early | so that I could get some work done, | but I'll be back soon. ________________________
7. Crossing the street is dangerous | if you don't look both ways | before you cross. _________________
8. If you don't want to study, | you should stay home, | but you may regret it. _____________________
9. Every time I go to mall, | I spend all of my money on things | that I don't need. __________________
10. Mom said | that I can go to the museum with you | but I have to be home early. ________________
11. Modern Warfare is a fun game | but no game is better than Ms. Pac-Man. _____________________
12. Todd and Nick are eating chips and salsa on a park bench before dinner. _____________________ |
Modifiers
Directions: Rewrite the sentence so that the modifying phrase is as close as possible to the word it describes.
Jack walked into only the house of horrors. ________________________________________________________
2. She almost needed one day to complete the assignment. ________________________________________________
3. Her boyfriend opened the door with a wicked smile. _____________________________________________________
4. We nearly waited one month for the answer to our questions. _____________________________________________
5. My friend took me for a ride after showering and shaving on the skyway. ____________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. On the way to the movie, a bee stung Dean. ________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. The cat should be treated by a veterinarian that has worms. _____________________________________________
8. The house in the Arlington area faces the river which Mr. Smith bought. _____________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. After reaching a weight of 275 pounds, the doctor insisted that Mr. Wright go on a strict diet. ________________ ________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
10. Shane washed her hair when she finished eating with a new shampoo. ____________________________________
Sentence Types Answers
Directions: predicates are bolded and subjects are italicized. Lines separate clauses.
|
1. When I get home from school, | I'm going to take a nap.
2. I got in trouble | so I can't go to the party, | but it would have been fun.
3. Being alone can be scary | unless you keep yourself busy.
4. Mr. Morton, the best reading teacher in the world, taught me sentence structure.
5. Keith, Carrie, and Kyle bought donuts and ate them down by the river.
6. I left early | so that I could get some work done, | but I'll be back soon.
7. Crossing the street is dangerous | if you don't look both ways | before you cross.
8. If you don't want to study, | you should stay home, | but you may regret it.
9. Every time I go to mall, | I spend all of my money on things | that I don't need.
10. Mom said | that I can go to the museum with you | but I have to be home early.
11. Modern Warfare is a fun game | but no game is better than Ms. Pac-Man.
12. Todd and Nick are eating chips and salsa on a park bench before dinner. |
Complex Sentence Type
Compound Sentence Type
Complex Sentence Type
Simple Sentence Type
Simple Sentence Type
Compound Sentence Type
Complex Sentence Type
Compound-Complex Sentence Type
Complex Sentence Type
Compound-Complex Sentence Type
Compound Sentence Type
Simple Sentence Type |