Writing Skills

A student is writing an article for her school newspaper about student homework concerns. Read the draft of the article and answer the question that follows.

Students at Happy Hills Middle School have a concern that needs to be addressed by teachers. The students are very upset about homework. They do not feel that the teachers understand the time required to complete the work. The workload is putting a burden on their free time with friends and family. The students ask that teachers reconsider the length of homework assignments.

Which more precise words best replace the word homework in the second sentence?

Read the letter below. Then, drag and drop each transition to match it with the sentence it best introduces.

Dear Mom and Dad, (1) Thank you for providing such a great house for us to live in, but I think it's time I had my own room. (2) I'm almost thirteen, and Saul is only six. (3) The two of us need separate spaces, and as I am older, I think I should get to move out of our bedroom. (4) There are definitely benefits to having my own space. (5) Sometimes I'm distracted by Saul when I'm doing homework; this problem would be solved if I could quietly study in my own room. (6) As you know, Saul is learning to play the drums, which is great, but also very loud! (7) He needs his space to practice, and I need mine to study. Your older son, Evan

A student is writing an argumentative essay about mandatory community service. The student has written a claim to support in his essay. Read the claim and answer the question that follows.

Community service should be mandatory for children and teens.

Which two pieces of evidence best support the claim?

A student is writing a letter to the editor of the student newspaper about building a skate park. The student wants to revise the draft to include a better conclusion. Read the draft of the letter to the editor and complete the task that follows.

Our community needs a skate park to give skateboarders a place to safely enjoy their sport. Skateboarding on sidewalks creates many problems. Not only is it annoying to pedestrians, but it is also dangerous. Skateboarders may accidentally collide with walkers. Skateboarding on the street poses dangers to both skateboarders and drivers, who may lose control of their vehicles while trying to avoid a skateboarder. A skate park would solve these problems because it would give skateboarders a safe place to ride. In addition, it would provide an entertaining and healthy activity for young people in our community. Most skateboarders would gladly pay a small fee to use a quality skate park. This fee could help pay for the park's construction and operation. In addition, skateboarders could take part in fundraisers to help with the costs.

Which sentence should be added to the end of the letter to provide the best conclusion?

A student has noted ideas for a story. Drag and drop the ideas into the order in which they should be presented.

1. Louisa goes outside to get her bike but can't find it.
2. Louisa tells her mom she is going for a bike ride and puts on her helmet.
3. Louisa's brother thanks her for letting him borrow her bike.
4. Louisa sees her brother ride up on her bike.
5. Louisa finally remembers loaning her bike to him and tells him he is welcome.
6. Louisa takes off on her bike.