Grade 7 ELA - Write and Revise Argumentative Texts (FIAB)

Last updated about 2 hours ago

10 questions

Grade 7 ELA - Write and Revise Argumentative Texts (FIAB)

Last updated about 2 hours ago

10 questions

A student is writing an editorial for the school newspaper about allowing businesses to advertise on campus. The student wants to revise the draft to remove details that do not support the claims. Read the draft of the essay and complete the task that follows.

Click on two sentences that are not relevant to the student’s arguments and should be deleted.

A student is writing a letter to the principal in support of having vending machines with snacks in the cafeteria. Read the draft of the letter and complete the task that follows.
Vending machines with snacks should be available to students in the cafeteria during lunch. Students should be able to purchase food items they like during their lunch, and the school should make this available. There are times that students do not have the time to pack lunch, and they are not hungry enough to buy a full lunch. A snack is all they need. Kids do not want to waste money on a full lunch that will not be eaten. Sometimes, they do not like the lunch offered.
The student found the following information from credible sources:
Vending machines—healthy snacks
Proceeds—vending machines—sports, music, and art programs
Snacks—same nutritional value as lunches
Snack food products—less fats and salt content
Similar snacks/candy sold in fundraisers
Eat snacks purchased
Add a paragraph with relevant evidence from the student notes that would support and develop the claim in paragraph one.

A student is writing an argumentative essay for a teacher about the use of the Internet in classrooms. The student wants to revise the draft to better introduce the claim and counterclaim. Read the draft of a part of the essay and complete the task that follows.

Internet in the Classroom

When completing their work in the classroom, students say it is much easier to do so when they are able to access the Internet in the classroom. If a student in social studies needs to know the date of a major historical event, it is easy to find it on the Internet. Teachers also benefit from access to the Internet in the classroom. To illustrate the results of an experiment in a science class, a teacher could show a short online video to the class.

Some teachers and parents are concerned, however, that having access to the Internet in class can distract students from their lessons. Those opposed to the Internet in the classroom cite the games available online as examples of potential distractions. Television shows and movies are available online too. Additionally, some parents might see the Internet more as a source of entertainment than as a research tool. However, clear classroom rules can help students use the Internet in a way that benefits their learning. It would be a matter of following or not following the classroom rules.

A student is writing an argumentative essay for his language arts teacher about required bedtime for middle school students. The student wants to revise the draft to remove sentences that do not support his argument. Read the draft of the essay and complete the task that follows.
Bedtimes for Middle School Students

Some people believe that middle school students need bedtimes to ensure that they receive enough sleep. Studies show that American teens lack sleep. They do not get enough sleep for many reasons, including staying up late and participating in too many after-school activities. Clearly, younger children need adults to impose bedtimes on them because they do not know when they are tired. Otherwise, they might not be able to help with chores around the house. But middle school students are old enough to know when they are tired. 

Imposing a bedtime may actually prevent them from sleeping. They might have a hard time falling asleep because they are not actually tired at bedtime.
More importantly, imposing a bedtime takes away a chance for middle school students to make good decisions about their own health. If adults give them the benefit of the doubt, many students will probably figure out for themselves how much sleep they need. Learning through experience has great value. At some point, young children learn to realize when they are tired. Similarly, students who go through a school day exhausted learn that sleep can make their days more pleasant. If their days are more pleasant, middle school students are more likely to be friendly to other people.

A student is writing an editorial for the local newspaper about using a field for a fitness course rather than a soccer field. The student wants to revise the draft to improve the transitions. Read the draft of a part of the editorial and complete the task that follows.
A Fitness Course

Many people want to see the field next to the school turned into a soccer field. They point out that the school does not have its own soccer field to host the soccer matches of our school’s team and that this field is the perfect size for a soccer field. Furthermore, they say that the new field will offer another place for community leagues to play their soccer matches. Granted, soccer is a popular sport in our school and community; however, because our community already has fifteen fully functioning soccer fields with bleachers, concession stands, water fountains, and bathroom facilities, we do not have a need for another field. Our school team has been hosting its home games on these fields without any complaints from either our team or visiting teams. Why add a new soccer field when there really is no need for one?

The fitness course would have eighteen different stations. Students run from one to the next, either on their own or in groups. They then perform the exercise called for on the sign at that station. The exercises displayed on the signs would help increase strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance. The fitness course would be useful for students in classes as well as during afterschool hours. Physical education classes could take advantage of the course to add to their current curriculum. Furthermore, members of the community would also be able to use the course.

A student is writing an argumentative essay for his school newspaper about why advertising should not be allowed in schools. The student wants to revise the draft so that all details support the claim. Read the draft of the essay and complete the task that follows.

Click on the sentence that should be deleted because it does not support the claim.

Hailey is writing a letter to the editor of the student newspaper about why teachers should allow school-sponsored social events at school. Read the draft of the letter and complete the task that follows.

Experts point out that social events help improve social skills. Planning such events requires that students communicate well with each other and with the adults around them. If the teachers gave students the responsibility to plan social activities, students would have the opportunity to develop social skills. In turn, these skills would carry over to classroom behavior. Obviously, some would disagree, saying that students and teachers might argue about too many details of the event. However, working out disagreements is part of developing acceptable social skills and would be beneficial to the overall learning process.

Most adults agree that social activities teach planning and organization skills. Planning and organizing involve scheduling, estimating costs, and delegating. If teachers allowed more of these events, students would learn time management and how to apply math skills to work with money. Of course, some would argue that such planning would take time away from regular studies and homework. However, if teachers worked planning activities into class lessons, they would increase the likelihood that more students would pay attention and care about what was happening in class.

Experts in health and wellness say that any group activity that is fun helps reduce stress. Social gatherings are fun! Yes, some students, as well as teachers, may say that not everyone will have fun and that social events actually increase stress. This problem is easily solved if everyone attends with at least one friend. Then, everyone would have someone to talk to; all would have a good time.

School is the most practical place for such activities, especially events for a whole class or even the entire school. Parents do not always allow get-togethers like these at home, because there is not enough space for many guests, or the event conflicts with family activities. The school gym can hold everyone; there is a small kitchen for preparing the food, and people can dance and make noise without bothering others. In addition, the students all know the school well, and they know how to get there. Teachers and students can get to know each other better at these gatherings; this is always a good thing.

More social events at school would benefit everyone involved. Just about all students in our school would be happy to help plan them.

A student is writing an editorial for the student newspaper about placing a booth to sell healthy snacks in the cafeteria. The student wants to revise the draft to provide evidence to support the claim. Read the draft of a part of the editorial and complete the task that follows.
Healthy Choices
The creation of a snack booth in the cafeteria is creating a lot of interest at Sherwood Middle School. For the most part, the idea is a good one that provides several practical benefits. Once people are made aware of these benefits, they will have little reason to oppose the idea.

Students favor the idea of placing a snack booth in the cafeteria. They argue that this would actually further the cafeteria’s mission of providing healthy food. A booth would offer students a greater variety of choices for snacks.

Others have expressed some concerns, however. The main criticism of the plan is that even if the snacks are healthy choices, they may not provide a balanced meal. The cafeteria director points out that the meals served in the cafeteria are not only healthy, but they are also balanced. However, while it is one thing to serve a balanced meal, it is another thing for students actually to eat the balanced meal. It is true that the booth would not provide a balanced meal, but it would provide healthy food.

Click on two sentences that are not relevant to the student’s argument and so should be deleted.

A student is writing an argumentative essay for his teacher about how television is a bad influence. The student wants to revise the draft to strengthen his argument. Read the draft of the essay and complete the task that follows.
It is Time to Turn Off the Television

Television has become such an important part of homes that it is hard for many people to imagine life without it. For some, it is a great source of entertainment. For others, it can be an educational tool. Although television has helped some children, it has influenced them in a negative way as well. Many children are watching television instead of being active around the house or exercising. Some kids, however, like to ride their bikes outside or play at a friend’s house rather than watch television.

Some people can argue that children should be allowed to watch a lot of television because it is educational. However, there have been studies that have shown that watching too much television may have a negative effect on both physical and mental development. Some fitness centers are now offering exercise machines that have televisions attached to them.

Grade 7 ELA - Write and Revise Argumentative Texts (FIAB)

Grade 7 ELA - Write and Revise Argumentative Texts (FIAB)

Healthy Choices

Click on two sentences that are not relevant to the student’s argument and so should be deleted.

Click on two sentences that are not relevant to the student’s argument and so should be deleted.

In a paragraph, write an introduction to the letter that establishes and introduces a clear claim about why teachers should allow more school-sponsored social events at school.

Healthy Choices

Click on two sentences that are not relevant to the student’s argument and so should be deleted.

Choose the paragraph that would make the best introduction to establish and introduce the claim and counterclaim.

Click on two sentences that are not relevant to the student’s argument and so should be deleted.

Choose two transition sentences that would improve the link between the two paragraphs.

In a paragraph, write an introduction to the letter that establishes and introduces a clear claim about why teachers should allow more school-sponsored social events at school.

Choose the sentence that gives the best evidence to improve support of the student’s underlined claim.