FIAB - Research - Use Evidence

#1 - 125881

A student is writing a research report about the effects of energy drinks on teenagers. She found a trustworthy source. Read Source 1 and the directions that follow.

Source 1

According to the National Institutes of Health, teenagers believe energy drinks are just as healthy as multivitamins. The advertising campaigns targeting teenage audiences reinforce this belief. But are these drinks safe? Maybe not. Caffeine and sugar are the main ingredients of most of these drinks. Some 24 oz. energy drinks contain a whopping 500 mg of caffeine, an amount equivalent to four or five cups of coffee. The beverages may also contain herbal ingredients such as green tea extract, taurine, ginseng, or guarana. Many of these ingredients, especially when combined, are thought to cause serious negative side effects in teenagers such as sleep problems, rapid heart rate, and blood pressure problems.

English glossary:

multivitamins: pills that are meant to help your body be healthy

caffeine: something in food and drinks that gives people energy

cardiovascular: relating to the heart

A student is writing a research report about the Age of Exploration. Read the trustworthy source the student found and the directions that follow.

Source 1: “Remarkable Inventions: The Compass” by Edna Shea-McCoy

Like many of the most important early inventions, the compass came out of China. It is no overstatement to say that this invention changed the world. The Chinese recognized that ores with magnetic properties would point north. It took many years for navigators to learn how to use compasses to find their way from any point to any other point. Once they accomplished this, around the fifteenth century, exploration increased. Thanks to the compass, explorers could now cross the vastest oceans or hike the darkest jungles. The invention of the compass made it possible not only to travel the world but also to connect the people of the world with each other through exploration.

The student found another source. Read Source 2 and click on two facts that support the author’s argument in Source 1.

Source 2: From the Diary of a Sailor, 1609

3 September—We have been blown off course more than once on this journey. Even our compasses could not save us from going miles out of our way. Now our plan has changed, and we search for a passage that will guide us across India or China. The crossing was stormy, and neither the stars nor the sun appeared to direct us. Instead, we relied upon our compasses to locate the rocky cliffs of the New World. My compass is an old one, used by my father on his rare fishing trips. We sailed south for a time, following the shoreline. Then, without need of a compass, the captain turned us northward again, where we explored a large, fish-filled bay. Today we are gradually turning up the river that empties into that bay. The captain wonders whether this might be a passage west. Sadly, my compass indicates clearly that we are heading nearly due north. When I informed the captain, he thanked me and turned the ship around.

#3 - 30780

A student is writing a research report about the amount of time US students spend in school. Read the paragraph from her report and the directions that follow.

Students in the United States spend an average of 6 $\frac{1}{2}$ hours each day in school; however, that is clearly not enough time. Students deserve the chance to get beyond the core subjects of reading and math. With more class time, students could concentrate on the demanding skills required by science, social studies, and foreign languages. Some of these subjects have been cut back in schools. Students would also have the chance to explore music, sports, and arts. This would not only expand student learning, but also give them a chance to discover and shine at new talents. Such success could improve overall attitudes toward school. Some teachers and principals point out that lengthening the school day does not solve the problem of improving education. Members of the Chicago Teachers Union, who represent public school teachers in Chicago, Illinois, argue that what is needed is a better school day, which might include individual study plans for students. Therefore, I believe the first step in improving public school education is by having a longer school day.

A student is writing a research report about hurricanes. She found a trustworthy source. Read Source 1 and the directions that follow.

Source 1: “Hurricanes and Ocean Temperatures” by Sean P. Levy

In 2005, scientists in Massachusetts learned something new about hurricanes. They found a link between ocean temperatures and the power of hurricanes. The scientists looked at storms that had occurred in the last 55 years. They took note of temperatures, measured wind speeds, and considered the length of each storm. They observed that as water temperatures rose, hurricanes became stronger. Ocean temperatures have risen steadily since 1975, and recent storms were nearly twice as strong as those in the 1970s.

The student found two additional sources. Read Source 2 and Source 3. One of the additional sources is trustworthy. Click on one fact from only the trustworthy source that supports the author’s review of hurricanes in Source 1.

Source 2: “Initial Report on Hurricane Irene” by Janelle W. Brown, Center for Hurricane Research, 2011

Hurricane Irene formed in the Caribbean and moved northwest. Warmer-than-usual ocean currents (up 1.5ºC) in the Atlantic strengthened the storm as it moved north. Forward speed was slow, at around 15 miles per hour. Twice, the hurricane touched land, once in North Carolina and once in New Jersey. The strongest winds occurred to the left of the hurricane’s center. The results of slow movement over New York and New Jersey included extremely heavy rain and flooding.

Source 3: “Army Corps Study: Where Do We Begin?” by Edwin C. Vega, Daily News reporter, March 2009

Following the worst hurricane in our history, the government asked the Army Corps of Engineers for a plan to protect our community. After four years of research, the plan is finally here. The plan cost millions of dollars to develop and offers no real decisions. The report suggests building up dirt walls or creating dams. It gives ideas for adding soil to warm-water wetlands to keep the storm away from cities. It contains many choices without telling which is best. Our community is faced with the fact that what was once a rare event may become more and more common. As the local oceans heat up, storms become stronger and more dangerous.

#5 - 23432

A student is writing a research report about requiring handwriting classes in schools. Read the paragraph from his report and the directions that follow.

“The Case Against Teaching Cursive Writing” by Colin Hannrosiers, 7th grade student

Generations of children have learned proper cursive handwriting, but it is time to leave these joined letters, with their loops and curls, in the past. Some people argue that we need to continue learning cursive because it is a faster form of writing than printing. But people today hardly use any form of printed writing; most communications are done by texting, e-mail, and telephone. So for the few times a person does need to write a note, printing works just as well as cursive. Many people who do know cursive often choose not to use it; instead, they write with print letters that are joined together. This may well be due to the fact that for so many people, learning handwriting brings back terrible memories. It is time to look to the future and leave cursive in the past.

A student is writing a research report about the Pony Express. The student found possible sources for the report. Read the sources and the directions that follow.

Source 1: “Pony Express” by Erica Dugans

The Pony Express, an early mail delivery service by men on horses used to transport mail, officially began operation in 1860. The Pony Express ran between Missouri and California. Founded by William H. Russell, William B. Waddell, and Alexander Majors, the Pony Express came from the necessity of faster communication during the Civil War. The Pony Express was also beneficial in getting letters and information to California, which was basically cut off from the East.

The Pony Express was not long-lived. With the completion of the Pacific Telegraph Line, a new system of sending communication through wires, there was no longer a need for the Pony Express.

Source 2: from “Ponies Deliver the Mail” by Aaron Michaels

The primary goal of the Pony Express was to deliver mail and information from Missouri to California and back in 10 days or less. While Pony Express riders carried out their duties almost flawlessly, the venture was ultimately a financial failure. The men who started the Pony Express, William H. Russell, William B. Waddell, and Alexander Majors, underestimated the total cost of the Pony Express. They were also burdened by trail bandits who robbed Pony Express riders. When the Pony Express closed in 1861, it had lost nearly $200,000.

The student wrote down some claims to use in her report. Look at the claims in the table. Decide whether the information in Source 1, Source 2, both sources, or neither source supports each claim. Click the box that appropriately describes each claim. There will be only one box selected for each claim.

A student is writing a research report about the effects of pet ownership on people. She found a trustworthy source. Read Source 1 and the directions that follow.

Source 1: “Pets and Human Health” by Martha Rosen-Birch, science reporter

Scientists are studying the bond between people and their pets. They have made some discoveries that support what pet-lovers already know: pets make them feel better. They found that spending time with pets eased physical pain in people suffering from a variety of illnesses. For example, patting dogs slowed people’s pulse rates. Holding cats in their laps calmed people who were upset. Pets truly offer positive health benefits.

The student found another source. Read Source 2 and click on three facts that support the author’s analysis, or examination of information in Source 1.

Source 2: “The Benefits of Pet Ownership on Human Health” by Dr. Sander Gleason, medical researcher

In our research, we explore the effects of owning a pet on the health of pet owners. Our most recent study included a large group of people, both pet owners and people without pets, at a health center in Australia. All subjects were tested for traits that show a risk for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and certain levels of cholesterol, a fat-like substance in the blood. Our findings showed that on these tests, the pet owners had healthier ranges than those who did not own pets. There are other factors that might be responsible for the lower risk, such as diet and other health habits. However, the pet owners in the study had better heart health. Only pet ownership was the distinct difference among those with lower risk. It is recommended that more research be done to see if these results are the same among other groups of people.

English glossary :

bond : a shared connection

discoveries : acts of learning something for the first time

eased : made less severe or harsh

A student is writing a research report about the Gettysburg Address. The student found a trustworthy source. Read Source 1 and the directions that follow.

Source 1: “More Than a Dedication” by Jennifer Samuelson

The Gettysburg Address was a speech delivered in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln at the dedication of a cemetery for soldiers who perished at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. The Civil War is sometimes called the War Between the States because there were eleven southern states in which slavery was legal, and those states wanted to separate from the United States of America. Although the purpose of the speech, on the surface, was to dedicate a plot of land in memory of fallen soldiers, the speech was filled with much more meaning. The central message was one of being united as a nation with the belief that all people “are created equal.” The Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous, most quoted, and most recited speeches of all time. It is also one of the shortest, totaling just 10 sentences and fewer than 300 words. Interestingly, the speech did not become famous until many decades later. That is because newspapers at the time tended to downplay the speech because some regarded it as an effort to push the political beliefs of the North.

The student found two additional sources. Read Source 2 and Source 3. One of the additional sources is trustworthy. Click on two sections from only the trustworthy source that support the author's review of the Gettysburg Address in Source 1.

Source 2: “An Observer of History” by Megan Merriam, author of the young adult fictional series Our Nation Remembered
www.ourhistory.net
Date Updated: July 2013

November 10, 1863: I have watched all of the visitors arrive in our town. Detailed preparations are being made to finish Gettysburg Cemetery in time for the dedication today.

November 18, 1863: Officials started to arrive in Gettysburg today, by train. The Wills family is hosting one of the speakers. This diary entry is brief as I must get plenty of sleep in order to be up early tomorrow. My sisters and I hope to be in the front row at the dedication.

November 19, 1863: Although I was up early, there were already thousands at the dedication when I arrived. President Lincoln’s remarks were short, but the audience was generous with their

applause. The message of the day was that we are all equal, we must remain one as a nation, and we must honor those that gave their lives for our freedom.

November 20, 1863: I was caught by surprise today when there was no account of the day in the paper. I looked forward to reading about the rare excitement in our town. I guess the event was most powerful for those of us who witnessed it firsthand.

Source 3: “Forever Remembered” by Thomas Wakenaught, well-known historian of the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln

www.abelincolnbook.net

Date Updated: January 2014

President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address took place after a speech by Edward Everett that lasted more than two hours and was over 13,000 words. In contrast, the Gettysburg Address took less than two minutes. At the time, the speech was regarded as an important political moment, but little more. A search of 15 major American newspapers from 1864 through 1889 yields just a handful of mentions of the Gettysburg Address. Other news competed for space—both news from the war front and items of more local interest. A newspaper called The East Coast Farmer paid more attention to an eight-foot woman supposedly roaming the woods than the speech that took place in faraway Gettysburg. When John M. Hay and John G. Nicolay published a 10-volume biography of Lincoln in 1890, they devoted only two pages to the Gettysburg Address. It would take many decades before the speech would become one of the most famous in history.