Lesson 44

Today’s Agenda

1.Reading Comprehension Packet

2.Timed Writing #2 Evaluations

OBJECTIVE: Students will demonstrate reading comprehension strategies discussed in class during Lesson 41.

Reading Comprehension

What strategies did you employ? What worked for you? What are you going to try next

time?

1.The word “idle” in line 1 most nearly means

a)Resting

b)Lazy

c)Empty

d)Lethargic

e)Leisurely

2. “Speculation is its [science’s] very lifeblood” (line 2) means that scientistsa)Are gamblers at heart

b)Must concern themselves with provable facts

c)Must understand all forms of science

d)Must form opinions about the data they gather

e)Must keep abreast of new developments

3. According to lines 12-15, a mature science

a)Concerns itself exclusively with gathering and recording facts

b)Dismisses speculative thinking as overly fanciful

c) Connects hitherto unlinked phenomena in meaningful ways

d)Subordinates speculative thought to the accumulation of facts

e)Differentiates between hypotheses and speculation

4. The similarity from high altitudes between the infrared spectrum of the Martian markings and Earth spectrum suggests

a)The value of speculative thinking

b)The absence of chlorophyll on Mars

c)A possibility that Mars has vegetation

d)That Mars’s surface has been cultivated

e)The effect of cold on the color of the spectrum

5. The author does all of the following EXCEPT

a)Make an approximation

b)Use a metaphor

c)State a resemblance

d)Make a conjecture

e)Deny a contradiction

Timed Writing #2

The Prompt

Even scientists know that absolute objectivity ahs yet to be attained. It’s the same for absolute truth. But, as many newspaper reporters have observed, the idea of objectivity as a guiding principle is too valuable to be abandoned. Without it, the pursuit of knowledge is hopelessly lost. ~”Focusing Our Values,” Neiman Reports

Are people better at making observations, discoveries, and decisions if they remain neutral and impartial? Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experiences, or observations.

Sample A CLAIM

People make better observations, discoveries and decisions when they are neutral and impartial to a subject while keeping an open mind.

EVIDENCE

Three reasons: Better observations are made; More discoveries are made; Effective decisions are made.

Thinly developed

ORGANIZATION

Some organization and coherence

USE OF LANGUAGE

weak

TO SCORE HIGHER

Needs more competent critical thinking

Improved language

SCORE 3

Sample B CLAIM

No viable point of view

EVIDENCE

Confused ideas about absolute objectivity

ORGANIZATION

disjointed

USE OF LANGUAGE

Below adequate

TO SCORE HIGHER

Develop a clear point of view

Support with relevant reasons and examples

Substantially reduce the number of grammar errors

SCORE

1

Sample C

CLAIM “Even though objectivity can never be reached, people are

better at making observations, discoveries, and decisions if they attempt to set aside their biases.”

EVIDENCE Several examples of biased individuals making poor judgment

ORGANIZATION Well organized and focused

USE OF LANGUAGE skillful

SCORE 6

Revisit Your Own Response

Score your own. What could you do differently

next time?