Theme
Characterization
Logos/Pathos
P.O.V.
Relevant/Irrelevant
100
Derek was doing his homework on his computer one night when he saw an ad banner for a free Game-box 9000. He clicked on the ad with great interest and was taken to a web-page with details about the offer. It seemed simple enough. All he had to do was post some content to his social networking pages and complete a few offers. Derek didn't really approve of the content that he was required to share, but he really wanted the new Gamebox, so he shared the required links with all of his friends and family. Then Derek began completing the offers. The offers were organized into three tiers. According to the website, he had to complete three offers in each tier and then he would get his Gamebox for free. So Derek started completing the offers in the first tier, which required him to create accounts on a bunch of websites that he had no interest in joining. He completed the first tier in a couple of hours and he was really getting excited about getting a free Game-box 9000. The second tier required Derek to become a member at more websites and to get three of his friends to sign up to the program. Signing up to the websites was pretty easy (though time-consuming), but getting his friends to participate in the program was much harder. Most of them warned Derek that he was falling for a scam, but Derek finally found three freshmen who agreed to participate. Derek was pumped. Unfortunately, the third tier required him to sign up for satellite television service, change his phone service provider, and get approved for several credit cards. Derek finally did what he should have done from the beginning and walked away from these offers.
If something sounds too good to be true it probably is OR there is no such thing as a free lunch
100
Jason is an excellent accountant who works full-time for his best friend's company. A larger accounting firm contacts Jason and offers to pay him twice what he makes if he will work for them. Jason thanks them for their offer but declines. He doesn't even tell his friend that he received the offer.
loyal; considerate
100
What is Coca-Cola trying to achieve with this campaign? "Open a coke. Open happiness"
If you drink Coca-Cola you will be happy
100
Mrs. Jones’s class is challenging, but I learn so much and feel confident about the work. What is the author's perspective & what word choice led you to your answer?
The topic is Mrs. Jones’s class. The speaker has a positive attitude about it because her word choice of “learn so much” lets us know she is happy to have Mrs. Jones as a teacher. The speaker also gives a positive example of feeling confident.
100
The first reason why students should wear uniforms is that it prepares students for future jobs in offices that require suits. Some stores require a certain color shirt and some fast food places like Subway provide you with the clothes you need to wear to work. When students have to wear certain clothes that do not fit their body type, it can be embarrassing. Uniforms take away your individuality.
Which statement is relevant to the claim "Uniforms prepare students for future jobs..."
Some stores require a certain color shirt and some fast food places like Subway provide you with the clothes you need to wear to work.
200
What is the theme of the and the grasshopper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ripQ9jJnw1c
The answer may vary: virtues of hard work and planning for the future
200
Eric's car broke down in the woods and his phone wasn't getting a signal. He used his car antenna as a spear and caught fresh salmon. He started a fire with sparks from his car battery, and he ate the cooked salmon while waiting for help.
resourceful; inventive;creative
200
Which persuasive appeal is the most valid support for your answer for the Coca-Cola advertisement and why?
pathos
200
The sooner we move out of this dump the happier I’ll be. What is the author's perspective & what word choice led you to your answer?
The topic is the author’s house. He has a negative attitude about it. This is evident by his word choice – calling his house a dump.
200
The first reason why students should wear uniforms is that it prepares students for future jobs in offices that require suits. Some stores require a certain color shirt and some fast food places like Subway provide you with the clothes you need to wear to work. When students have to wear certain clothes that do not fit their body type, it can be embarrassing. Uniforms take away your individuality.
Which statement is irrelevant to the claim "Uniforms prepare students for future jobs..."
When students have to wear certain clothes that do not fit their body type, it can be embarrassing. OR Uniforms take away your individuality.
300
Nicole was hesitant to lend Lia her tea set. Though the tea set was not worth much money, it had been in the family for a long time and was pretty much irreplaceable. Lia was persistent and since she was a dear friend, Nicole relented and agreed to lend her the tea set. As Nicole had feared, Lia did not handle the tea set with the same care that Nicole would have and consequently Lia broke or damaged several of the pieces. When Nicole asked for her tea set, Lia stalled, "Uh… I forgot it at my cousin's house. I'll get it later this week. I'm so sorry." Lia figured that she could run out and replace the missing pieces. When she got around to doing so, Lia was disappointed to find that no stores carried the antique tea set. So Lia purchased a brand new tea set, much more expensive than the old set. She then threw out the rest of Nicole's old tea set to hide the evidence of her irresponsibility. When Lia presented Nicole with the new tea set, Nicole was extremely disappointed and Lia did not understand why. "Look, Nicole, my cousin lost your tea set. I mean, he's still looking for it but it's probably gone, but this tea set is much nicer." When Nicole did not accept the new tea set, Lia shook her head in disgust and told herself, "Some people don't appreciate anything."
Answers may vary: honesty is the best policy; treat others property with respect; money isn't everything
300
After coming home late from a party, Mae's father questioned her. She wanted to tell him that she was studying at a friend's place and lost track of time, but she told him the truth instead: she was at a party.
honorable; courageous; upstanding
300
If my age doesn't convince you that I know what I'm talking about, at least consider that I am your grandfather and I only want the best for you.
Ethos
300
The trend toward full-day kindergarten programs in public schools is taking its toll on the young children of today. Recent studies showing improved reading skills may be misleading. This improvement in reading is unlikely to carry on as these children progress through elementary school. What is the author's perspective & what word choice led you to your answer?
The writer is not in favor of it. They give negative examples of it “taking its toll” and the word choice of “misleading” is also negative.
300
Every day after work Paul took his muddy boots off on the steps of the front porch. Alice would have a fit if the boots made it so far as the welcome mat. He then took off his dusty overalls and threw them into a plastic garbage bag; Alice left a new garbage bag tied to the porch railing for him every morning. On his way in the house, he dropped the garbage bag off at the washing machine and went straight up the stairs to the shower as he was instructed. He would eat dinner with her after he was “presentable,” as Alice had often said.
What type of person is Alice?
clean, organized
400
When Curtis transferred to our high school from some fancy private school, I was assigned the job of showing him around our building. First, I showed him our trophy case. Our school has done put together some quality teams and programs over the years, so our trophy case was pretty full. Curtis was not impressed. He claimed that the trophy case was at least twice as big as ours and much more crowded. Next I showed him our swimming pool. Not every high school has a swimming pool, so we were proud of ours, but Curtis couldn't care less. "The swimming pool at my old school is bigger and more modern. This one looks kind of dirty," he said with disdain. I continued to guide Curtis around the school, showing him our cafeteria, gymnasium, and even our garden, but Curtis seemed disappointed with everything that he saw. He'd quickly compare it to his old school, which in his words was superior to ours in every way. The last thing I showed Curtis was the front door. I told him that he would like this one best because he could walk through it and go back to his old school.
Answers may vary: do not criticize things that are dear to others particularly if they are not seeking your opinion; you live where you reside not where you want to reside; if you do not have anything good to say do not say anything.
400
Michael has clothes all over the floor of his bedroom. Underneath the clothes on his floor is a pizza box with crusts in it. Underneath the pizza box is a bunch of pieces of a board game that Michael played and didn't put away. Michael sat on his unmade bed with his shoes on and played video games all night.
messy; sloppy; lazy
400
Research compiled by analysts from NASA, as well as organizations from five other nations with space programs, suggests that a moon colony is viable with international support.
Logos
400
Amusement-park rides can be terrifying. In fact, scores of roller-coaster enthusiasts would be sorely disappointed if they weren't. Many medical doctors and researchers dismiss allegations that the physical forces the rides exert are dangerous. Though some rides can go faster than 100 mph, the physical stress they put on the body is not very great -- less in some cases than everyday experiences, such as dropping into a chair. What is the author's perspective & what word choice led you to your answer?
The writer thinks amusement park rides are dangerous. Word Choice: dangerous; forces - exert 100; physical stress
400
Every day after work Paul took his muddy boots off on the steps of the front porch. Alice would have a fit if the boots made it so far as the welcome mat. He then took off his dusty overalls and threw them into a plastic garbage bag; Alice left a new garbage bag tied to the porch railing for him every morning. On his way in the house, he dropped the garbage bag off at the washing machine and went straight up the stairs to the shower as he was instructed. He would eat dinner with her after he was “presentable,” as Alice had often said.
What is the irrelevant evidence that supports that Paul gets dirty at work?
A) Alice would have a fit if the boots made it so far as the welcome mat.
B) He then took off his dusty overalls and threw them into a plastic garbage bag.
C)Paul took his muddy boots off on the steps of the front porch
A) Alice would have a fit if the boots made it so far as the welcome mat.
500
Justin was jealous when his cousin Cassie was named valedictorian of her class. "Some people are just born smart," he told himself later as he watched TV on the couch. He had not been with Cassie all of those times when she studied late into the night. Justin was also jealous when his cousin Victor was elected class president. "Some people are just more popular than others," Justin told himself while playing video games on the couch. He had not been with Victor while he tirelessly campaigned, listened sympathetically to the problems of others, and treated everyone he knew with kindness and respect. When Justin's cousin Matthew became the quarterback for the varsity squad, Justin was envious. "Some people are just more athletic than others," he told himself as he played around on his computer. Justin had not been with Matthew while Matthew trained relentlessly to develop his athletic abilities. "One day something lucky will happen to me too," Justin told himself as he snacked on junk food.
Answers may vary: Good things don't happen to you unless you make them happen; anything worth achieving requires hard work.
500
Andy saw his neighbor struggling to get his lawnmower running, so Andy went over to his neighbor's house and filled up his lawn mower with gas. When it still wouldn't start, Andy lent him his lawn mower.
helpful; neighborly; kind
500
You should consider another route if you leave later. I heard that that street is far more dangerous and ominous at night than during the daytime.
Pathos
500
Amusement-park rides can be terrifying. In fact, scores of roller-coaster enthusiasts would be sorely disappointed if they weren't. Many medical doctors and researchers dismiss allegations that the physical forces the rides exert are dangerous. Though some rides can go faster than 100 mph, the physical stress they put on the body is not very great -- less in some cases than everyday experiences, such as dropping into a chair.
Which piece of evidence supports the author's viewpoint about amusement park rides?
A. Some people love to go on thrill rides, but others do not ride them.
B. Not enough is known about thrill rides and they are too dangerous.
C. Some people are critical of thrill rides, but many experts feel they are safe.
D. Though some rides can go faster than 100 mph, the physical stress they put on the body is not very great.
D
500
Crack! Thunder struck and rain poured. Max stared blankly out the window, trying to contain his emotions that raged like the weather. He was beginning to lose it. Dropping the kite from his hand, Max broke out into full sobs. His mother comforted him, “There, there, Max. We’ll just find something else to do.” She began to unpack the picnic basket that was on the counter and offered him a sandwich. Max snapped, “I don’t wanna sand-mich!” A flash from the sky lit up the living room. Boom! Mom sighed.
What relevant evidence supports that Max is upset?
Answers may vary: trying to contain his emotions that raged like the weather; He was beginning to lose it.