Name Author Arguments

The Smart Snacking Choice

Directions: Read the essay. Answer the questions.

Homemade oatmeal cookies are not only a better snack option than a candy bar
or pack of crackers, they are actually good for you. While processed foods strip
the nutrients out during processing, homemade treats keep the nutrients in. One
one ounce, homemade oatmeal cookie will give you up to 27 mg of folate 6% of
your daily recommended allowance (RDA) a B vitamin that your body uses to
make energy. It will also give you small amounts of vitamin A and vitamin K.
Oatmeal cookies are also a good source of iron. A one ounce, homemade oatmeal
cookie contains .70 mg of iron 9% of the RDA for men and 4% of the RDA for
women. It also contains small amounts of potassium and zinc. Finally, oatmeal
cookies are a great source of fiber. A one ounce, homemade oatmeal cookie will
give you a whole gram of soluble fiber, which reduces “bad” cholesterol and
lowers your risk of heart disease. Soluble fiber also helps regulate your blood
sugar. So the next time you have a sweet tooth, don’t try to talk yourself out of it.
Simply make the smart choice, and have an oatmeal cookie!

1. What is the author’s purpose in writing this article?

A. To provide nutritional information about oatmeal cookies.

B. To convince people to eat oatmeal cookies.
C. To prove processed food isn’t healthy.
D. To discourage people from between meal snacking.

2. Does the author support the assertion that homemade cookies

retain their nutrients?

A. Yes
B. No

3. Explain your answer to #2.

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 Name Author Arguments

To Buy or to Lease?
Read the passage. Then answer the questions.
Unless you claim your car or truck as a business 1. How many reasons does the author provide for
expense, then leasing a car is probably not going to be not leasing a car?
advantageous for you. Though some people like the idea of
leasing because they want to drive a new car every couple
of years, there are some good reasons why purchasing a car 2. The author states that mileage limits on leased
makes more financial sense. cars vary from twelve to fifteen thousand miles a
When you lease a car, you are limited in how many year. Which reason for not leasing a car does this
miles you can drive each year. Limits usually range between evidence support?
twelve and fifteen thousand miles. If you go over you have
to pay a penalty, sometimes as much as twenty five cents
A. When you lease a car, you are limited in how
per mile.
many miles you can drive each year.
Leasing also means that you have to return the car in
B. Leasing means you have to return the car in
pretty much the same condition it was in when you picked
it up. If you have pets or small children that will be in the
the same condition it was in when you
car with you, then you many end up paying exorbitant picked it up.
“wear and tear” fees when your lease is up. C. Car leases are legally binding for the entire
If you’re not sure where your paycheck may be coming length of the lease.
form in the next few years, then leasing probably isn’t a
good idea either. Car leases are legally binding for the 3. Why does the author suggest that you should
entire length off the lease, and it is virtually impossible to know where your paycheck will be coming from
get out of one without paying a huge amount of money. several years down the road?
So before going for the glamour of a leased car, make
sure you consider your lifestyle, your financial situation, _________________________________________
and your stability. Read the fine print and do your research;
you may find that you’re better off just buying your car. _________________________________________
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Why I Hate Facebook

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Name Author Arguments

Analyzing Arguments

Is Eating Grass Bad for My Dog?

Directions: Read the article. Then, on a separate sheet of paper, analyze the author’s argument. What is her claim? Does she support
it with evidence? What kind of evidence? Is the evidence convincing? Why or why not?

One of the most common questions asked of veterinarians is, “Why does my dog eat grass?” The truth is that there is
no single answer; different dogs may eat grass for different reasons. But in most cases the behavior is both normal and
harmless.
According to Dr. Melvin Furland, of Good Pets, Happy Pets veterinary clinic, “Your dog will eat anything that tastes
good, and . . . grass does.” Because dogs are natural scavengers, they are driven by instinct to look for food everywhere. If
your dog likes the taste of grass, then he may just be going outside for a little snack. Or it could be a little more complex;
for instance, if you dog isn’t getting enough fiber in his normal diet, he could be seeking to fill that nutritional need by
gnoshing on grass.
They say that dogs are a lot like their owners, and one thing that dogs do just like we do is to eat when they’re bored.
If your dog doesn’t get enough exercise, enough mental stimulation, or enough attention, he may just be trying to
entertain himself.
Dr. Cindy McGuire, though, of the Fuller Animal Hospital, thinks differently. “Eating grass is a sign of stomach distress,”
she says. “When dogs eat grass, they are self medicating. If your dog vomits after eating grass, it isn’t because the grass is
harmful; but it may be because there is some other problem that needs to be checked out by your vet.”
Nine out of the ten veterinarians surveyed while writing this article agreed that eating grass was both normal and
harmless behavior for a dog. The tenth vet, however, brought up a very good point: “Eating grass can be harmful to your
pet if your lawn is treated with dangerous fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides.”
So if you have a furry four legged lawnmower at home, be sure to use only non toxic products on your lawn, and when
walking your dogs, watch for signs warning that chemicals have been used on the grass. And then don’t worry. Let Rover
have a salad if he wants one. It isn’t going to hurt him.

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Name Author Arguments

Deconstructing Arguments
DIRECTIONS: Read the article. Then, on the next page, deconstruct the author’s argument.

If you are looking for more than just a job, if you want to make a real and lasting difference in
the world, have a high level of autonomy, and enjoy lots of free time on top of it, then consider
becoming a teacher. You may protest that teachers are notoriously underpaid, but when
considering a career path it’s important to look at your overall quality of life, and not just at your
paycheck. Consider the following.
As a teacher, you are making a real difference in the lives of your students, and you are doing
your part to make the world a better place. You can see the results of your efforts every single day,
while enjoying the ability to use your creativity and express your own unique personality. According
to Janet Berns, who has taught science for 23 years at George Washington Elementary School in
Houston, Texas, “There is no greater satisfaction than to be present at the moment that a student
suddenly ‘gets it.’ I never get tired of witnessing that moment of discovery, nor do I get tired to
riding the wave of excitement and enthusiasm that inevitably follows. I have been fortunate enough
to have witnessed a number of young people discover their calling in my classroom. It’s a profound
and humbling experience.”
Most people only work for a paycheck, and live for the weekends, when they can get back to
their “real lives” for a couple of days. But what if life didn’t have to be like that? What if you were
happy and excited to get up and got to work every day, and money was the last thing on your mind?
“I don’t consider myself an employee,” says Mark Stanton of Burke High School in Wilmington,
Maryland. “I am a friend, a mentor, a guru. I love my work. I can’t imagine doing anything else. Oh,
and yeah, I get paid for it too.”
Teaching offers endless variety, no two days are the same. And teachers are learners, too. “I
learn new things every day,” says Jean Kirkpatrick of Sunnyside Senior High in Dayton, Florida. “I’m
always researching, preparing my lesson plans. The constant stream of new information keeps me
young!”
And teachers are happy. In a study conducted in 2011, the Roessling Institute found that in a
survey of 10,000 college graduates who had been in the same career field for 10 years or more,
teachers reported the most sense of satisfaction. Teachers were also more likely to remain in the
same job across the span of their careers.
One reason often cited for this high level of job satisfaction is the amount of independence a
teacher enjoys. “I have to follow a curriculum,” says Harold Kent of Royal Daughton High School in
Kensington, Maryland, but how I choose to teach the material to my kids is up to me. I like to
engage my kids from every possible angle. And teaching lets me get creative.”
If you want to have a career and a family, teaching is a great fit there, too. Teachers have the
same schedule as their students, meaning there is more time to spend with family. And you can’t
beat the vacation time. When you factor in all of the holidays, holiday breaks and summer, teachers
can have as much as four months of the year to themselves to work other jobs, pursue their
individual projects, or travel.
There are so many reasons to become a teacher. And one of the best ones
is that you can teach the subjects that most interest you, thus pursuing your
own interests at the same time that you are earning a living. So think beyond
the salary when you’re trying to decide what to do with your life, because the
bottom line isn’t money, it’s quality of life.

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Name Author’s Point of View

1. What is the author’s claim? ___________________________________________________

2. List the reason and evidence the author uses to support the claim.

3. Is the argument convincing? Why or why not?

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