7th Grade Bellringers Mrs. Goble 2013-2014

Warm-up #1: Fix the following sentence to include stronger persuasive language: Students should practice writing everyday because it will help them.

Warm-up #2: Fix the following sentence to include stronger persuasive language: Volunteer hours are a necessity in middle school.

Warm-up #3: Identifying Claim: Instructions – Explain why each statement is not a good claim. Then rewrite one of the statements with a well-written claim. Statements – The Mexican grizzly bear went extinct in the 1960s. I wish I could have seen a Mexican grizzly bear. A Russian, Yuri Gagarin, was the first human to travel in outer space. I think Yuri Gagarin was very brave.

Warm-up #4: Instructions: Write two claims that would fit at the end of the following paragraph. One claim should argue in favor of keeping art and music classes. The other claim should argue in favor of focusing more on reading, writing, and math. Paragraph – The three r’s, “reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic,” have been the core of education in the United States since the 1800s. In recent years, parents and teachers have been concerned about how well students are learning these basic skills. Out of this concern, many schools have dropped art and music classes so that students can spend more time learning to read, to write, and to do math.

Warm-up #5: Instructions – In the following paragraph, underline one example of evidence. Place parenthesis around one example of a reason. Paragraph – Our school should start a program to encourage students to help elderly people own pets. This would help the elderly and the students. The elderly would be healthier. Researchers found that senior citizens with pets go to the doctor 30 percent less often than do those who are without pets. Young people would develop a friendship with someone who is part of an earlier generation. One result of this friendship is that students would appreciate how much the world has improved since the “good old days”.

Warm-up #6: Instructions: Read the source and answer the question that follows. Source 1: Record high tides inundate West Coast, hinting rough future of flooding as climate change boost sea level. More than 100 homes in west Seattle were hammered Monday. With sea levels on the rise worldwide, officials are grappling with the question of how to combat the every-encroaching waters. Question: Which answer best explains the meaning of the “inundate”? a. to predict the events b. to destroy completely c. to cover with water d. to confront a problem