1. Chapter 2 Writing an Argumentative Essay Grade 7 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 1 Activity 3A Explaining Words (p. 16) Use the source to answer the questions about the meaning of inundate and how you could figure it out from other words around it. Record high tides inundate West Coast, hinting rough future of flooding as climate change boosts sea level by David Knowles 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 ever-encroaching waters. Source: Knowles, David. “Record High Tides.” Daily News. 20 December 2012. Web. 14 March 2013.

2. Chapter 2 Writing an Argumentative Essay Grade 7 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 2 Activity 3A Explaining Words (p. 16) Part A Circle the letter before the choice that best explains the meaning of inundate in the previous passage. a. to predict the events b. to destroy completely c. to cover with water d. to confront a problem

3. Chapter 2 Writing an Argumentative Essay Grade 7 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 3 Activity 3A Explaining Words (p. 16) Part A Circle the letter before the choice that best explains the meaning of inundate in this passage. a. to predict the events b. to destroy completely c. to cover with water d. to confront a problem

4. Chapter 2 Writing an Argumentative Essay Grade 7 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 4 Activity 3A Explaining Words (p. 16) Use the source to answer the questions about the meaning of inundate and how you could figure it out from other words around it. Record high tides inundate West Coast, hinting rough future of flooding as climate change boosts sea level by David Knowles 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 ever-encroaching waters. Source: Knowles, David. “Record High Tides.” Daily News. 20 December 2012. Web. 14 March 2013.

5. Chapter 2 Writing an Argumentative Essay Grade 7 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 5 Activity 3A Explaining Words (p. 16) Part B Circle the letters of the two words that work together to support your answer to Part A. a. tides b. rough c. future d. flooding

6. Chapter 2 Writing an Argumentative Essay Grade 7 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 6 Activity 3A Explaining Words (p. 16) Part B Circle the letters of the two words that work together to support your answer to Part A. a. tides b. rough c. future d. flooding

7. Chapter 2 Writing an Argumentative Essay Grade 7 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 7 Identify the Main Point or Thesis Flooding on the Mississippi River is becoming a bigger problem. According to Robert Criss, a professor of Earth and planetary sciences at Washington University in Saint Louis, “Flooding is getting more frequent and more severe.” Scientists are studying the data about floods and climate change to help them predict what will happen in the future.

8. Chapter 2 Writing an Argumentative Essay Grade 7 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 8 Identify the Main Point or Thesis Flooding on the Mississippi River is becoming a bigger problem. According to Robert Criss, a professor of Earth and planetary sciences at Washington University in Saint Louis, “Flooding is getting more frequent and more severe.” Scientists are studying the data about floods and climate change to help them predict what will happen in the future.

9. Chapter 2 Writing an Argumentative Essay Grade 7 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 9 Hurrican Sandy Flooding By Ian Frazier On October 29, 2012, a massive hurricane struck the northeastern United States. This excerpt describes the storm’s impact Four days after the storm, I drove to Staten Island from my house in New Jersey to see some people I know. When I got there… the street was a bout ten feet shorter. A fire hydrant dangled by its pipe in empty air, pieces of pavement crumbled downward, the traffic barrier and the sign saying “End” had washed away, and the house’s lawn had been eaten back. Just down from the lawn the enlarged beach was muddy and raw, and filled with so much debris that I put off looking at it until later. The house still stood, with plywood on the windows.” Read the following passage.

10. Chapter 2 Writing an Argumentative Essay Grade 7 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 10 Which statement states the thesis or main idea? A.The writer’s friends were not injured by the storm. B.Fire hydrants, traffic barriers, and signs are poorly made. C.The larger beach was one benefit of the storm. D.The storm caused tremendous damage. Which two of the following support your main idea or thesis above. A.“I drove to Staten Island from my house in New Jersey” B.“When I got there” C.“pieces of pavement crumbled downward” D.“Just down from the lawn” E.“the enlarged beach was muddy and raw” F.“The house still stood, with plywood on its windows”