Write & Connect - Book 3, 11-14 year olds

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Write And Connect

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Write And Connect

Book 3

Write And Connect Book 3 students who are not writing at their expected level of competency. It focuses on reteaching basic writing skills and concepts through high interest texts and activities which abandon time limits and break down tasks into manageable parts. As your students’ writing

Book 3 Ages 11 - 14 years

of success will also grow. The answers to all tasks are provided at the back of the book.

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Editing And Proofreading Paragraphing And Sentences  Comprehension Skills

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Write And Connect Book 3 ISBN 978 186 397 885 9

© istock.com/Ana Abejon

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  

By Margaret Warner

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Title: Write And Connect - Book 3 © 2013 Ready-Ed Publications Printed in Australia Author: Margaret Warner

Acknowledgements i. Clip art images have been obtained from Microsoft Design Gallery Live and are used under the terms of the End User License Agreement for Microsoft Word 2000. Please refer to www.microsoft.com/permission. ii. Front cover photograph: istock.com/ Ana Abejon ©

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ISBN: 978 186 397 885 9 2

Contents

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Teachers' Notes Australian Curriculum Links Punctuation Grammar

4 4 5 6

Editing And Proofreading l Activity 1 l Activity 2 l Activity 3 l Activity 4 l Activity 5 l Activity 6 l Activity 7 l Activity 8 l Activity 9 l Activity 10

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Paragraphing And Sentences l Activity 1 l Activity 2 l Activity 3 l Activity 4 l Activity 5 l Activity 6 l Activity 7

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Writing In Different Genres l Activity 1 l Activity 2 l Activity 3 l Activity 4 l Activity 5 l Activity 6 l Activity 7 l Activity 8 l Activity 9 l Activity 10 l Activity 11 l Activity 12

27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38

Comprehension Skills l Activity 1 l Activity 2 l Activity 3 l Activity 4 l Answers

41 43 45 47 48-53

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Teachers’ Notes

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Write And Connect - Book 3 is written for lower secondary students who are struggling to keep up with their peers, and is therefore linked to the Year 5 English curriculum.

Researchers and teachers know that a student’s written literacy skills improve as the student writes more often and experiences success.

It is important to remember that secondary students experiencing difficulty with writing must be retaught basic written literacy skills that they may have had difficulty processing in earlier years. When they acquire these skills, they will begin to gain confidence with their writing.

Students at lower secondary level who are not writing confidently at their expected level of competency are more likely to engage with interesting texts that teach them about the writing process. In Write And Connect - Book 3, students will engage with a range of texts that are likely to be of interest to them and will complete language activities related to these texts.

How you could use this book: • model effective writing strategies and discuss the writing process as you compose a text or discuss a written text; • discuss the topic knowledge, awareness of intended audience and the purpose of a particular piece of writing; • actively teach the technicalities of writing, e.g. sentence construction, complex sentences, paragraphing, vocabulary development, spelling, text coherence, editing and proofreading skills; • encourage students to work with a partner or group to develop their ability to discuss and then improve their writing and to develop editing and proofreading skills; • develop students’ written literacy skills so that when they write they will know the expected format for different genres, they will know their intended audience and they will know the purpose of their writing and they will have the skills to write with confidence.

Australian Curriculum Links Year 5

Language ACELA1797 ACELA1500 ACELA1502 ACELA1504 ACELA1505 ACELA1506 ACELA1508

ACELA1512 ACELA1513 Literacy ACELY1701 ACELY1702

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Literature ACELT 1608 ACELT1609

Punctuation

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It is important that students understand and use the correct language relating to punctuation when talking about their writing.

APOSTROPHE: an apostrophe is used when something has been left out of a word, e.g. it is/ it’s, she will/she’ll or to show ownership, e.g. Jack’s bike, Lily’s pen.

CAPITAL LETTERS: these are used to start a sentence, and for the names of: people, places, days, months, festivals, organisations and for the titles of books and movies, e.g. On Monday, Rose went to Canberra then to Mount Kosciuszko to the Snowtime Festival.

COMMA: a comma separates items in a list, e.g. I bought carrots, beans, potatoes, fruit and drinks. It also separates one part of a sentence from another to make the meaning clear, e.g.

Outside, the grass was covered in frost.

COLON: this is used to separate the main part of a sentence from an explanation or list, e.g.

The wildlife sanctuary cared for a number of species: koalas, possums, kangaroos, wombats and bandicoots. It can also be used when quoting what a person said, e.g. He said: “Don’t worry, be happy.”

DASH: this indicates added emphasis, an interruption or change of thought, e.g. You are my friend - my best friend - the only one who helped me with the assignment. It is also used between numbers, e.g. pages 1 – 10.

ELLIPSES: a series of three dots to show that you have left out a word, phrase, line, paragraph or more, from a quotation or to indicate an unfinished thought, e.g. I didn’t expect to see him there but when I looked across the room …

EXCLAMATION MARK: this is used to indicate a command, e.g “Get out! Get out now!” or to indicate strong feelings such as surprise or fright, e.g. “Congratulations!” or “Oh no!”

FULL STOP: this marks the end of a sentence except where a question mark or exclamation is used, e.g. They went to the beach to surf the big waves.

HYPHEN: use a hyphen when two adjectives are joined together to form a single idea, e.g.

The Great Houdini performed death-defying tricks.

PARENTHESES: these are used to enclose words or figures or are used to add extra information, e.g. When he rang (after finally finding a public phone) he explained what had happened.

QUESTION MARK: use a question mark when asking a direct question, e.g. Where is Sam? QUOTATION MARKS: use these to show the exact words spoken, e.g. “Where do you live?”

Other punctuation must be placed inside the quotation marks.

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SEMICOLON: can be used to join related sentences that could stand alone, e.g. It was soon completely dark; he decided to stay hidden.

5

Grammar

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It is important that students understand and use the correct language relating to grammar when talking about their writing.

ADJECTIVE: a word that adds description to a noun. It was a clear, sunny day.

ADVERB: a word that adds to a verb, adjective or another adverb. He walked away quickly from the shop.

CLAUSE: a group of words with a subject, a verb and a comment that adds to the information. The girl painted a beautiful picture. Compound and complex sentences have more than one clause. The girl painted a beautiful picture when she went to art class.

CONJUNCTION: a word that joins other words, phrases or clauses, e.g. ‘and’ or ‘but’. I saw my teacher and friends but I didn’t see my cousin.

CONNECTIVE: words that connect sentences and paragraphs in logical sequence, e.g. ‘first’, ‘second’, ‘because’, ‘furthermore’, although’, ‘in fact’. First you brainstorm ideas, second you start to write notes.

NOUN: a word that names a person, place, things and ideas. A proper noun refers to people, places, days, months and festivals and always starts with a capital letter, e.g. On Monday we went to Darwin. A collective noun refers to a group, e.g. a pod of whales, a mob of kangaroos. All other nouns are common nouns.

NOUN GROUP: a group of words that add to a noun, e.g. Mountain biking is a tough, exciting sport.

PHRASE: a group of words usually without a verb. He left the backpack on the train.

PREPOSITION: a preposition is a positional word, e.g. above, near, on. A prepositional phrase contains a preposition, e.g. He ran across the road.

PRONOUN: a word that stands for a noun, e.g. I, she, him, it, them. I gave the bag to Sam then he gave it to them.

SENTENCE: a group of words that form a complete statement, question or exclamation. He kicked the ball. Compound and complex sentences have more than one clause. He kicked the ball when he ran past his mate who had injured his leg.

VERB: a word that describes what someone or something is doing or feeling. He sat on the chair while he waited for the doctor. Verbs can be used in the past, present or future tense, e.g. I like ice cream (present tense), I liked ice cream when I was little (past tense), I will like ice cream even when I’m very old (future tense).

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6

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• Editing And Proofreading •

This section covers the following Australian Curriculum Links: Year 5 Language ACELA 1504 ACELA 1505 ACELA 1506 ACELA1507 ACELA 1508 ACELA 1512 ACELA1513 ACELT1795 ACELY 1701 ACELY1704 ACELY 1705

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• Editing And Proofreading •

l Activity 1

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When you finish a great piece of writing it will be even better if you edit and proofread it to make sure that there are no errors in your work. It is important to check that: • your ideas make sense; • you have used interesting language; • your writing is well-structured; • there are no spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors.

Proofreading the final draft of your work will ensure that your work is the best that it can be and will be enjoyed by the reader.

LLCapital letters are used to start a sentence, and for the names of people, places, days, months, festivals, organisations and for the titles of books and movies, e.g. On Monday Rose went to Canberra and then to Mount Kosciuszko to the Snowtime festival.

A

Proofread these sentences and check for the correct use of capital letters.

Circle any errors.

1. last weekend i went to sydney to see jack.

2. on monday we went to see the movie red dog.

3. on the 1st march it’s julie’s birthday.

4. everyone had to read the book animal heroes for english.

5. “are you going to perth today?” sam asked will.

6. anzac day is always on the 25th of april.

7. the movie avatar was very popular in australia.

8. james and sam moved to darwin at the end of october.

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9. the character, crocodile dundee was popular in america.

10. australia’s highest mountain, mount kosciuszko is in new south wales.

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• Editing And Proofreading •

l Activity 2

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A LLIt is important to correctly punctuate your work as it helps a reader to make sense of your writing. A full stop ends a sentence. A question mark shows that you are asking a question, an exclamation mark is used to indicate strong feelings or a command. A comma separates one part of a sentence from another to make the meaning clear. It also separates items in a list.

Proofread these sentences and check for correct use of punctuation. Circle any errors.

1. He went to see the best movie yesterday?

2. We saw fish. dolphins. coral. and a small shark.

3. “Are you going to Darwin!” he asked.

4. “Everyone get out. Fire?” he yelled.

5. The next day they all went for a swim?

LLWhen checking your work, make sure that you have used pronouns correctly (he/she /it/we/ you/they) and you have used the correct verb with the correct subject, e.g. singular or plural.

B

Proofread these sentences and check for correct use of punctuation. Circle any errors.

1. Ben and Sam is both in the football team.

2. She am going on holidays next week.

3. Maria said that he is going to a new school.

4. It was very cold today.

5. I think they is going to win every game.

LLAlways check your work for any spelling errors. Use a spellcheck or a dictionary.

C

Proofread these sentences and check for any spelling errors. Circle any errors.

1. Larst Sunday we went to the beech.

2. Evry day I chek my timetable.

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3. She always gows to visit her friend.

4. He is riting a grate story.

5. Checking speling isn’t always eesy.

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• Editing And Proofreading •

l Activity 3

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LLSome words sound the same but have a different meaning and different spelling, e.g. knew / new.

Proofread each sentence. Circle the correct word.

1. He has a very sore toe / tow.

2. He rode / road his horse across the paddock.

3. She one / won her first race.

4. Wood / would you like an ice cream?

5. Some people don’t eat meet / meat.

LLJoin short sentences using conjunctions such as: and / or / but / because / since, to make your writing more interesting.

B

Combine these short sentences using a conjunction.

1. I like soup. I like salads. _________________________________________________________________________ 2. I wasn’t at the football game. I was sick. _________________________________________________________________________ 3. It was raining lightly. We still went swimming. _________________________________________________________________________ 4. We can't go surfing. We can watch a movie. _________________________________________________________________________ 5. I arrived at 10 o’clock. I’m still here. _________________________________________________________________________ 6. I didn’t go to school today. I went to the doctor. _________________________________________________________________________ 7. I watch football. I watch car racing. I don’t watch tennis.

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_________________________________________________________________________ 8. Would you like salad? Would you like soup?

_________________________________________________________________________ 10

• Editing And Proofreading •

l Activity 4

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LLWhen you are writing exactly what someone says, you must use speech marks. This is called direct speech. All punctuation must be included inside the speech marks.

Add speech marks to these sentences.

1. It’s lunch time, Mike said.

2. Are you going to swimming training today? Maria asked.

3. Everyone out! Out now! the fireman shouted.

4. It’s creepy in this old house, Rose whispered.

5. I like skateboarding, Sam said. Do you? he asked Emma.

LLWhen you are reporting what someone has said it isn’t necessary to use speech marks. This is indirect speech. Verbs should be written in the past tense.

B

Underline the verbs in these sentences that are connected with what someone has said.

1. Jordan said that Jack and his family went to Sydney to live.

2. Mary asked Emily if she was going to the party on the weekend.

3. The fireman yelled loudly to the crowd to move back.

4. He begged his friend not to leave the team.

5. The principal announced the sports winners at assembly.

C

Change the direct speech in these sentences to indirect speech.

1. “ The bus is coming,” Jack called out to Tom. 2. “ Where are you going now?” Lily asked Anne.

3. “ It looks like a storm is on the way,” dad replied.

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4. "Have you done the Maths assignment?” Mick asked Kate.

5. “ Help!” he shouted to his mate. “A car has crashed.”

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• Editing And Proofreading •

l Activity 5

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LLWhen you edit your writing, check that the sentences and paragraphs make sense.

Change the wording of each sentence so that it makes sense. Add or eliminate words.

1. Bob could clearly see the gold ring at the bottom of the muddy pool of water.

_________________________________________________________________________ 2. He raced outside, rang his mate then remembered he’d left his phone in his bag. _________________________________________________________________________ 3. He saw the cat curled up on the mat that was lost. _________________________________________________________________________ 4. He sometimes had his hair cut every week on a Monday. _________________________________________________________________________ 5. On Sunday morning the stolen handbag was found by a tree. _________________________________________________________________________ LLUsing the same word too many times in your writing makes for a boring read. Always try to vary your vocabulary.

B

Edit and rewrite these sentences so that the same word isn’t repeated.

1. The monster had big eyes, a big head, big ears and very big teeth. _________________________________________________________________________ 2. I got up. I got dressed. I grabbed my school bag. I ran out the door. I forgot it was Saturday. _________________________________________________________________________ 3. It was a lovely day. We went to a lovely beach. The waves were lovely so we went for a lovely surf.

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_________________________________________________________________________ 4. It was a bad day. The weather was bad. The food was bad. The train trip was bad.

_________________________________________________________________________ 12

• Editing And Proofreading •

l Activity 6

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LLWhen you proofread your writing always check for punctuation errors.

Read this paragraph then check for punctuation errors. Circle the ten errors.

adam hurried along the quiet street. hoping that Zak hallam was already in school? Zak was a bully and had made life tough for adam since day one, always taunting him about being

the new kid and telling him that he wasn’t accepted Zak’s 'mates' sided with him! afraid that he would turn on them and make their lives miserable? zak often hassled adam on the way to school but he knew that if he left home later he would avoid the verbal abuse LLWhen you proofread your writing always check for grammatical errors.

B

Read this paragraph then check for grammatical errors. Circle the ten errors.

The sport of mountain bike riding involves ride bikes off-road over very rough terrain. In cross-country or XC competitions, the rider have to ride it course that usually includes climbs and descents on a variety of terrains including roughs tracks, sand and water crossings. It are important when mountain biking riding to been aware of not cause damage to the environment. Riders should stay on the trail in areas where they are allowed to ride. They shouldn’t ride on areas where they do not have permission. They should always take their rubbish with they and they should never scare birds or animals that they come across.

LLWhen you proofread your writing always check for spelling errors.

C

Read this paragraph then check for spelling errors. Circle the ten errors.

Head down too avoid making eye contact with enyone, Adam noticed something just ahed on the path. As he got closer, he saw it wos a black wallet and wen he picked it up its contents bulged allmost forcing it open. A quick glance showd it contained a

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thick wad of nowtes, some of them fifties. Checking around to see if anyone nearby had dropped the wollet, he saw that the street was deserted except for a black labrador wandering along outside a nearby horse.

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• Editing And Proofreading •

l Activity 7

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LLWhen you proofread your writing always check for spelling errors.

Read this paragraph then check for spelling errors. Circle the ten errors.

Over the yeaers there have been a number of theories presented to explain whot has

happened in the Bermuda Triangle. These include: vyolent storms, the large numbers of ships and aircraft using the area, extraterrestrial activity and even that it is the location of the lorst city of Atlantis. There are logical reasons for sum of the disappearances.

The area dus experience violent storms and hurricanes. Also, there is a strong oshenn current called the Gulf Stream in the area so eny evidence of damaged ships or aircraft wood be quickly swept away. In addition, the ocean floor varies from extensive shoals around the islands to very deep marine trenches. The combirnation of these factors could explain many disasters.

LLWhen you proofread your writing always check for punctuation and grammatical errors.

B

Read this paragraph then check for errors. Circle the five punctuation and five grammatical errors.

when you does your shopping, do you stop to think or check where the products comes from that you are buying! Australia imports goods from many countries and we export our good to many countries. However, more and more Australians are strongly interested in buying good that they know are either made but grown in australia.

Consumers state many reasons for buying Australian products. they believe that Australian grown products are fresh and healthy and Australian made products is safe and made to a high standard. By buying Australian they feel that they are helping to keep farmers and factory workers in jobs and creating employment for workers?

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Extra! Complete in your workbooks.

Each word in this sentence is incorrect. Rewrite the sentence without any errors.

Wun daye i wos is ther buss wen i sor free hyuge elefants en th parck.

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• Editing And Proofreading •

l Activity 8

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LLWhen you proofread your writing always check for spelling errors.

Read this paragraph then check for errors. Circle the ten spelling errors.

The morning arfter the fierce storm Jack jumped in his ute with Bluey beeside him to

check on any damage in the back paddock. When he saw a gum tree branch hanging down across the rowd, he stopped the ute, climbed the tree as quickly as a munkey and started to saw off the branch. There was a crack as loud as thunda. Jack fell to the ground like a snack of potatoes. For a moment he was as still as a log and as white as a sheet. Then he saw the blud and felt a pain flash through his leg. “Bluey, race home, find the First Aid kit and brin me the bandages.” Bluey understood and was soon bak with the bandages. She took the bandage in her paws and as gentle as a lam she wound them round Jack’s injured leg.

LLWhen you proofread your writing always check for punctuation and grammatical errors.

B

Read this paragraph then check for errors. Circle the five grammar and five punctuation errors.

The sydney Harbour Bridge took eight years to building and over 2,000 men worked in various teams: engineers, surveyors, architects, blacksmiths, boilermakers, carpenters, concreters, stonemasons, riggers, crane drivers, painters and casual labourers. Sixteen men die during the Bridge’s construction but not all died on the actual Bridge site? the official opening of the Bridge in Saturday 19th March 1932 was a very important event with several hundred thousand people crowd around the harbour foreshores. The nSW Premier, the Honourable John ‘Jack’ Lang officially declared the Bridge open. However, before he could cut the ribbon, Captain francis De Groot ride forward and slashed the

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ribbon with his sword. Some people found this entertaining but others were very upset. The ribbon was retied and the Premier then officially cut it.

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• Editing And Proofreading •

l Activity 9

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LLWhen you proofread your writing always check for grammatical and spelling errors.

Read this paragraph then check for errors. Circle the five grammatical and five spelling errors.

Nancy Wake was one of the most decorated Australian servicewomen in WWII. She

receive these awards for her brav work with the French Resistance during the war and from heping to save many hundreds of lives. When the war ended in 1945, Wake learned that her husband had been killed after him was captured in 1943. For her bravery and assistance in helping so many soldiers and refugees escape of safety, she received military honours from France, Britain and the United States. However, it is them people who she helped to excape and those who fought alongside her who praise so highly the courage of ‘The White Mouse’. Nancy Wake’s meddils are on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canbarra. She died in London on 7 August 2011.

LLWhen you proofread your writing always check for punctuation, grammatical and spelling errors.

B

Read this paragraph then check for errors. Circle the three punctuation, three grammatical and five spelling errors.

At the top of the rainforest is the emergent liar. this contains a small number of very tall trees growing into 70 metres that emerge into the sunlite. These trees must be able to tolerate full sun and strong winds. The next layer are the canopy. It consists of tell trees whose branches and leaves almost join together to form a dense cover over the forest?

The understorey layer is not as thik as the canopy but as it is lower down it is heavily shaded. Under this is the shrub layer. The shrubs that grow in this layer receive little sunlight. at ground level on the forest floor the plants what need little sunlight like ferns

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and mosses gro. The forest floor is also covered with a thick layer of rotting leaves.

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• Editing And Proofreading •

l Activity 10

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LLWhen you proofread your writing always check for punctuation, grammatical and spelling errors.

Read this paragraph then check for errors. Circle the three punctuation, five grammatical and three spelling errors.

The Kraken were described as a giant cephalopod that lived deep in the ocean. With a larg head, huge eyes and many tentacles like a giant octopus, it was supposedly large enough for crush small wooden sailing ships and eat the crew. sailors already feared being shipwrecked during storms and feared that their ships would be damaged on roks but their worst fear was a attack by the legendary monster. Is the ancient legend

for the giant sea monster, the Kraken fiction or fact! It seems now that the origin of the legend of the terrifying see monster was probably based on actual sightings of the species of giant squid what still inhabit the deep ocean?

B

Read this paragraph then edit it so that repetitive language such as ‘it is’ is replaced with more varied language and short sentences are joined to form complex sentences.

Is Bigfoot real or not? In North America it is called Bigfoot. In Canada it is called Sasquatch. In other countries it is called the Yeti. In Australia it is called the Yowie. It is usually very big. It is nocturnal. It is very tall. It is very big. It is maybe 230 kilograms. It is covered in dark hair. It has big eyes. It has very big feet. It leaves a big footprint. Is it real or not? Some people say it is real. Some people have played tricks and pretended that they have seen it when they really haven’t.

C

Edit theses sentences so that they makes sense.

1. One hot summer night I walked outside in the snow.

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2. There were only two of us on the bus: me, Will and Samantha.

3. I’m so hungry I could eat a spoonful of ice cream.

4. He was so full of energy that he stayed up late till 7 0’clock.

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• Paragraphing And Sentences •

This section covers the following Australian Curriculum Links: Year 5 Language ACELA1504 ACELA1797 ACELA1506 Literacy ACELY1701 ACELY1702 Literature ACELT1609

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• Paragraphing And Sentences •

l Activity 1

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LLA paragraph has three parts: a topic sentence: this is the first sentence and tells the reader what the paragraph will be about. detail sentences: these sentences form the main part of the paragraph. They give the reader more information and add to the topic sentence. closing sentence: this sentence restates the topic sentence but in different words and closes the paragraph.

A paragraph usually has five or more sentences.

A

Read this paragraph and identify: -- the topic sentence (colour blue) -- the detail sentences (colour red) -- the closing sentence (colour green)

The koala is one of Australia’s most well known animals. Koalas have soft, thick, grey fur with white on their chest. They have a large, dark, hairless nose and furry ears. They don’t have a tail. Females have a pouch. Koalas sleep a lot during the day so people are able to observe them easily as they sleep high in a gum tree. People all over the world recognise Australia’s koalas.

1. What information does the topic sentence tell you? _________________________________________________________________________ 2. What facts do the detail sentences tell you? List in point form.

• _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ 3. What does the closing sentence tell you? _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

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• Paragraphing & Sentences •

l Activity 2

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A LLWHAT IS A PARAGRAPH? The first sentence of a paragraph is usually indented to show the reader that a new paragraph is starting.

A Paragraph is like a sandwich. The top slice of bread = the topic sentence. The filling = the detail sentences. The bottom slice of bread = the closing sentence.

Read this paragraph about the kangaroo and identify: -- the topic sentence (colour blue) -- the detail sentences (colour red) -- the closing sentence (colour green)

The kangaroo is well-known throughout the world as a symbol of Australia. Kangaroos are marsupials and mammals. When a joey is born it is the size of a jellybean. It stays in its mother’s pouch until it is big enough to stand on its own. Kangaroos are herbivores.

They rest during the heat of the day and graze on a variety of grasses in the early morning and evening. Kangaroos use their powerful hind legs to jump and to travel over areas at high speed. They use their short front legs and long tail to balance when they are grazing or moving slowly. The kangaroo lives only in Australia and is featured on the Australian coat of arms.

LLBefore you complete Task B, read the notes below about sentences and paragraphs.

Always start a sentence with a capital letter. Use conjunctions to lengthen sentences. Conjunctions are words that join other words, phrases or clauses, e.g. ‘and’ or ‘but’. Use connectives to connect sentences and paragraphs in a logical sequence, e.g. ‘first’, ‘second’, ‘because’, ‘furthermore’, although’, ‘in fact’.

B

Expand the notes below to create a short paragraph. Start with a topic sentence, then add detail sentences and end with a closing sentence. Your paragraph should have at least five sentences. Edit and proofread your paragraph for errors when you have finished.

Platypus Australian animal. Very special mammal lays eggs. Lives burrow along banks rivers. Spends lot of time in water. Thick coat, soft fur, soft rubbery bill, strong webbed feet for swimming and tail for steering. Platypus called monotreme because mammal and lays eggs. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

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________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 20

• Paragraphing & Sentences •

l Activity 3

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' A book preview.

LLA sentence is a group of words that form a complete statement, question or exclamation. A paragraph consists of a group of sentences that are connected to a main topic. The main topic is what the paragraph is about.

Expand the notes below to create a short paragraph. Start with a topic sentence, then add detail sentences and end with a closing sentence. Your paragraph should have at least five sentences. Edit and proofread your paragraph for errors when you have finished.

Casey Stoner champion motorbike racer. Born 26 October 1985 Kurri Kurri NSW. Competed first race four years old under nine race. Age 6 won first title. Age 14 won 70 state titles. Couldn’t road race under age 16 Australia. Moved England with parents could race there age 14. Competed many races successfully. Stoner World Champion. Retired end 2012 season. January 2013 return Australia compete in V8 Supercar series. _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ LLA Paragraph is like a sandwich. The top slice of bread = the topic sentence. The filling = the detail sentences. The bottom slice of bread = the closing sentence.

B

Expand the notes below to create a short paragraph. Start with a topic sentence, then add detail sentences and end with a closing sentence. Your paragraph should have at least five sentences. Edit and proofread your paragraph for errors when you have finished.

Great Barrier Reef located off coast of Queensland. World’s largest coral reef. Stretches over 2,000 kilometres. More than 400 species beautiful coloured coral lives grows on the Reef. More than 1,500 species fish, 134 species sharks and rays, 7 species marine turtles more than 30 species dugongs dolphins whales plus other species. World Heritage area.

Great Barrier Reef only living thing visible Earth from space. _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

Go to www.readyed.net

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ 21

• Paragraphing & Sentences •

l Activity 4

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' A book preview.

LLA sentence is a group of words that form a complete statement, question or exclamation. A paragraph consists of a group of sentences that are connected to a main topic. The main topic is what the paragraph is about.

Expand the notes below to create a one paragraph narrative. Your paragraph should have at least five sentences. Edit and proofread your paragraph for errors when you have finished.

Old abandoned house in shadow full moon end of quiet street. Everyone knows stories haunted by ghosts. Opened rusty gate squeaked loudly. Garden overgrown tall weeds prickly bushes. Tree branches scraping on windows or someone calling? Hear loud noise.

Someone running. Afraid, can’t move. Frozen. Sound getting closer. Look up roof. Big brown eyes possum looking at me. Haunted house home to possums not ghosts. _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ LLA Paragraph is like a sandwich. The top slice of bread = the topic sentence. The filling = the detail sentences. The bottom slice of bread = the closing sentence.

B

Expand the notes below to create a one paragraph narrative. Your paragraph should have at least five sentences. Edit and proofread your paragraph for errors when you have finished.

11 year old boy story to tell. Midday out on bodyboard with mate. 50 metres from shore in surf. Tug at foot ripped flipper. Shark fin. Yelled ‘Shark!’ alerted mate and others in water. Caught wave to shore. Warned others. Flipper - marks and huge rip. Man on beach reported Water Police. Shark maybe 2 metres long. Rescue helicopter checked area. Shark not seen again. Boy uninjured. Cautious about bodyboarding. _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

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_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ 22

• Paragraphing & Sentences •

l Activity 5

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' A book preview.

LLA sentence is a group of words that form a complete statement, question or exclamation. A paragraph consists of a group of sentences that are connected to a main topic. The main topic is what the paragraph is about.

Expand the notes below to create a short paragraph. Start with a topic sentence, then add detail sentences and end with a closing sentence. Your paragraph should have at least five sentences. Edit and proofread your paragraph for errors when you have finished.

Catherine (Cathy) Freeman born 16th February 1973 Mackay, Queensland. One of Australia’s most famous Olympians. Child loved to run. Won first gold medal school carnival 8 years old. Trained, dreamed about being world’s greatest female athlete and Olympic champion. Won first gold medal relay team Auckland, NZ in 1990. First female Australian Aboriginal to win gold at international athletics event. Won more medals.

Year 2000 lit Olympic flame opening ceremony Sydney Olympic Games. Won gold in 400 metres. Dream came true. _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

LLA Paragraph is like a sandwich. The top slice of bread = the topic sentence. The filling = the detail sentences. The bottom slice of bread = the closing sentence.

B

Expand the notes below to create a short paragraph. Start with a topic sentence, then add detail sentences and end with a closing sentence. Your paragraph should have at least five sentences. Edit and proofread your paragraph for errors when you have finished.

Great Pyramid of Giza Egypt built four thousand years ago. Took 20 years. 137 metres tall.

Pyramid built for Pharaoh Khufu (aka Cheops in Greek). Pharaoh was like king. Pharaoh buried with rich treasures. Sides of pyramid face directly north, south, east west. Sphinx statue, head of Pharaoh, body of lion guards the pyramids. Great Pyramid one of most famous and oldest human-made structures in world. _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

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_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ 23

• Paragraphing & Sentences •

l Activity 6

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' A book preview.

LLA sentence is a group of words that form a complete statement, question or exclamation. A paragraph consists of a group of sentences that are connected to a main topic. The main topic is what the paragraph is about.

Expand the notes below to create a short paragraph. Start with a topic sentence, then add detail sentences and end with a closing sentence. Your paragraph should have at least five sentences. Edit and proofread your paragraph for errors when you have finished.

Mount Everest world’s highest mountain. 8,848 metres. Located border Nepal and Tibet.

Mount Everest English name. Tibetan name Chomolungma. First climb to summit 1953 Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Many climbers each year. Very dangerous. Snow on summit all year. Lack oxygen, high winds, very cold temperatures. Over 3,000 climbers reached summit. Many climbers fail reach summit. More than 200 died. _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ LLA Paragraph is like a sandwich. The top slice of bread = the topic sentence. The filling = the detail sentences. The bottom slice of bread = the closing sentence.

B

Expand the notes below to create a short paragraph. Start with a topic sentence, then add detail sentences and end with a closing sentence. Your paragraph should have at least five sentences. Edit and proofread your paragraph for errors when you have finished.

Movie Avatar released December 2009. $300 million to make. Highest money earner ever. Made $2.8 billion. Amazing animation, story includes action, adventure, fantasy.

Australian actor Sam Worthington main actor. Story about Jake Sully linked to an avatar.

Sent to distant Pandora to convince the Na’vi to let humans mine rare mineral on their planet. Key to Earth’s energy crisis. Sully learns from tribe. Movie ends with epic battle.

Watched by millions people. Won many awards. _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

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_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ 24

• Paragraphing & Sentences •

l Activity 7

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' A book preview.

LLA sentence is a group of words that form a complete statement, question or exclamation. A paragraph consists of a group of sentences that are connected to a main topic. The main topic is what the paragraph is about.

Expand the notes below to create a short paragraph. Start with a topic sentence, then add detail sentences and end with a closing sentence. Your paragraph should have at least five sentences. Edit and proofread your paragraph for errors when you have finished.

The Great Wall of China amazing human-made structures. Started over 2,000 years ago.

Emperor China wanted keep out invaders from north. First small walls built. These joined together to form one Great Wall. Many thousands men worked build Wall. Used stones, earth, grass, wood. Dangerous work. Many died. Wall built over hundreds years. Crosses snow covered mountains, valleys, grasslands. Stretches over 6,000 kilometres. Later watch towers, cannons added to Wall. Much of Wall now ruins but some parts repaired. Many thousands people visit each year. _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ LLA Paragraph is like a sandwich. The top slice of bread = the topic sentence. The filling = the detail sentences. The bottom slice of bread = the closing sentence.

B

Expand the notes below to create a short paragraph. Start with a topic sentence, then add detail sentences and end with a closing sentence. Your paragraph should have at least five sentences. Edit and proofread your paragraph for errors when you have finished.

Surfing great sport but surfing very big waves not for beginners. Takes courage, experience to surf big, powerful waves. Can be dangerous experienced surfers. If surfers lose board can be pushed metres under water force of huge wave. Strong currents also push surfers depths of ocean onto reef, rocks causing fatal injuries. When surfers lose board have seconds swim to surface before big wave crashes down. Surfing big waves exciting but dangerous. _________________________________________________________________________

Go to www.readyed.net

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

25

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

• Writing In Different Genres •

This section covers the following Australian Curriculum Links: Year 5 Language ACELA1504 ACELA1797 ACELA1506 Literacy ACELY1701 ACELY1702 Literature ACELT1609

Go to www.readyed.net 26

• Writing In Different Genres •

l Activity 1

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

Read the recount below, then answer the questions and complete the tasks.

LLA recount describes something that has happened.

I first met my friend, Jane, in Kindergarten at Greentree School. She arrived with her mum and carried a bright purple backpack. I noticed the backpack because purple is my favourite colour. I noticed Jane because she was smiley and friendly and when it was time to sit down she sat next to me. I felt like we were twins because we both had red hair and green eyes and liked purple.

Later she shared her lunch with me. As we grew up and went on to high school we stayed best friends. Our families moved to different states and we both made new friends but we remained best friends. We now live in different countries and our friendship is still as strong as ever. I think we’ll be friends forever.

A

What does the topic sentence tell you about the subject of the paragraph?

_________________________________________________________________________

B

List in point form the information in the detail sentences.

• _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________

C

Go to www.readyed.net What does the closing sentence tell you about the subject?

_________________________________________________________________________

27

• Writing In Different Genres •

l Activity 2

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

Read the recount below, then answer the questions and complete the tasks.

LLA recount describes something that has happened.

I recently visited Uluru in central Australia. It is one of Australia’s most recognised landmarks. When I saw it in the distance, it stood out dramatically from the surrounding flat desert country at 348 metres high. From a distance Uluru looked smooth but up close it was very different. We saw holes, ridges, valleys and caves when we did the 9 kilometre walk around the base. We saw signs saying that some areas of Uluru are sacred to the Anangu people and are important ceremonial sites. There is no vegetation growing on Uluru but at the base it is different. There are clear waterholes and plants growing and small caves. These support a variety of wildlife. Uluru changed at different times of the day showing a beautiful range of colours especially at sunrise and sunset. Uluru and the surrounding National Park were declared a World Heritage site in 1987 so will always be protected as special places.

1. This recount is written in the first person. How does this influence the reader?

_ ________________________________________________________________________

2. Who are the other people referred to in the text?

_ ________________________________________________________________________

3. What is the setting for this recount?

_ ________________________________________________________________________

4. When did the narrator visit Uluru?

_ ________________________________________________________________________

5. The visit to Uluru is told in past tense. Find five examples of verbs in the past tense.

_ ________________________________________________________________________

6. Which descriptive word tells the reader how the Anangu people regard Uluru?

_ ________________________________________________________________________

7. Give three examples of statistics.

_ ________________________________________________________________________

8. Why will Uluru always be protected as a special place?

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_ ________________________________________________________________________

9. How would you describe the narrator’s feelings about Uluru?

28

_ ________________________________________________________________________

_ ________________________________________________________________________

• Writing In Different Genres •

l Activity 3

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

• Step One • Write your own narrative paragraph by following the steps below.

LLYour paragraph should have at least five sentences but can be longer.

Brainstorm some ideas about the subject of your narrative.

• Step Two •

Start with the topic sentence.

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

• Step Three •

Add the detail sentences.

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

• Step Four •

End with the closing sentence.

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

Go to www.readyed.net

• Step Five • • Step Six •

Edit and proofread your writing for errors.

Rewrite your paragraph so that your writing is ready to be shared.

29

• Writing In Different Genres•

l Activity 4

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

Read the description below, then answer the questions and complete the tasks.

LLA descriptive paragraph gives a detailed description of a subject.

The Diamond Python is a non-venomous snake covered in beautiful diamond-shaped black and yellow patterns.

It has a large head and long neck and its colouring and patterns give it perfect camouflage when it travels down from a tree to the forest floor. Its habitat is the coastal area of New South Wales especially where there is rainforest. Adult Diamond Pythons can grow to 2 metres and weigh up to 5 kilograms. They have a life span of up to 20 years. They mostly feed after dark and are able to detect their warmblooded prey through heat sensitive pits on their lips. In summer female Diamond Pythons lay 15 to 20 eggs. They coil around the eggs to maintain temperature until they hatch. The species is not threatened but is under pressure from loss of habitat.

A

What does the topic sentence tell you about the subject of the paragraph?

_________________________________________________________________________

B

List in point form the information in the detail sentences.

• _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________

C

What does the closing sentence tell you about the subject?

Go to www.readyed.net

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

30

• Writing In Different Genres •

l Activity 5

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

Read the description below, then answer the questions and complete the tasks.

LLA descriptive paragraph gives a detailed description of a subject.

Stephen (Steve) Irwin, whose nickname was ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ was born on 22nd February 1962 in Victoria. He was a ‘larger than life’ character and was well known as a wildlife expert, popular TV personality and dedicated environmentalist. He gained his famous name through his fearless contact with crocodiles in the TV series The Crocodile Hunter. He began handling crocodiles as a child at the Reptile and Fauna Park (now Australia Zoo) run by his parents in Queensland. ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ helped to capture many crocodiles that were then safely relocated. He spoke often about Australian wildlife being at risk because of loss of habitat and is often referred to as a ‘Wildlife Warrior’. He died unexpectedly from a stingray wound while filming off north Queensland on 4th September 2006.

1. Is the text fiction or non-fiction? Give a reason for your answer.

_ ________________________________________________________________________

2. Does the writer use first or third person?_ _______________________________________ 3. Steve Irwin was also known as ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ and ‘Wildlife Warrior’. Why are these names written in quotation marks?

_ ________________________________________________________________________

4. Find five examples of descriptive language.

_ ________________________________________________________________________

5. Find an example of figurative language._________________________________________ 6. What adjective is used to describe Steve Irwin’s approach to crocodiles?

_ ________________________________________________________________________

7. What did Steve Irwin do with the crocodiles that he hunted?

_ ________________________________________________________________________

8. Which phrases refer to Steve Irwin’s concern about Australia’s wildlife in the future?

_ ________________________________________________________________________

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9. What are the significance of the two dates that are mentioned?

_ ________________________________________________________________________

10. How would you describe Steve Irwin?

_ ________________________________________________________________________ 31

• Writing In Different Genres •

l Activity 6

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

• Step One • Write your own descriptive paragraph by following the steps below.

LLYour paragraph should have at least five sentences but can be longer.

Brainstorm some ideas about the subject.

• Step Two •

Start with the topic sentence.

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

• Step Three •

Add the detail sentences.

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

• Step Four •

End with the closing sentence.

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

Go to www.readyed.net

• Step Five • • Step Six • 32

Edit and proofread your writing for errors.

Rewrite your paragraph so that your writing is ready to be shared.

• Writing In Different Genres •

l Activity 7

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

Read the persuasive text below, then answer the questions and complete the tasks.

LLA persuasive paragraph convinces the reader to adopt a particular point of view.

Homework is necessary for students who want to succeed at school.

Homework allows students to work at their own pace at home so that they can catch up on work they didn’t get finished in class. It is also very important in helping students to understand and remember new information and skills. Homework not only helps students to understand and remember new information but it also helps them to connect that with information they already knew. Homework also encourages students to research information for themselves so that they can complete assignments confidently. Homework definitely helps students to be more confident learners.

A

What does the topic sentence tell you about the subject of the paragraph?

_________________________________________________________________________

B

List in point form the information in the detail sentences.

• _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________

C

Go to www.readyed.net What does the closing sentence tell you about the subject?

_________________________________________________________________________

33

• Writing In Different Genres •

l Activity 8

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

Read the persuasive text below, then answer the questions and complete the tasks.

LLA persuasive paragraph convinces the reader to adopt a particular point of view.

Researchers know that a healthy, balanced diet provides health benefits in the short and long term especially for children and young adults. It is known that a balanced diet that provides the body with the right amounts of protein, carbohydrates and fats produces the energy needed to be active and enjoy a busy lifestyle. Protein is important for muscles, hair, skin, internal organs and red blood cells. Carbohydrates are a main source of energy and fats also provide energy as well as building and repairing tissue. In addition, eating healthy snacks, drinking water and reducing sugar intake will definitely help to increase the body’s energy levels. That means energy for school, sports, work or just socialising and having fun. Healthy eating can help to prevent disease, maintain a healthy weight, and even affect your moods. It is clear that a healthy diet is the best choice now and in the future.

1. What is the topic of this persuasive text?_ _______________________________________ 2. Which age group does this text refer to?_________________________________________ 3. What is the writer’s point of view about the topic?

_ ________________________________________________________________________

4. What are the two main adjectives used to describe a good diet?

_ ________________________________________________________________________

5. The adjective ‘healthy’ is used a number of times with different nouns. Find three examples.

_ ________________________________________________________________________

6. The writer uses the word ‘researchers’ to introduce the topic. How does this influence the reader?

_ ________________________________________________________________________

_ ________________________________________________________________________

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7. List the benefits of a healthy diet.

_ ________________________________________________________________________

_ ________________________________________________________________________

34

• Writing In Different Genres •

l Activity 9

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' • Step One • book preview.

Write your own persuasive paragraph by following the steps below.

LLYour paragraph should have at least five sentences but can be longer.

Brainstorm some ideas about the subject.

• Step Two •

Start with the topic sentence.

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

• Step Three •

Add the detail sentences.

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

• Step Four •

End with the closing sentence.

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

Go to www.readyed.net

• Step Five • • Step Six •

Edit and proofread your writing for errors.

Rewrite your paragraph so that your writing is ready to be shared.

35

• Writing In Different Genres •

l Activity 10

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

Read the expository text below, then answer the questions and complete the tasks.

LLAn expository paragraph provides information about a specific topic.

On March 11th, 2011 a massive undersea earthquake hit Japan. It measured 9.0 on the Richter scale of earthquake measurement. The huge tsunami that followed the earthquake created a disaster that left 20,000 people dead or missing and many injured. It wiped out families, destroyed communities and towns and caused major damage to a nuclear power plant. Thousands of people were left homeless, without any possessions and without jobs. The effects of this disaster are still being felt today as many people are still not able to go back to where they lived before the disaster happened.

A

What does the topic sentence tell you about the subject of the paragraph?

_________________________________________________________________________

B

List in point form the information in the detail sentences.

• _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________

C

What does the closing sentence tell you about the subject?

Go to www.readyed.net

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ 36

• Writing In Different Genres •

l Activity 11

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

Read the expository text below, then answer the questions and complete the tasks.

LLAn expository paragraph provides information about a specific topic.

The latest scientific reports say that the extreme weather events that have been experienced in Australia in recent years are expected to occur more often in the future. In the 2013 summer, more than 100 weather records were broken in Australia including the hottest month and the hottest day on record. While Sydney was experiencing its hottest day on record on 18th January 2013 at 45.8 degrees, in other parts of the country more than 100 fires were burning in several states. Two weeks later floodwater in Bundaberg, Queensland forced 7,000 people out of their homes in the city’s worst flood on record. Then on 22nd March a tornado battered northeast Victoria destroying many homes. It is thought that there will be a high risk that extreme events such as heatwaves, heavy rainfall, bushfires and cyclones will definitely become more intense in Australia in the future.

1. What is the topic of this text?__________________________________________________ 2. Does the writer present one point of view or more than one?

_ ________________________________________________________________________

3. What point of view does the writer present in this report?

_ ________________________________________________________________________

4. The topic is introduced with the words ‘scientific reports’. How does this influence the reader’s view of the information that follows?

_ ________________________________________________________________________

_ ________________________________________________________________________

5. Facts and statistics are used to highlight important points about the topic. List five examples.

_ ________________________________________________________________________

6. Give five examples of descriptive language.

_ ________________________________________________________________________

7. List the weather events that are mentioned in the text.

_ ________________________________________________________________________

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8. In the final sentence which word adds weight to the theory about future weather events.

_ ________________________________________________________________________

37

• Writing In Different Genres •

l Activity 12

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' • Step One • book preview.

Write your own expository paragraph by following the steps below.

LLYour paragraph should have at least five sentences but can be longer.

Brainstorm some ideas about the subject.

• Step Two •

Start with the topic sentence.

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

• Step Three •

Add the detail sentences.

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

• Step Four •

End with the closing sentence.

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

Go to www.readyed.net

• Step Five • • Step Six • 38

Edit and proofread your writing for errors.

Rewrite your paragraph so that your writing is ready to be shared.

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

• Comprehension Skills •

This section covers the following Australian Curriculum Links: Year 5 Language ACELA1504 ACELA1797 ACELA1506 Literacy ACELY1701 ACELY1702 Literature ACELT1609

Go to www.readyed.net 39

Read the recount My First Flight, then answer the comprehension questions on page 41.

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' • My First Flight • book preview.

My first flight was an exciting event that I will never forget. My grandmother sent me the ticket for my 11th birthday. I didn’t know at the time but my mum and grandmother had planned the surprise so that mum and I could fly from Sydney to New Zealand to celebrate my birthday and my grandmother’s birthday a few days later.

On the morning of the flight I was excited and a bit nervous. I hadn’t slept much the night before as I kept waking up and checking the time. My brother drove us to the airport. We had to be there by 9am for the 11am flight. At the airport we checked that our flight was going to be on time.

Then we checked in our bags, got our tickets and our boarding passes.

The flight information board was just near where we were sitting. When it said that passengers on the NZ flight 247 could go on board, mum and I grabbed our small bags and headed through the doors and down the long walkway to the plane. We boarded and found our seats. Mine was next to the window. It didn’t take long before the plane was full and the captain announced that we should all fasten our seat belts. A flight attendant walked down the aisle to

check everyone. The engines rumbled, and the plane began to taxi down the runway, my stomach fluttered like a thousand butterflies were taking off and suddenly we were in the air. The roads and cars and buildings became smaller and smaller as the plane gained altitude. Soon we were told that we could unfasten our seat belts.

The flight took just over three and a half hours, which just flew by. I watched a movie then I read for a while. It wasn’t long before the flight attendants brought us some lunch and drinks. Sometimes I just looked out the window amazed that we were up in the sky with the clouds. It felt like we were driving in a car…but on a very high road.

It didn’t seem very long at all before I heard the announcement to fasten our seat belts - I knew then that we must be approaching Auckland airport. I didn’t know what to expect when the plane landed but it touched down with no bumps at all and taxied along the runway until the pilot gradually slowed the plane and it came to a halt.

Everyone got off and went to collect their bags. We went through Customs and met my grandmother. My first flight was an amazing experience.

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40

• Comprehension Skills•

l Activity 1

Answer the questions below based on the narrative on page 40.

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

1. Name five people in the text apart from the unnamed narrator.

_________________________________________________________________________

2. How did the narrator feel on the morning of the flight?

_________________________________________________________________________

3. The narrator couldn't sleep the night before the flight. What does this suggest about the narrator's feelings?

_________________________________________________________________________

4. The narrator uses a simile to describe how he/she feels. Write this simile down.

_________________________________________________________________________

5. What two things does the simile compare?

_________________________________________________________________________

6. What does the simile tell you about how the narrator is feeling?

_________________________________________________________________________

7. What is the setting in the fifth paragraph?

_________________________________________________________________________

8. How long did the flight take?

_________________________________________________________________________

9. Why do you think the flight seems to go quickly for the narrator?

_________________________________________________________________________

10. Where does the narrator fly to?

_________________________________________________________________________

11. Describe the plane's landing in your own words.

_________________________________________________________________________

12. Is the passage written in the first or third person? How do you know?

_________________________________________________________________________

13. Give an example of descriptive language.

_________________________________________________________________________

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14. Is the text fiction or non-fiction?

_________________________________________________________________________

15. Where is the narrator flying from?

_________________________________________________________________________ 41

Read the descriptive text entitled The Blue Whale, then answer the questions on page 43.

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' • The Blue Whale • book preview.

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is an ocean mammal that belongs to a group of whales known as the baleen whales. Its name stems from its bluish grey colour. There were once large numbers of blue whales found in oceans around the world.

The blue whale is the largest animal ever to have lived on the Earth. Its size is remarkable. An adult can grow to around 25 metres long and weigh over 100 tonnes. The females are bigger than the males. A large blue whale’s heart can weigh around 400 kilograms. This heart circulates 6,000 kilograms of blood around the whale’s body. The heart is almost the size of a small car.

The enormous blue whale’s diet consists of tiny organisms like krill and plankton. As the whales swim, they open their mouths and take in large amounts of water and small creatures such as krill and small fish. They have 50 to 70 pleats or folds in their throats that allow their throats to expand. Then they force the water out through the baleen plates hanging from their upper jaws, leaving behind the food that was caught. A blue whale can eat more than 1,000 kilograms of plankton

each day during the summer feeding season.

Whales have few predators due to their size and speed in the water.

Their main predator is the orca or killer whale, which hunts in packs and may attempt to kill a blue whale calf. In the past their main threat has been humans. When whale hunting was banned by the International Whaling Commission in the 1960s the blue whale was close to extinction.

More than 200,000 whales had been killed in Antarctic waters. Now their numbers are slowly increasing and it is believed that there are perhaps 2,000 remaining in this area and perhaps 15,000 worldwide.

Although there are still risks for blue whales such as: the risk of being entangled in marine rubbish, colliding with a ship, coming into contact with pollution and ocean noise that is loud enough to interrupt the whales' communication, the future is looking brighter for this amazing species. In September 2012 a giant blue whale was seen near Sydney. Whale experts say that this might indicate that the blue whale population is starting to recover and grow again.

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42

• Comprehension Skills•

l Activity 2

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

Answer the questions below based on the description on page 42.

1. Is the text written in the first or third person? How do you know?

_________________________________________________________________________

2. Is the text fiction or non-fiction?

_________________________________________________________________________

3. Statistics are used in the text. Give three examples.

_________________________________________________________________________

4. What does the second paragraph mainly talk about in regards to the whale?

_________________________________________________________________________

5. If you had to add a subheading to paragraph three, what would it be?

_________________________________________________________________________

6. If you had to add a sub-heading to paragraph four, what would it be?

_________________________________________________________________________

7. Give an example of when a list is used.

_________________________________________________________________________

8. The blue whale is presented in a positive way through the word 'remarkable'. What is another word used which celebrates this whale?

_________________________________________________________________________

9. What is the scientific name for the blue whale?

_________________________________________________________________________

10. What does the blue whale eat?

_________________________________________________________________________

11. What is the whale's main predator?

_________________________________________________________________________

12. Who does the text blame for the decreasing numbers of blue whales?

_________________________________________________________________________

13. Give an example of descriptive language.

_________________________________________________________________________

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14. What do whale experts predict about the blue whale population?

_________________________________________________________________________

43

Read the persuasive text below entitled Learning A Second Language, then complete the questions on page 45.

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' • Learning A Second Language • book preview.

Learning a second language at any age is exciting but it is especially useful to learn a second language as a child. Once a child begins to talk they quickly learn to expand their number of known words and take great enjoyment in being able to communicate. Researchers agree that by the time they are at school they are ready to take up the challenge and enjoyment of learning a second language. They will gain many benefits from this activity.

When primary students learn another language they also learn about another country and its culture. They not only learn the language, they also learn about a country's customs, food and even the games that the children play in other countries and the songs that they sing. This clearly helps them to understand a world outside their own culture. It encourages them to understand that people might speak different languages but still enjoy the same things.

Educational research shows that students who learn a second language for several years achieve higher results in English and Maths.

Researchers have various theories about the reasons for this. They

suggest that perhaps the study and memory skills gained from learning a second language help to improve students’ skills in their own language and also help in understanding Maths.

It is clear from the evidence that students who learn a second language in primary school gain self-confidence from this activity. The fact is that in primary school students are not selfconscious about speaking a second language. They learn it quite naturally and confidently. In addition, the feeling of achievement that comes from learning and speaking a second language, even in the early stages, can encourage children to have confidence in other areas of learning and also increase their self-esteem.

Finally, learning a second language in primary school might be the basis for continuing to learn a language in high school and even after that. It might encourage an interest in travelling to other countries as well as being beneficial later on when choosing a career.

Learning a second language in primary school is the best time to start. It is definitely an exciting and rewarding experience with many benefits.

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44

• Comprehension Skills •

l Activity 3

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

After reading the persuasive text Learning A Second Language on page 44, answer the questions below.

1. What is the topic of the persuasive text?

_________________________________________________________________________

2. Does the text present learning a second language in a positive way? Quote from the text to support your answer.

_________________________________________________________________________

3. What benefit of learning a second language is outlined in the second paragraph?

_________________________________________________________________________

4. What benefit of learning a second language is outlined in the third paragraph?

_________________________________________________________________________

5. What benefit of learning a second language is outlined in the fourth paragraph?

_________________________________________________________________________

6. What benefit of learning a second language is outlined in the final paragraph?

_________________________________________________________________________

7. The writer uses a confident tone as a persuasive device. Using a confident tone creates an impression to the reader that the writer is confident about what they are saying and this instills confidence in the reader. Write down a sentence from the text which uses a confident tone. _________________________________________________________________________ 8. The writer uses the words 'research' and 'researchers' throughout the text. If information is well-researched we are more likely to believe it. Write down three sentences which include these words.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

9. Read the following quotation from the text and say whether a confident or hesitant tone is used. Underline the word which tells you this. "They suggest that perhaps the study and memory skills gained from learning a second language help to improve the students' skills."

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_________________________________________________________________________

10. Give an example of descriptive language.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________ 45

 Read the discursive text below entitled Teenagers And Social Media, then complete the questions on page 47.

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' • Teenagers And Social Media • book preview.

Most teenagers use social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, gaming sites and blogs. These sites provide them with a form of communication and entertainment.

A recent study found that almost a quarter of teenagers who used social media sites were online for four or more hours a day.

Social media sites have important social benefits. They allow teenagers to connect with friends and family, make new friends with similar interests, share photographs and ideas. This can have a positive influence on their self-confidence and increase their knowledge about many issues.

Students can also get help with their homework from friends on social media sites. Online conversations can help students understand a new topic covered at school. Social media sites allow students to study and work together more easily on group projects and to share information.

By accessing social media, teenagers are able to learn more about issues that are health related. This can be very beneficial especially in situations where teenagers want to find out about sensitive issues such as eating disorders, stress and anxiety. They are also able to connect with other teenagers who can offer support.

Social media sites can also have negative effects. Sometimes, teenagers become so comfortable with online communication that they struggle with face to face communication. They prefer technology to people. This can have a negative effect on their attempts to form close personal relationships with others. Unfortunately social media sites can also instigate cyber bullying.

Students often spend more time socialising on social media sites than they do on completing homework assignments. When they are studying or researching information they can easily become distracted by social media sites.

This means that they frequently switch from their homework to checking social networking sites.

Teenagers who spend hours at night on social media sites are often very tired during the day at school. This can have a very negative effect on their physical and mental health and this can then affect their school grades.

Social media has great benefits but can also have negative effects. With a recent study showing that 85% of teenagers use social media and 75% use sites such as Facebook and Twitter every day then it is important that teenagers are aware of the positive and negative effects of spending so much time using social media.

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46

• Comprehension Skills •

l Activity 4

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

After reading the discursive text Teenagers And Social Media on page 46, answer the questions below.

1. Do discursive texts present one point of view on an issue, or present both positive and negative view points on an issue?

_________________________________________________________________________

2. What is the issue of the discussion on page 46?

_________________________________________________________________________

3. Statistics are used in the final paragraph to make the information look credible. What are these statistics?

_________________________________________________________________________

4. The first paragraph contains a further two statistics. What are they?

_________________________________________________________________________

5. What benefit of social media is outlined in the second paragraph?

_________________________________________________________________________

6. What benefit of social media is outlined in the third paragraph?

_________________________________________________________________________

7. What benefit of social media is outlined in the fourth paragraph?

_________________________________________________________________________

8. What disadvantage of the social media is outlined in the fifth paragraph?

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9. What disadvantage is outlined in the sixth paragraph?

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10. What disadvantage is outlined in the seventh paragraph?

_________________________________________________________________________

11. Write down a sentence from the text which uses a confident tone. Underline the word(s) which make it sound confident.

_________________________________________________________________________

12. Write down a sentence from the text which uses a hesitant tone. Underline the word(s) which make it sound hesitant.

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_________________________________________________________________________

13. Give an example of descriptive language.

_________________________________________________________________________ 47

l Answers P8 A] 1) Last weekend I went to Sydney to see Jack.

2) On Monday we went to see the movie Red Dog. 3) On the 1st March it’s Julie’s birthday.

4) Everyone had to read the book Animal Heroes for English.

5) “Are you going to Perth today?” Sam asked Will.

6) Anzac Day is always on the 25th of April.

7) The movie Avatar was very popular in Australia.

8) James and Sam moved to Darwin at the end of October.

9) The character, Crocodile Dundee was popular in America.

10) Australia’s highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko, is in New South Wales.

5) “I like skateboarding,” Sam said. “Do you?” he asked Emma.

B] 1) Jordan said that Jack and his family went to Sydney to live.

2) Mary asked Emily if she was going to the party on the weekend.

3) The fireman yelled loudly to the crowd to move back.

4) He begged his friend not to leave the team.

5) The principal announced the sports winners at assembly.

C] 1) Jack called out to Tom that the bus was coming.

2) Lily asked Anne where she was going now.

3) Dad replied that it looked like a storm was on the way.

4) Mick asked Kate if she had done the Maths assignment.

5) He shouted for his mate to help as a car had crashed.

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P9 A] 1) He went to see the best movie yesterday.

2) We saw fish, dolphins, coral and a small shark.

3) “Are you going to Darwin?” he asked.

4) “Everyone get out! Fire!” he yelled.

5) The next day they all went for a swim.

B] 1) Ben and Sam are both in the football team.

2) She is going on holidays next week.

3) Maria said that she is going to a new school.

4) It is very cold today.

5) I think they are going to win every game.

C] 1) Last Sunday we went to the beach.

2) Every day I check my timetable.

3) She always goes to visit her friend.

4) He is writing a great story.

5) Checking spelling isn’t always easy.

P10 A] 1) He has a very sore toe.

2) He rode his horse across the paddock.

3) She won her first race.

4) Would you like an ice cream?

5) Some people don’t eat meat.

B] 1) I like soup and I like salads.

2) I wasn’t at the football game because I was sick.

3) It was raining lightly but we still went swimming.

4) We can’t go surfing but we can watch a movie.

5) I arrived at 10 o’clock and I’m still here.

6) I didn’t go to school today because I went to the doctor.

7) I watch football and car racing but I don’t watch tennis.

8) Would you like salad or soup?

P12 A] 1) Bob could clearly see the gold ring at the bottom of the clear pool of water.

2) He raced outside, grabbed his phone from his bag then rang his mate.

3) He saw the cat that was lost curled up on the mat.

4) He always had his hair cut on a Monday.

5) On Sunday morning the stolen handbag was found lying near a tree.

B] 1) The monster had big eyes, a gigantic head, huge ears and very large teeth.

2) I got up and dressed. Then I grabbed my school bag and ran out the door because I forgot it was Saturday.

3) It was a lovely day and we went to a great beach where the waves were perfect so we went for an amazing surf.

4) It was a bad day because the weather was awful, the food was horrible and the train trip was terrible.

P13 A] Adam hurried along the quiet street, hoping that Zak Hallam was already in school. Zak was a bully and had made life tough for Adam since day one, always taunting him about being the new kid and telling him that he wasn’t accepted. Zak’s 'mates' sided with him, afraid that he would turn on them and make their lives miserable. Zak often hassled Adam on the way to school but he knew that if he left home later he would avoid the verbal abuse.

B] The sport of mountain bike riding involves riding bikes off-road over very rough terrain. In crosscountry or XC competitions, the rider has to ride a course that usually includes climbs and descents in a variety of terrains including rough tracks, sand

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P11 A] 1) “It’s lunch time,” Mike said.

2) “Are you going to swimming training today?”

Maria asked.

3) “Everyone out! Out now!” the fireman shouted.

4) “It’s creepy in this old house,” Rose whispered.

48

and water crossings. It is important when mountain bike riding to be aware of not causing damage to the environment. Riders should stay on the trail in areas where they are allowed to ride. They shouldn’t ride in areas where they do not have permission.

They should always take their rubbish with them and they should never scare birds or animals that they come across.

C] Head down to avoid making eye contact with anyone, Adam noticed something just ahead on the path. As he got closer, he saw it was a black wallet and when he picked it up its contents bulged almost forcing it open. A quick glance showed it contained a thick wad of notes, some of them fifties. Checking around to see if anyone nearby had dropped the wallet, he saw that the street was deserted except for a black labrador wandering along outside a nearby house.

stopped the ute, climbed the tree as quickly as a monkey and started to saw the branch. There was a crack as loud as thunder. Jack fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes. For a moment he was as still as a log and as white as a sheet. Then he saw the blood and felt a pain flash through his leg. “Bluey, race home, find the First Aid kit and bring me the bandages.” Bluey understood and was soon back with the bandages. She took the bandage in her paws and as gentle as a lamb she wound them round Jack’s injured leg.

B] The Sydney Harbour Bridge took eight years to build and over 2,000 men worked in various teams: engineers, surveyors, architects, blacksmiths, boilermakers, carpenters, concreters, stonemasons, riggers, crane drivers, painters and casual labourers.

Sixteen men died during the Bridge’s construction but not all died on the actual Bridge site. The official opening of the Bridge on Saturday 19th March 1932 was a very important event with several hundred thousand people crowded around the harbour foreshores. The NSW Premier, the Honourable John ‘Jack’ Lang officially declared the Bridge open.

However, before he could cut the ribbon, Captain Francis De Groot rode forward and slashed the ribbon with his sword. Some people found this entertaining but others were very upset. The ribbon was retied and the Premier then officially cut it.

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P14 A] Over the years there have been a number of theories presented to explain what has happened in the Bermuda Triangle. These include: violent storms, the large numbers of ships and aircraft using the area, extraterrestrial activity and even that it is the location of the lost city of Atlantis. There are logical reasons for some of the disappearances. The area does experience violent storms and hurricanes.

Also, there is a strong ocean current called the Gulf Stream in the area so any evidence of damaged ships or aircraft would be quickly swept away. In addition, the ocean floor varies from extensive shoals around the islands to very deep marine trenches. The combination of these factors could explain many disasters.

B] When you do your shopping, do you stop to think or check where the products come from that you are buying? Australia imports goods from many countries and we export our goods to many countries. However, more and more Australians are strongly interested in buying goods that they know are either made or grown in Australia.

Consumers state many reasons for buying Australian products. They believe that Australian grown products are fresh and healthy and Australian made products are safe and made to a high standard. By buying Australian they feel that they are helping to keep farmers and factory workers in jobs and creating employment for workers.

Extra! One day I was in the bus when I saw three huge elephants in the park.

P16 A] Nancy Wake was one of the most decorated Australian servicewomen in WWII. She received these awards for her brave work with the French Resistance during the war and for helping to save many hundreds of lives. When the war ended in 1945, Wake learned that her husband had been killed after he was captured in 1943. For her bravery and assistance in helping so many soldiers and refugees escape to safety, she received military honours from France, Britain and the United States.

However, it is the people who she helped to escape and those who fought alongside her who praise so highly the courage of ‘The White Mouse’. Nancy Wake’s medals are on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. She died in London on 7th August 2011.

B] At the top of the rainforest is the emergent layer.

This contains a small number of very tall trees growing to 70 metres that emerge into the sunlight. These trees must be able to tolerate full sun and strong winds. The next layer is the canopy.

It consists of tall trees whose branches and leaves almost join together to form a dense cover over the forest. The understory layer is not as thick as the canopy but as it is lower down it is heavily shaded. Under this is the shrub layer. The shrubs that grow in this layer receive little sunlight.

At ground level on the forest floor the plants

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P15 A] The morning after the fierce storm Jack jumped in his ute with Bluey beside him to check on any damage in the back paddock. When he saw a gum tree branch hanging down across the road, he

49

that need little sunlight like ferns and mosses grow.

The forest floor is also covered with a thick layer of rotting leaves.

Kangaroos are herbivores.

They rest during the day and graze on a variety of grasses in the early morning and evening.

They use their powerful hind legs to jump and travel fast.

They use their short front legs and long tail to balance when moving slowly.

Closing sentence: The kangaroo lives only in Australia and is featured on the coat of arms.

B] Example: The platypus is an Australian animal.

It is a very special animal as it is a mammal and also lays eggs. A platypus lives in a burrow along the banks of a river so it spends a lot of time in the water. It has a soft, rubbery bill. It also has strong webbed feet for swimming and it uses its tail for steering. The platypus has the special name of monotreme because it is a mammal and it also lays eggs.

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

P17 A] The Kraken was described as a giant cephalopod that lived deep in the ocean. With a large head, huge eyes and many tentacles like a giant octopus, it was supposedly large enough to crush small wooden sailing ships and eat the crew. Sailors already feared being shipwrecked during storms or their ships being damaged on rocks but their worst fear was an attack by the legendary monster. Is the ancient legend of the giant sea monster, the Kraken, fiction or fact? It seems now that the origin of the legend of the terrifying sea monster was probably based on actual sightings of the species of giant squid that still inhabit the deep ocean.

B] Is Bigfoot real or not? In North America it is called Bigfoot but in Canada it is called Sasquatch while in other countries it is called the Yeti. In Australia it is called the Yowie. The creature is usually very big and quite tall. It has big eyes and is nocturnal which is why it isn’t seen in the daytime. It is said to weigh around 230 kg and is covered in dark hair. Its big feet leave a large footprint. Is it real or not? Some people have pretended that they actually saw it when they really haven’t so we might never know.

C] 1) One freezing winter night I walked outside in the snow.

2) There were only three of us on the bus: me, Will and Samantha.

3) I’m so hungry I could eat a container full of ice cream.

4) He was so full of energy that he stayed up late till 12 0’clock.

P19 1) The koala is one of Australia’s most well-known animals.

2) Koalas have soft, thick, grey fur with a white chest.

They have a large, dark, hairless nose.

They have furry ears.

They don’t have a tail.

Females have a pouch.

They sleep a lot during the day, high in a gum tree.

3) People all over the world recognise Australia’s koalas.

P20 A] Topic sentence: The kangaroo is well known throughout the world as a symbol of Australia.

Detail sentences: Kangaroos are marsupials and mammals.

A joey is the size of a jellybean at birth.

The joey stays in the pouch until it is big enough to stand on its own.

P21 A] Example: Casey Stoner is a champion motorbike racer. He was born on 26th October 1985 at Kurri Kurri in NSW. He competed in his first race when he was only four years old in the under nine group.

At age 6 he won his first title and by age 14 he had won 70 state titles. He couldn’t road race in Australia until he was 16 so his family moved to England because Casey could road race there at age 14. He has competed successfully in many races and was World Champion. In 2012 he retired from motorbike racing at the end of the season. In January 2013 he announced that he would return to Australia to race in the V8 Supercar series.

B] Example: The Great Barrier Reef is located off the coast of Queensland. It is the world’s largest coral reef and stretches for over 2,000 kilometres. More than 400 species of beautiful coloured coral live and grow on the Reef. There are also more than 1,500 species of fish, 134 species of sharks and rays, 7 species of marine turtles and more than 30 species of dugongs, dolphins and whales. It is home to other species too. The Great Barrier Reef has been declared a World Heritage area which means that it is very special. It is the only living thing visible on Earth from space.

P22 A] Example: The old, abandoned house stood in the shadows at the end of a quiet street. Everyone knew the stories about it being haunted by ghosts. When I opened the rusty gate it squeaked loudly. The garden was overgrown with tall weeds and prickly bushes. I could hear the branches of trees scraping on the windows ... or was it someone calling out? I heard a noise that sounded like someone running. I was so afraid that I couldn’t move. Frozen with fear I listened in the darkness. The sound was getting louder. I looked up to the roof. I saw the big brown

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50

eyes of a possum looking back at me. It looked like the haunted house was home to possums not ghosts after all.

B] Example: An 11 year old boy has an amazing story to tell. He was out on his bodyboard 50 metres from shore in the surf around midday with his mate when he felt a tug on his foot. When he looked down he saw that his flipper was ripped and then he noticed a shark fin. He yelled “Shark!” as loudly as he could to alert his mate and others in the water. Then he quickly caught a wave to the shore and warned others on the beach about the shark.

When he checked his flipper back on the shore, it had teeth marks on it and was ripped. A man on the beach reported the incident to the Water Police and said that the shark might have been about two metres long. A rescue helicopter arrived and checked the area but the shark wasn’t sighted again. The boy was uninjured but will definitely be cautious next time he goes bodyboarding.

Tenzing Norgay from Tibet. Many climbers attempt the climb each year but it is very dangerous as there is snow on the summit all year. Climbers have to battle a lack of oxygen, high winds and very cold temperatures. So far, over 3,000 climbers have reached the summit but many climbers have failed and more than 200 have died in the attempt.

B] Example: The movie Avatar was released in December 2009. It cost $300 million to make but so far has earned $2.8 billion, making it the highest money earner ever for a movie. The movie has amazing animation, and the story includes action, adventure and fantasy. The main actor is Australian, Sam Worthington. The main character in the story is Jake Sully who is linked to an avatar. He is sent to a distant planet, Pandora, to convince the Na’vi people to let humans mine a rare mineral because it is the key to the Earth’s energy crisis. However, Sully actually learns a lot from the tribe and the movie ends with an epic battle. Avatar has been watched by millions of people around the world and has won many awards.

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

P23 A] Example: Catherine (Cathy) Freeman was born on 16th February 1973 at Mackay in Queensland.

She is one of Australia’s most famous Olympians. As a child, Cathy loved to run. She won her first gold medal at a school carnival when she was 8. She trained hard and dreamed about being the world’s greatest female athlete and Olympic champion. She won her first Olympic gold medal when the relay team won in Auckland, New Zealand in 1990. She become the first female Australian Aboriginal to win gold at an international athletics event. After that she went on to win more medals. In the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney she lit the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony. She then went on to win gold in the 400 metres race. Her dream came true.

B] Example: The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt was built around four thousand years ago. It took 20 years to build and stands 137 metres tall. It was built for the Pharaoh Khufu who is also known as Cheops in Greek. A Pharaoh was like a king in Egypt so when he died he was buried with many rich treasures. The four sides of the Pyramid of Giza face directly to the north, south, east and west. The statue of the Sphinx, which has the head of the Pharaoh and the body of a lion, guards the pyramids. The Great Pyramid is one of the most famous and one of the oldest human-made structures in the world.

P24 A] Example: Mount Everest is the world’s highest mountain reaching 8,848 metres. It is located on the border of Nepal and Tibet. Although its English name is Mount Everest, its Tibetan name is Chomolungma. The first to climb to the summit in 1953 were Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and

P25 A] Example: The Great Wall of China is one of the most amazing human-made structures in the world.

It was started over 2,000 years ago by the Emperor of China who wanted to keep out invaders from the north. First, small walls were built then these were joined together to form the Great Wall. Many thousands of men worked to build the Wall from stones, earth, grass and wood. It was dangerous work and many workers died during the hundreds of years that it took to build the Wall. The Great Wall of China crosses snow covered mountains, valleys and grasslands and stretches over 6,000 kilometres.

Watch towers and cannons were added to the Wall at a later date. Although much of the Wall is now in ruins, some parts have been repaired. Thousands of people visit the Wall each year.

B] Surfing is a great sport but surfing the very big waves is not for beginners. It takes courage and experience to surf the really big, powerful waves. It can be dangerous even for experienced surfers. If surfers lose their board they can be pushed many metres under water by the force of the huge wave.

Strong currents can also push the surfers to the depths of the ocean onto a reef or rocks causing fatal injuries. When surfers lose their board they have only seconds to swim to the surface before the next big wave crashes down on them. Surfing the big waves is exciting but also very dangerous.

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P27 A] The writer met her friend, Jane, in Kindergarten at Greentree School.

B] Jane is smiley and friendly; she has red hair; she likes purple; she shares; still best friends; she lives in 51

a different country now.

C] That the two friends will be friends forever.

P28 1)It makes the recount seem more credible because the narrator is writing from personal experience.

2)The Anangu people.

3)Uluru in central Australia.

4)Over the period of a day from sunrise to sunset.

5)visited, saw, stood, changed, declared 6)sacred or important 7)348 metres, 9 kilometres, 1987 8)It has been described as a World Heritage site.

9)The narrator enjoyed his visit to Uluru and celebrates it as a very important landmark.

4)Healthy and balanced.

5)Healthy snacks, healthy weight, healthy diet.

6)It positions the reader to feel as if the article has been well-researched and is credible. They are therefore more likely to believe what they are reading.

7)Enhances energy levels, prevent disease, maintain a healthy weight and mood.

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

P30 A] The Diamond Python is a non-venomous snake covered in black and yellow diamond-shaped patterns.

B] It has a big head and long neck; its patterns give it camouflage on the forest floor; its habitat is coastal New South Wales especially in rainforest; can grow up to 2 metres and weigh up to 5 kilograms; lives to 20 years; mostly feeds after dark; detects prey using pits on its lips; female lays 15 to 20 eggs in summer coiling around them to maintain temperature.

C] The species isn’t threatened but is under pressure due to loss of habitat.

P31 1)Non-fiction because it describes a real person.

2) The third person.

3)Because they do not refer to his actual name.

4)popular, dedicated, fearless, safely, unexpectedly 5)Larger than life 6)Fearless.

7)They were safely relocated.

8)'at risk' and 'loss of habitat' 9)They refer to when he was born and when he died.

10)Own response P33 A] Homework is necessary for students who want to succeed.

B] Allows students to work at own pace to catch up on unfinished work; helps to understand new information and skills; helps students connect new and known information; encourages research skills for assignments.

C] Homework definitely helps students become confident learners.

P36 A] On March 11th, 2011, a massive undersea earthquake hit Japan.

B] It was a 9.0 earthquake; a huge tsunami followed; 20,000 people died or were missing and many injured; wiped out families, communities and towns and damaged a nuclear power plant; may thousands left homeless with nothing.

C] The effects of the disaster are still being felt as many people are still not able to return to where they once lived.

P37 1)Extreme weather in Australia 2)One point of view.

3)That extreme weather events in Australia are going to become more frequent and the weather extremes will intensify in the future.

4)The reader is likely to believe the information that is presented and trust it.

5)2013 summer, 100 weather records, 18th January 2013, 45.8 degrees, 100 fires (there are others).

6)extreme, hottest, worst, battered, heavy (there are others) 7)Bushfires, floods, tornadoes, heatwaves, cyclones 8)definitely P41 1)The narrator's grandmother, the narrator's mum, the narrator's brother, flight attendants, the pilot.

2)Excited and a bit nervous.

3)That he was looking forward to the flight and was too excited to sleep.

4)My stomach fluttered like a thousand butterflies were taking off.

5)The narrator's stomach and the fluttering of butterflies.

6)Nervous and anxious.

7)Inside the plane.

8)Just over three and a half hours.

9)The narrator is enjoying the flight.

10)Auckland airport.

11)Smooth and gradual.

12)The first person because the words 'I' and 'my' are used.

13)Suggested answer: My first flight was an amazing experience.

14)Non-fiction.

15)Sydney.

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P34 1)Health eating.

2)Children and young adults.

3)Healthy eating provides short and long term benefits and should be adopted by all.

52

P43 1)Third person because the narrator is outside of the text.

2)Non-fiction.

3)"An adult can grow to around 25 metres long and weigh over 100 tonnes." "A large blue whale's heart can weigh around 400 kilograms." "This heart circulates 6,000 kilograms of blood around the whale's body." (There are others.)

4)Its physical features.

5)Diet.

6)Predators.

7)"Although there are still risks for the whale such as: the risk of being entangled in marine rubbish, colliding with a ship, coming into contact with pollution and ocean noise that is loud enough to interrupt the whales' communication."

8)Amazing.

9)Balaenoptera musculus.

10)Tiny organisms like krill and plankton.

11)The killer whale.

12)Humans.

13)Its name stems from its bluish grey colour (there are other examples).

14)It will hopefully recover and grow again.

1)They present both positive and negative view points on an issue.

2)Teenagers use of social media sites.

3)With a recent study showing that 85% of teenagers use social media and 75% use sites such as Facebook and Twitter...."

4)"Almost a quarter of teenagers who used social media sites were online for four or more hours a day."

5)Social benefits.

6)Educational benefits.

7)Health benefits.

8)Sites can affect a user's social skills.

9)Sites can interfere with a user's homework.

10)Sites can interfere with a user's physical and mental health and this can affect their school life.

11)"Social media sites have important social benefits." There are others.

12)"Students who spend hours at night on social media sites are often very tired during the day at school." (There are others.)

13)"Sometimes, teenagers become so comfortable with online communication that they struggle with face to face communication."

This is a Ready-Ed Publications' book preview.

P45 1)Learning a second language.

2)Yes. "They will gain many benefits from this activity."

3)The benefit of learning about a country and its culture.

4)It will improve a child's English and Maths results.

5)it will improve a child's self-confidence and selfesteem.

6)It will encourage an interest in learning more languages, travelling and other countries.

7)It is clear from the evidence that students who learn a second language in primary school gain selfconfidence from this activity."

8)"Researchers agree that by the time they are at school they are ready to take up the challenge and enjoyment of learning a second language."

"Educational research shows that students who learn a second language for several years achieve higher results in English and Maths." Researchers have various theories about the reasons for this."

9)A hesitant tone indicated by the word "perhaps".

10)"Once a child begins to talk they quickly learn to expand their number of known words and take great enjoyment in being able to communicate." (There are others.)

P47

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