Write an argument that answers the other side

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Benches at the Ferry Stop (argument draft)

   [1] Every weekday morning, commuters and students gather at the Harbor Street ferry stop to wait for the 7:10 boat. [2] The harbor office should add three benches under the roof of the Harbor Street stop so that waiting riders can sit. [3] Right now the only seat is a low concrete ledge beside the ticket box, and it holds about four people.

   [4] Fog delays the boat on many mornings, and riders then wait twenty minutes or longer. [5] Plenty of people think that sitting down is a nice thing to be able to do. [6] When the fog rolls in, the ledge fills up quickly, and everyone else must stand on the wet boards. [7] Older riders and people with heavy bags find that long wait especially hard.

   [8] Honestly, the stop looks totally lame without any decent spots to sit. [9] Some people say benches are not worth the money. [10] Benches would cost the harbor office a small part of its yearly repair budget, yet they would make the stop usable for every rider. [11] For these reasons, the harbor office should add three benches under the roof at the Harbor Street ferry stop.

2. 1.

   Bo thinks sentence [8] sounds too casual for an argument. Which sentence keeps its point but fits a formal style?

   • You would feel pretty wiped out too if you stood in the damp fog with nowhere to sit.
   • The ferry company has kept its schedule carefully through fog and storms for many years.
   • Without adequate seating, the stop appears neglected and unwelcoming to the riders who depend on it.
   • Without a bench, the stop is a total downer, and riders are pretty fed up with it.
3. 2.

   Esme sees that sentence [9] only says some people disagree. Which sentence names their claim and the evidence behind it?

   • Benches under the roof would also give riders a dry place to rest their bags during a long wait.
   • Some commuters argue that benches are not worth the cost and that the harbor office should spend its limited money on something else instead.
   • Some commuters argue that benches are not worth the cost, because dock repairs already used most of this year's budget.
   • A few commuters who object to benches are being short-sighted and stingy about a few dollars, and they have not tried to wait outside.

4. Lights for the Skate Park (argument draft)

   [1] The Fenwick Skate Park is crowded all summer, but in winter it nearly empties out. [2] The town should install lights at the Fenwick Skate Park so that it can stay open until eight o'clock during the winter months. [3] Today the gates close at dusk, which arrives before five o'clock from November through January.

   [4] Many students finish school at three and reach the park by three thirty. [5] Skating after dark is something that lots of people would probably enjoy. [6] Because dusk comes so early, they have barely an hour to ride, and some of them have no other safe place to practice. [7] Without a park, skaters move to the street, where cars and rough pavement are real dangers.

   [8] The park is dead after sundown, which is a total bummer for everyone. [9] Others say the lights would bother the neighbors. [10] Shielded lights point downward, so they would keep glare off the nearby yards, and a timer could shut them off at eight sharp. [11] With lights, the park would give young skaters a safe place to ride long after dark.

5. 3.

   Jun spots a weak spot in sentence [5]. Which sentence is the strongest evidence to put there for the claim in sentence [2]?

   • On one December afternoon, a group of skaters stood outside the locked gate at a quarter to five.
   • The Fenwick Skate Park was built twelve years ago and has a concrete bowl, a ramp, and three long rails.
   • The park's sign-in sheet shows about 140 skaters on a typical summer weekday but fewer than 20 on a typical winter weekday.
   • Riding under lights would feel exciting, and young people would surely love the chance to try it.
6. 4.

   Kira thinks sentence [8] sounds too casual for an argument. Which sentence keeps its point but fits a formal style?

   • After sundown the park is a total snooze, and skaters are pretty bummed about it.
   • After sundown the park stands empty, and young skaters lose a safe place to ride.
   • The park's concrete bowl and long rails are well kept and open to skaters during daylight hours.
   • You would be annoyed too if the one good park in town locked up while the sky was still bright.
7. 5.

   Luz sees that sentence [9] only says some people disagree. Which sentence names their claim and the evidence behind it?

   • Lights at the park would also let the council use the field for evening events and community nights.
   • Some neighbors argue that bright lights would shine into their windows, since four homes sit just fifty feet from the park.
   • Some neighbors argue that bright lights would shine into their windows and that the park should simply stay just as it is today.
   • A few neighbors who complain about lights simply want the town to stay boring and have not thought about skaters.

8. A Fountain for the Track (argument draft)

   [1] The Cedar Track circles the soccer field behind the middle school, and walkers, joggers, and teams use it from early morning until dark. [2] The town should install a drinking fountain beside the Cedar Track so that runners can drink without leaving the path. [3] Right now the nearest fountain is inside the school gym, which stays locked on weekends and in the evenings.

   [4] On hot days, runners who finish a lap must walk to the gym door, only to find it locked. [5] Staying hydrated is something that is important for the human body. [6] Many runners carry bottles, but a bottle runs empty by the third lap, and a large one is costly. [7] Coaches also worry that young athletes may keep running without a drink.

   [8] A fountain by the track would be way better than the junk we have now, and it would not cost a ton. [9] There are folks who think a fountain would waste water. [10] A push-button fountain releases a small stream only while it is pressed, so it would use far less water than a garden hose does. [11] For these reasons, the town should place a drinking fountain beside the Cedar Track.

9. 6.

   Milo spots a weak spot in sentence [5]. Which sentence is the strongest evidence to put there for the claim in sentence [2]?

   • At the July relay meet, one runner quit early and walked home to find something to drink.
   • A town survey of 80 runners on a hot Saturday found that 52 had run out of water before they finished.
   • The Cedar Track is a quarter-mile loop that was resurfaced when the middle school was built.
   • Runners deserve an easy place to get a drink, and few people would argue with that.
10. 7.

    Noah thinks sentence [8] sounds too casual for an argument. Which sentence keeps its point but fits a formal style?

    • A fountain beside the track would serve runners better than the locked gym fountain, at a modest cost.
    • A fountain by the track would be wicked handy, and the town could swing it without breaking the bank.
    • You would see runners smile if a fountain stood by the track, and it would cost the town very little money.
    • The Cedar Track has a smooth rubber surface and clear lane lines that suit walkers and joggers alike.
11. 8.

    Pia sees that sentence [9] only says some people disagree. Which sentence names their claim and the evidence behind it?

    • A few folks who say fountains waste water probably do not run, so they do not understand runners.
    • Some residents argue that a fountain would waste water, since the town's water bill rose last year.
    • Some residents argue that a fountain would waste water and that runners should bring their own bottles.
    • A fountain at the track would also give walkers and teams a spot to refill their bottles.

12. A Book Shelf at the Laundromat (argument draft)

    [1] On Saturdays, the Spin Cycle Laundromat on Mill Street fills with families who wait ninety minutes for their clothes. [2] The owner should place a shelf of free books in the waiting area so that children and adults have something to read. [3] The laundromat has an empty wall beside the folding tables where a shelf would fit.

    [4] Children who wait that long often grow restless, and some run between the machines. [5] Reading is something that is a nice thing to do while waiting for the dryers. [6] A shelf of picture books and chapter books would give children a quiet activity right where their families sit. [7] Adults could also borrow a paperback, which would make the wait feel shorter.

    [8] The owner should not sweat the books walking off, because that is no biggie. [9] Some people say a shelf would just get messy. [10] The library runs a volunteer program for shelves like this, so a volunteer could tidy it on the first Saturday of each month. [11] A free shelf of books would turn the Spin Cycle's long waits into time that is well spent.

13. 9.

    Tala thinks sentence [8] sounds too casual for an argument. Which sentence keeps its point but fits a formal style?

    • The laundromat has served the Mill Street neighborhood for many years and opens early on Saturdays.
    • You can relax about books going missing, because a free shelf is not supposed to be locked up.
    • The owner need not worry about lost books, since a free shelf is meant to be shared.
    • The owner can chill about lost books, since a few going missing is no big deal.
14. 10.

    Zee sees that sentence [9] only says some people disagree. Which sentence names their claim and the evidence behind it?

    • A shelf of free books would also bring neighbors together and give the laundromat a friendlier feel.
    • Some customers argue that a shelf would get messy, since books left on the folding tables could block space for clothes.
    • A few customers who complain about messy shelves are lazy, and they would not tidy up even if somebody asked them nicely.
    • Some customers argue that a shelf would get messy and that the owner should keep the wall empty.