Skateboard Park Documents/Leash-Free Dog Run Documents Feature Menu Introducing the Selections Informational Text Focus: Using Information from Documents

Skateboard Park Documents/Leash-Free Dog Run Documents

Feature Menu

Introducing the Selections

Informational Text Focus: Using Information from Documents to Solve a Problem

Reading Skills Focus: Previewing

Writing Skills Focus



How do we solve problems that affect an entire community?



A community is a group of people who share common areas, such as parks, playgrounds, and open spaces.

Unfortunately, disagreement can arise within a community about the best use of these public areas.



If you supported a skateboard park or a dog run, where could you find information to convince others to join you?

Read the selections on skateboard parks and leash-free dog runs to analyze the information they contain.

[End of Section]



Getting accurate information is critical when you need to solve a problem.

But where can you find the information you need?



You can gather information from a variety of sources.

consumer documents

public documents

workplace documents

Workplace documents are documents people use in doing their jobs.



• memos,

• e-mails, and

• reports.

Kinds of workplace documents include

Public documents are documents that make information available to anyone.





• schedules,

• some Web sites, and

• government publications.

Examples of public documents include





• contracts,

• advertisements, and

• manuals.

Consumer documents provide information to people who buy or use products or services.

Here are some examples of consumer documents:



After you have gathered information, judge the reliability of your facts by evaluating your sources.

Is this Web site a reliable

source?

A reliable source contains facts that can be verified, or confirmed.

A reliable source bases its information on fact, not just opinion.

The author should have credentials, or qualifications, to write about the topic.



You may find that you need more information to solve the problem.

Where can I find information to

support my argument that a skateboard

park would be good for teens?

I know! I’ll look in health and fitness

magazines.

[End of Section]





You’re about to read some documents that concern problems faced by communities.

• As you read, pretend you are a member of these communities.

• The annotations beside some documents show the type of critical thinking you might do to understand the situation.



When you preview, you look over text you are about to read to see what lies ahead.



You may begin by noticing titles, headings and subheadings, boldface terms, and illustrations. You can also read opening sentences or paragraphs.

Title

Opening sentence

Boldface heading



Previewing helps you notice the important points.

Total Wellness Health Club

Total Wellness Health Club provides the newest in multi-station workout machines. With our state-of-the-art equipment, you can complete a full workout in just thirty minutes.

Membership Categories

Deluxe membership includes unlimited usage of all exercise equipment and up to five classes per week.

Basic membership includes four hours of weekly access to our circuit-training room and up to two classes per week.

What parts of this passage help you preview it?

Total Wellness Health Club

Total Wellness Health Club provides the newest in multi-station workout machines. With our state-of-the-art equipment, you can complete a full workout in just thirty minutes.

Membership Categories

Deluxe membership includes unlimited usage of all exercise equipment and up to five classes per week.

Basic membership includes four hours of weekly access to our circuit-training room and up to two classes per week.



When you’ve previewed the important points . . .

you can decide whether or not the source is useful to you.

Previewing saves you time.

[End of Section]

Into Action: Complete a preview chart like the one below. List each document, explain what it is, and describe the topic it covers.

Kind of Document

Topic

Memorandum

“The City Beat”

issues regarding the new skate park: need, liability, cost, location

workplace document from the Parks Department

public document: newspaper column



Title/Description


Writing Skills Focus: Preparing for Timed Writing

Imagine that you are trying to solve the problems described in the skateboard park and dog run documents.

Use the information in these documents to form opinions about the skateboard park and the dog run.

[End of Section]

Vocabulary


Vocabulary

potentially adv.: possibly.

hazards n.: dangers; things that can cause danger.

proposal n.: suggestion.

ample adj.: as much as is needed; enough.

Skateboard Park Documents

Leash-Free Dog Run Documents

California AB1296 states that persons who skateboard on public property are expected to know that it is a potentially dangerous sport.

The sentence below may help you understand how the word potentially is used in Skateboard Park Documents.


Vocabulary

If something is potentially, or possibly, dangerous, people need to be very careful.


VocabularyWhen Mrs. Ortiz offered her a weekly babysitting job, Sophia figured she could potentially afford a new bike by the end of the summer. Sophia

a. definitely could afford the bike.

b. might be able to afford the bike.

c. could not afford the bike.


VocabularyWhen Mrs. Ortiz offered her a weekly babysitting job, Sophia figured she could potentially afford a new bike by the end of the summer. Sophia

a. definitely could afford the bike.

b.might be able to afford the bike.

c. could not afford the bike.

Name a potentially interesting subject in school.

Mr. Owner’s proposal was met with a standing ovation.

The sentence below may help you understand how the word proposal is used in “The City Beat.”


Vocabulary

A proposal is a suggestion. Because Mr. Owner’s proposal was met with a standing ovation, an overwhelming number of audience members approved of his suggestion.


Vocabulary

When Mrs. Wong asked for proposals for the class trip, the students had many

a. ideas.

b. complaints.

c. questions.


Vocabulary

When Mrs. Wong asked for proposals for the class trip, the students had many

a.ideas.

b. complaints.

c. questions.

Discuss a proposal to improve your school’s cafeteria.


Vocabulary

Environmental hazards. Irregular surfaces account for more than half the skateboarding injuries caused by falls.

The excerpt below may help you understand how the word hazards is used in “Consumer Product Safety Commission: Document 93.”

Hazards cause danger. Holes, bumps, rocks, and debris are just some of the hazards skateboarders face.


Vocabulary

Highway signs sometimes announce hazards. Hazard signs

a. increase the speed limit.

b. give the distance to cities.

c. warn of potential danger.


Vocabulary

a. increase the speed limit.

b. give the distance to cities.

c. warn of potential danger.

Name some road hazards that affect bicyclists.

Highway signs sometimes announce hazards. Hazard signs


Vocabulary

The park needs to be large enough for a fair number of dogs to run around in it without colliding with one another. Ample size will minimize the possibility of dogfights.

The sentences below may help you understand how the word ample is used in A.K. Nine’s letter.

If the dog run is of ample size, there is enough room for the dogs.


Vocabulary

In which photo do the people lack ample room?

a. b.

c.


Vocabulary

In which photo do the people lack ample room?

Where might your school provide ample room for students to study comfortably?

a.

c.

b.

The End