Composition: Composing Informational Texts (TEKS.ELA.7.11.B)
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Texas 7th Grade ELA › Composition: Composing Informational Texts (TEKS.ELA.7.11.B)
Water can change from liquid to gas and back again, which is interesting for weather and cooking. In class, we boiled water and saw steam collect on a cold lid, and on TV I once watched a storm show. Clouds are up high and sometimes look like cotton. You can also test temperatures with a thermometer, and some thermometers are digital. People talk about oceans rising and droughts too. I read that plants release water, and I remember carrying an umbrella on a field trip. Recycling bottles helps the environment, and our cafeteria uses paper straws now. When you leave a cup outside, the water might disappear, but puddles can last a long time in the shade. Some places get more rain than others and have different seasons.
Which revision best establishes a clear controlling idea and provides strong supporting details?
Weather affects many parts of life, from storms to sunny days. This essay will explore cloud shapes, umbrellas, ocean levels, and droughts across different places.
Using a digital thermometer safely in cooking is important. Keep it clean, insert it into the thickest part of food, and read the display at eye level.
Evaporation and condensation drive the water cycle. When liquid water gains heat, it evaporates; when water vapor cools, it condenses into droplets, forming dew, clouds, or water on a cold lid. Temperature, shade, and wind change how fast water evaporates.
Protecting the environment matters. Recycling bottles and choosing paper straws can help, and people should think about oceans rising and droughts.
Explanation
Choice C states a focused controlling idea (evaporation and condensation) and supports it with specific, relevant details and examples from the passage. A is too broad, B is too narrow and unrelated, and D shifts to a different topic that does not control the information presented.
Along the Texas Gulf Coast, there are beaches where people build sand castles and collect shells, and sometimes the water looks brown and sometimes it sparkles. Ships pass by, and I saw shrimp boats in a picture. Oil rigs stand out on the horizon, and a friend told me about a barbecue cook-off in a coastal town. Hurricanes come some years, and boardwalks have souvenir shops with shirts and hats. Near Houston there is a very large port, and I like watching pelicans glide. Refineries have tall stacks, but so do factories in other places. Children dig in the sand, and traffic can be slow on holiday weekends. Some folks fish off piers, and others rent kayaks, which can tip over if you lean.
Which revision best establishes a clear controlling idea and provides strong supporting details?
The Texas Gulf Coast economy depends on energy, shipping, and fishing. Major ports like Houston and Corpus Christi move huge amounts of cargo, refineries process crude oil into fuels, and shrimping fleets bring in seafood that supports local markets.
Texas has many landscapes and traditions, from deserts and pine forests to rodeos and high-tech companies. This essay will explore all of them across the entire state.
Hurricanes are scary storms. People should prepare by packing flashlights, canned food, and bottled water, and by practicing evacuation routes each year.
Beach safety is important. Wear sunscreen, stay near lifeguards, and keep kayaks balanced so they do not tip in the surf.
Explanation
Choice A gives a clear controlling idea (key industries of the Texas Gulf Coast) and supports it with specific, relevant details. B is too broad for the passage, C narrows to storms only, and D focuses on safety tips unrelated to the passage's main content.
Long ago, colonists argued with Britain about taxes, and people today still talk about taxes on different things, like snacks. Tea is a drink, and some people prefer coffee. In Boston, there were ships, and Boston also has sports teams. Protesters dressed up and dumped tea at night; fireworks on Independence Day are in July, but winter is colder. The British government made laws, and governments make lots of laws, including traffic rules. I read that Philadelphia had important meetings too. Museums show artifacts like wooden boxes, and our school museum night had posters and cupcakes. People wore clothes with buttons. The colonies later fought a war, and wars are very serious. Ships sail on water, and harbors are sometimes foggy in the morning.
Which revision best establishes a clear controlling idea and provides strong supporting details?
The American story stretches from the first colonies through the Constitution. This essay will cover every major event and leader from 1607 to the present day.
Tea is popular around the world. Different flavors, such as black and green, are brewed at different temperatures to change the taste.
Modern taxes affect students too. Sales tax changes what snacks cost, and local governments use those funds for roads and parks.
The Boston Tea Party was a colonial protest against taxation without representation. In 1773, the Sons of Liberty destroyed tea to oppose the Tea Act; Britain responded with the Coercive Acts, escalating tensions that pushed the colonies toward revolution.
Explanation
Choice D presents a focused controlling idea (the Boston Tea Party as a protest) with specific, relevant historical details. A is far too broad, B is irrelevant, and C shifts to modern taxes and does not control the information in the passage.
In West Texas, the weather can be dry, but sometimes storms surprise people with sudden rain. My neighbor waters a lawn, and our school put up a new water fountain with a bottle filler. Palo Duro Canyon is beautiful, and there are car washes in town. I heard about aquifers under the ground, and someone mentioned sprinklers should run early. When pipes leak, it makes puddles, and puddles attract birds. Some folks collect rain in barrels, and others buy plants at the store without thinking about water needs. Trash can blow across open fields, and plastic bottles get stuck on fences. Weekends are busy at the hardware store. Cities make rules, and my cousin likes swimming, but sometimes the pool is closed.
Which revision best establishes a clear controlling idea and provides strong supporting details?
Texas faces many environmental challenges, including litter, air quality, flooding, and wildfires. This essay will discuss all of these issues across the state.
West Texas communities conserve water during drought by reducing outdoor use and protecting supplies. Strategies include xeriscaping with native plants, fixing leaks, watering lawns on set schedules, and tracking aquifer levels to guide restrictions.
My family's garden hose is helpful. It can spray far, reach flower beds, and fill a small pool on hot days.
Keeping neighborhoods clean improves parks. Volunteers should pick up plastic bottles, paint picnic tables, and organize weekend events at the hardware store.
Explanation
Choice B offers a clear controlling idea (water conservation in West Texas) supported by specific, relevant strategies. A is too broad, C is too narrow and personal, and D includes interesting but irrelevant details that do not control the topic.
Plants need many things, and the way they live is interesting. Leaves are green and some are big, and I once tried growing a bean plant in a cup. Sunlight is important for a lot of reasons, like warming the day and helping people see, and water helps everybody, including pets. In science class we watched a video that showed trees swaying in the wind, and the narrator talked about how nature cycles repeat. Sometimes plants live in deserts and sometimes in rainforests, and there are also houseplants on windowsills. Food is made somehow in plants, and oxygen is involved, but some plants are also used as food for people. All of this shows that plants have many parts and needs in daily life, too.
Which revision best establishes a clear controlling idea and provides strong supporting details?
Plants are amazing and do many different things in many places.
Photosynthesis is the process plants use to turn light into food: chlorophyll in leaves captures sunlight, roots bring in water, and tiny openings take in carbon dioxide, producing glucose and oxygen.
Desert cacti survive without any water by growing only in sand, proving all plants need strong heat.
My bean plant grew three inches, and my cat liked to sit by it, showing pets and plants both enjoy windowsills.
Explanation
Choice B presents a focused controlling idea—photosynthesis—and develops it with relevant, specific details that explain inputs, parts, and products. The other choices are too broad, too narrow/inaccurate, or irrelevant.
Texas has a lot of energy sources. There are windmills you see driving on long highways, and also there are power lines and gas stations. People talk about weather and the sky is big in the Panhandle. On a trip to see grandparents, we counted turbines and ate snacks. Electricity is used for game consoles and school lights, and sometimes the wind is strong and sometimes it isn't. Some people say clean energy is good, and some people like other fuels. In history, oil was important, and football games turn on stadium lights. There are also birds in the sky and fences along fields. All these things connect to how communities use power in different ways. Costs and jobs matter for towns across the state.
Which revision best establishes a clear controlling idea and provides strong supporting details?
Energy is important for everyone in Texas and the world.
On my road trip, I saw windmills and ate snacks, which shows travel can be interesting.
One ranch's wind turbine powers a single house, so wind isn't a big deal statewide.
Wind power has become a major part of Texas's energy industry, especially in the Panhandle and West Texas, because steady winds and new transmission lines support large wind farms that deliver electricity to cities, creating leading generation totals and jobs in turbine construction and maintenance.
Explanation
Choice D gives a clear controlling idea—Texas's growth in wind energy—and supports it with specific, relevant details (regions, transmission, impact). The other options are too broad, anecdotal, or overly narrow.
Storms happen in many places, and beaches have sand and seagulls. A long time ago there was a big storm on the Texas coast, but beaches today also host festivals and kites. When people think about weather, they check apps and decide whether to bring umbrellas. Houses near the water can be pretty, and porches face the breeze. When I visited an aquarium, I learned about sea turtles, which are cool. In some years, storms are quiet, and in other years they are not. Communities rebuild after events, and there are bridges that go to islands. Boats, seafood, and sunsets are part of coastal life. All of this shows that the coast has many features and that weather matters for families and businesses there today.
Which revision best establishes a clear controlling idea and provides strong supporting details?
The 1900 Galveston hurricane devastated the city and led to major changes, including a seawall and raising the island's grade; thousands died, buildings were destroyed, and engineers redesigned the shoreline to protect future residents.
Weather affects people in many different ways all over the world.
Sea turtles are fascinating coastal animals that need protection from lights near beaches.
Beaches are fun but sometimes dangerous, and also cities need bridges and festivals.
Explanation
Choice A narrows the topic to a specific event—the 1900 Galveston hurricane—with clear, relevant effects and details that organize the information. The other choices are broad or off-topic.
Phones, homework, sports, and friends are all part of middle school. Some students text at night, others read, and some play games. Sleep is important, but sometimes it is hard to get because of lots of reasons. There are alarms in the morning and busses come early. The school library has comfy chairs, and teachers talk about routines. I once tried a new app that was bright and had cool sounds. People say health matters, and there are also pets that wake people up. It can be noisy outside, and weekends feel different. There are many ideas for being rested, and different families have different rules. Devices glow in dark rooms and notifications blink. Some kids nap after practice. Habits change with seasons at home.
Which revision best establishes a clear controlling idea and provides strong supporting details?
Everyone should get exactly nine hours of sleep and schools should start later to fix the problem.
Phones are fun, and sports are also exciting, so balance is the key to life.
Limiting screen use before bedtime helps middle schoolers sleep better because blue light delays melatonin, notifications interrupt deep sleep, and simple habits like Do Not Disturb and charging devices outside the bedroom reduce disruptions.
Pets keep kids awake more than anything else, so the best solution is not having pets.
Explanation
Choice C provides a focused controlling idea—reducing nighttime screen use improves sleep—and supports it with specific, relevant reasons and actionable details. The other options are overly broad, off-topic, or too narrow.