Reading #1: Gang Members

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Directions: Complete the activity by reading each passage and answering the questions. Do not forget to spell check and proofread your work. When you have completed this exercise, please upload it to the Dropbox for this week. Note: Clues will be provided after each question to guide you in your answer for Reading #1. Clues will not be provided in Reading #2. Reading #1: Gang Members According to government figures, over 16,000 gangs are active in this country, and at least half a million gang members commit more than 600,000 crimes each year. Many members are young people who come from unhappy homes. They feel neglected or abused by their parents. In addition, their parents may be gang members themselves. Also, gang members often have a history of poor performance in school, and they have trouble making and keeping friends. Sometimes they feel threatened by peers or the violence in their neighborhoods. Others live in poor neighborhoods with little outside help or support. [Adapted from McWhorter, The Skilled Reader, 2004, p. 389.] Topic of the Passage To determine the topic, ask yourself, "Who or what is this passage about, and how are the ideas related? Clue: Look for words that seem important in the passage. For example, I notice the terms gang members, unhappy homes, and poor neighborhoods. How are these ideas related? What is the topic of the passage? Key Supporting Details What details does the author use to support the topic? Clue: Look for facts, descriptions, and reasons given. One detail is "gang members commit more than 600,000 crimes each year." List the key supporting details: Unstated Main Idea What is the unstated main idea? What point is the author trying to make? Clue: Now that you have identified the topic and supporting details, ask yourself this question: What is the author trying to say
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