The Eternal Frontier
By Louis L’Amour
Before Reading:
Connect to Your Life
Label the next available page in your LNb “The
Eternal Frontier.” Then answer the following
questions in complete sentences.
What frontiers would you like to explore?
What qualities does it take to be an explorer?
What do you think the future of the space program
should strive to achieve?
Before Reading:
Understand Vocabulary
Context clues can help you to recognize a word’s
meaning.
Sometimes a sentence will include a familiar
synonym that is used in addition to the unknown
word.
In the examples on the next slide, look for the
synonym (found in the sentences) for each boldfaced word.
Before Reading:
Understand Vocabulary
The countries hope to incorporate their programs in order
to combine their efforts in space.
The multitude watching the liftoff on television added up
to the biggest crowd ever.
The loss of the probe was devastating to the budget but
not destructive to the spirits of the scientists.
I recommend that remedy as an antidote to motion
sickness.
The desire to be an astronaut was the impetus that gave
him the force to succeed.
Reading 1: Persuasive
Essays
A persuasive essay is a type of nonfiction work that offers
an opinion on a subject and tries to sway readers to accept
that opinion.
A persuasive essay appeals to both the mind AND the
heart of the reader.
Writers support their arguments using different types of
evidence, including:
Facts- statements that can be proved
Statistics- facts stated in numbers
Examples- specific instances that demonstrate the point
Quotations- statements made by experts
Reading 1: Persuasive
Essays
Persuasive essays may be evaluated based on how
well the author supports his or her opinions.
Writers use evidence to help convince the reader that
their claims (opinions) are correct.
Questions to ask when evaluating include:
Is the evidence used adequate?
Is it accurate?
Is it appropriate?
What are the writer’s biases?
Group Discussion
Questions
Why does the author consider the moon, asteroids, and
planets “stepping stones”?
What point is the author making about the future by
noting the rapid advances of the previous 70 years?
What does not restrict human beings, according to the
author?
What one objection to his argument does L’Amour
address?
What are some of the benefits that people have reaped
from the space program?
Reading 2: Evaluating
Evidence
When writers of nonfiction give a strong opinion
about something they believe in, they are making a
claim.
Claims must be backed up with evidence.
Evidence allows readers to decide whether they
agree with the claim made by the author.
Reading 2: Evaluating
Evidence
Evidence must be:
Adequate– this means there is enough evidence to
convince the reader.
Appropriate– this means that it supports the case that
the author is trying to make.
Accurate– this means that it is correct and provable.
You can also look at entertainment, believability,
originality, and emotional power.
Reading 3: Identifying
Author Bias
When a writer is said to have bias, he or she is stating
an opinion in favor of one side of an argument or
issue.
This means they are allowing their opinion to influence
what they write about it.
To determine if writing is affected by bias:
First you need to identify the PRIMARY claim made by
the author.
Then look for opinions that the author uses to support
this claim.