Exercises — Week 19: Week 19 — Timed Practice: Section 3 Informational Performance Task

1. Timed Section 3 Simulation with Argumentative Constructed Response

1. Write your pacing plan before starting a 70-minute timer: minutes 0 to 10 to read both sources below, minutes 10 to 35 to answer at least eight items from this week's bank, minutes 35 to 65 to plan and write your essay, and minutes 65 to 70 to proofread.
2. Read Source 1, from a sports medicine magazine article: "Artificial turf fields can be used in almost any weather, which is why many school districts install them. A grass field may need weeks of rest after heavy rain; turf can host practice the next afternoon. Districts also save the water and mowing a grass field requires. Athletic directors say turf lets one field serve football, soccer, and lacrosse teams in the same season, which matters at schools with limited land."
3. Read Source 2, from an environmental science article: "On a sunny summer day, the surface of an artificial turf field can become far hotter than nearby grass, sometimes hot enough to cause discomfort through shoes. Researchers also note that turf must be replaced every eight to ten years, and the old material is difficult to recycle. Grass fields, while costly to maintain, cool the air around them and absorb rainwater that would otherwise run into storm drains."
4. Respond to this prompt: Your school district is deciding whether to replace its grass athletic fields with artificial turf. Write an argumentative essay that takes a position on whether the district should make this change. Support your claim with evidence from both sources, and address at least one counterclaim.
5. Before submitting, score your draft against the two rubric rows used in this practice. Written Expression, 0 to 4: a 4 states a clear claim, supports it with relevant evidence from both sources that is accurately cited, acknowledges and answers a counterclaim, is logically organized with transitions, and uses precise, formal language. Written Conventions, 0 to 3: a 3 shows command of grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling, with few errors that do not interfere with meaning. Write your self-scores and one sentence explaining each.