Grade 4-10 Mentor Texts For Writing Lessons PDF

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Writing Standards Common Cor ELA: Using Mentor Text to Teach Writing Traits, Mechanics Conventions, Structures and Styles of Writing

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. Supporting the Common Core Writing  Standards: 

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13-year-old Dutch girl, Laura Dekker sails Around the World

Exploring the farthest corners of the globe has always been one of man’s most endearing dreams, and this has been taken to a wholly new level by the Dutch teenager Laure Dekker, who has accomplished the seemingly impossible task of sailing around the world solo at the age of 16 years. In fact, Laura became the youngest person to sail across the earth when she completed her voyage at the age of sixteen on the 21^st of January 2012. On her way, she has witnessed countless obstacles that have taken all the resourcefulness and determination that she could master to realize her dreams into reality.

Laura Dekker turned her dream into reality, and inspired countless other teenagers across the planet to dream big with the blessings of her parents but not the Dutch government. This is because the Dutch authorities tried their utmost to prevent Laura from taking this arduous trip across the earth’s waters at such an early age, and did all they could to stop her in her tracks. Even though of Dutch nationality, Laura was in fact born on a yacht in the New Zealand waters. She was born on the 20^th of September 1995 while her parents were in the middle of a seven year long sailing trip, and their trip continued for a further five years after she was born before they returned to Holland. Thus, being born within the territorial waters of New Zealand, Laura Dekker enjoys dual Dutch and New Zealand citizenship.

Laura Dekker stayed with her father even since her parents got divorced in 2002, and her father’s passion of building boats has been a strong influence on her eventual quest to sail across the earth alone. She started sailing at an early age of six, and has ever since then been gradually upgrading to bigger boats as she got older. She took part in competitive dinghy races, as well as, offshore events, and finally started going on longer trips when she upgraded to the 7 m long seaworthy boat Hurley 700 at the age of ten. Laura used this boat to take solo trips around Holland, as well as, the North Sea, and then even sailed on her own to England in May 2009 with her Hurley 700. It was during those solo trips that the idea of sailing solo around the world began to emerge, and gradually grew to become her biggest dream.

Laura Dekker began to contemplate seriously about turning her dream into reality somewhere during 2009, and received considerable support from her parents towards her effort. However, the attitude of the Dutch government was quite to the contrary, and the authorities started a court case to thwart Laura from making the voyage. The ensuing battle in court continued for the next 10 months at the end of which Laura’s custody was handed back to her parents in July 2010. Finally, Laura was free to begin her journey, which duly started on the 21^st of August 2010 on the 30-year old yacht Guppy. Laura successfully led her voyage around the world on the 38 feet yacht and finally arrived in the Dutch Antillean island of Saint Maarten in the Caribbean on the 21^st of January 2012.

Laura Dekker traversed the North Atlantic, Pacific, and the Indian Oceans on her journey, and clocked over 27,000 miles. However, much has been said and written about the consequences of allowing young teenagers of going on such arduous trips involving considerable risks, and Guinness authorities have scrapped all records consisting of underage sailors to dissuade youngsters. Even then, Laura Dekker remains an influential figure in popular culture.

Questions

1. Laura Dekker has accomplished the incredible task of being –

a)      The only person ever to sail across the world

b)      The youngest person to sail around the world

c)      The oldest person to sail around the world

2. While trying to make her dream come true, Laura received support from –

a)      Her parents

b)      The Dutch Government

c)      Both

3. Laura has dual Dutch and New Zealand nationality because –

a)      Her parents are Dutch

b)      She was born in New Zealand waters

c)      Both

4.  Laura Dekker took up sailing from an early  age and took part in –

a)      Competitive dinghy races

b)      Offshore sailing events

c)      Both

5. Prior to sailing around the world, Laura Dekker –

a)      Took solo trips around Holland, and to England

b)      Took solo trips around England, and to Holland

c)      Took trips to the Dutch Antillean islands

6. The Dutch Government tired to prevent Laura from taking the trip by –

a)      By initiating a court case that lasted for ten months

b)      By arresting her

c)      By confiscating her boat and provisions for the journey

7. Guinness authorities scrapped all records regarding underage sailors because –

a)      They do not appreciate the challenges faced by such sailors in accomplishing the feat

b)      They do not intend to encourage more underage sailors to take part in risky voyages

c)      They do not believe in honoring challenging feats accomplished by young people

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