Excerpt from Energy from the Wind
Li Yung

3Wind is one of the oldest sources of energy. People have used the wind’s power since the beginning of recorded time. Over 5,000 years ago, ancient Egyptians used wind to sail ships on the Nile River. Later, people built windmills, thin buildings with spinning blades that are turned by the wind. When the wind turns the blades, the movement powers simple machines that can grind wheat, cut wood, or help with other tasks. For example, in the United States, people built thousands of windmills in the West that pumped water for farms and ranches.

4Today’s wind machines are a lot like the old-fashioned windmills. These machines, called turbines, use blades to collect the wind’s energy. Instead of using that energy for simple tasks, though, turbines turn the energy into electricity. Today’s wind machines are built on huge towers that are hollow and made of strong steel. The blades, called rotors, are made of tough, light materials called fiberglass and polyester. Here’s how the wind machine works. The wind pushes on the blades, making them turn. The turning blades spin a shaft that is connected to a generator, a machine that makes electricity. This electricity is then sent along wires to homes, businesses, and schools. It is used to power all sorts of tools and machines, from computers to can openers.

5Wind turbines are very striking and impressive to see. The most common type of turbine has blades like airplane propellers. Turbines stand twenty stories tall and have three blades that are each two hundred feet long. The largest wind turbine in the world, located in Hawaii, has blades that are longer than a football field!

6You may also see many wind turbines together in one area. People often build the turbines close together in a wind-power plant called a wind farm. A large wind farm may consist of a few dozen to about one hundred wind machines. One of the largest wind farms in the United States is in Altamont Pass, California. It has more than 900 wind turbines! Wind farms are built in flat, open areas where the wind blows at least twelve miles per hour.
If you were writing a research paper about wind turbines, which sentence from the passage would be irrelevant to your research?
A) The most common type of turbine has blades like airplane propellers.
B) Over 5,000 years ago, ancient Egyptians used wind to sail ships on the Nile River.
C) People often build the turbines close together in a wind-power plant called a wind farm.
D) Instead of using that energy for simple tasks, though, turbines turn the energy into electricity.

Informative presentation student guide assignment summary for this assignment, you will create a multimedia presentation in response to the following prompt: research suggests that laughter improves people’s emotional and physical well-being. create a multimedia presentation to inform the audience about the positive effects of laughter on emotional and physical health. background information you will create your multimedia presentation from the research-based informative essay that you have already prepared. materials  research-based informative essay  presentation software assignment instructions for this project, you are expected to submit: 1. an informative multimedia presentation step 1: prepare for the project. a) read through the guide before you begin so you know the expectations for this project. b) if anything is unclear to you, be sure to ask your teacher. step 2: create your title slide. a) begin by creating the title slide. this page will make sure you receive credit for your work, but it isn’t actually part of your speech. b) include your presentation title, your name, your teacher’s name, and the presentation due date. c) remember to save your work as you go by using the “save” option of the program. step 3: create your introduction slide a) create one introduction slide. b) use the introductory paragraph from your essay to you add text to the introduction slide. text on the slide should be in bullet point format, not complete paragraphs. the slide should engage your audience, introduce your topic, and present your thesis. c) add images and graphics that are relevant to the topic and engaging. ask your teacher for guidance if you need finding appropriate images. d) be sure to size images and graphics so they are easy for the audience to see. add captions as needed. e) remember to save your work as you go by using the “save” option. student guide (continued) step 4: create the body paragraph slides. a) create one slide for each body paragraph from your essay. if necessary, you may create two or more slides per body paragraph. b) use each body paragraph from your essay to you add text to the body paragraph slides. text on the slide should be in bullet point format, not complete paragraphs on your slide. the slide should inform your audience, support your thesis, and include relevant details from your research. c) add images and graphics that are relevant to the topic and engaging. ask your teacher for guidance if you need finding appropriate images. d) be sure to size images and graphics so they are easy for the audience to see. add captions as needed. e) remember to save your work as you go by using the “save” option. step 5: create the conclusion slide. a) create one conclusion slide. b) use the concluding paragraph from your essay to you add text to the conclusion slide. text on the slide should be in bullet point format, not complete paragraphs. the slide should restate your thesis, highlight main ideas, and leave your audience with something to think about. c) add images and graphics that are relevant to the topic and engaging. ask your teacher for guidance if you need finding appropriate images. d) be sure to size images and graphics so they are easy for the audience to see. add captions as needed. e) remember to save your work as you go by using the “save” option. step 6: evaluate your presentation. if you can check each box below, you are ready to submit your presentation.  did you include a title slide with the title of the presentation, your name, your teacher’s name, and the presentation due date?  did you include an introduction slide that is engaging, introduces your topic, and presents your thesis?  do you have a minimum of one slide per body paragraph from your essay?  do your body paragraph slides inform your audience, support your thesis, and include relevant details from your research?  did you include a conclusion slide that restates your thesis, highlights main ideas, and leaves your audience with something to think about?  is your presentation free from errors in spelling, punctuation, and capitalization?  are your images and graphics relevant, engaging, and clear? step 7: prepare for your presentation. a) read through your slides several times. b) create note cards with information that you will add to the presentation. c) practice giving your presentation aloud. d) rehearse in front of another person. student guide (continued) step 8: revise and submit your project. a) if you were unable to check off all of the requirements on the checklist, go back and make sure that your project is complete. save your project before submitting it. b) turn in your presentation to your teacher. be sure that your name is on it. c) submit your presentation through the virtual classroom. d) congratulations! you have completed your project.

The greatest gift the sumerians gave the world was the invention of writing. the sumerians were wealthy people. they needed some way to keep track of what they owned. they began drawing pictures. they used a reed as a pen. they drew on soft pieces of clay. the soft clay was then dried in the sun. the tablet became a permanent record. later, the sumerian drawings changed into wedge-shaped symbols. this kind of writing is called cuneiform. by putting symbols together, the sumerians could write entire sentences.

Your school has recently decided to start serving genetically modified food as part of school lunches. give a multimedia presentation to the student council arguing for or against the new policy. include engaging visual elements and strong evidence that support your position.