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Main idea.

NARRATOR: Hi, I’m Annika. I’m a middle school student, and I’m considering adopting a vegan diet. It’s going to be hard, because I love chicken sandwiches and bacon mac and cheese, but I think I can do it. After all, I know that making this choice would help animals and the environment.

I’m not sure, however, if a vegan diet is healthy for a growing middle schooler like me. Before I discuss the idea with my parents, I’d better find out! . . . After doing some online research, I’ve learned that the question is controversial. Some articles argue that vegan diets are safe for children; others argue that vegan diets pose serious risks.

So I’m going to pick two articles with different points of view on the subject, and I’ll use them to make an informed choice about whether becoming vegan is something I want to do. That’s what Mr. Franklin, my English teacher, is always telling our class to do—make informed choices! I’ll make sure that both articles are from trustworthy sources. Then I’ll do some serious reading.

And now . . . I’m undecided! Both authors make good points—but which position is more convincing? When I mention this problem to Mr. Franklin, he suggests that using a graphic organizer could help me analyze the two texts more effectively. So I create a two-column chart in my notes, print out the articles, and grab some highlighters.

As I read through each text, I highlight the position, or claim, in one color and the reasons in another color. I record this information in the chart. Then I use yet another color to highlight the evidence that supports the reasons in each article. When I say, evidence, I mean, “statistics, expert opinions, and other facts.” I keep thinking, Is this evidence accurate, reliable, and free from bias?

When I examine the chart, I see that sometimes the authors interpret the facts differently. However, both authors urge potential vegans to learn about proper nutrition. . . . I’m going to do more research before I decide if I’m ready for such a big step.

Maybe I’ll look for information in different media, such as videos—and maybe even podcasts!

The main idea of this passage is that the narrator, Annika, is considering adopting a vegan diet but is unsure if it is healthy for a growing middle schooler. She plans to read two articles with different points of view on the subject and use a graphic organizer to analyze them. The narrator highlights the position, reasons, and evidence from each article and realizes that both authors emphasize the importance of learning about proper nutrition. The narrator decides to do more research before making a final decision.

The main idea of this passage is that Annika, a middle school student, is considering adopting a vegan diet but is unsure if it is healthy for someone her age. She decides to research the topic by finding two articles with different viewpoints from trustworthy sources. She creates a two-column chart to analyze the articles, highlighting the claims, reasons, and evidence in each. After examining the chart, she realizes that both authors emphasize the importance of learning about proper nutrition. Annika decides to do more research, including exploring different media formats like videos and podcasts, before making a final decision.