The Excuse
Dear Ms. Sachs,
Please excuse Nan's absence from school yesterday, April 15. When she woke up in the morning, she had a raised bump on her arm. The bump was red and nearly the size of a quarter. Although Nan claimed the bump did not itch or hurt, I became very concerned.
I rushed her to the doctor's office, where we had to wait quiet a while to be seen. Nan's pediatrician, Dr. Mischa, is one of the best in the state. Her waiting room is always full of patients. We were very lucky she was able to fit us into her busy schedule!
When Dr. Mischa was finally able to see Nan, she gave us some very reassuring news. Nan's bump was just a big insect bit, and there was no risk of infection. The bump is gone today, and Nan is ready to return to class. Please allow her to make up any of the work she missed yesterday.
Thank you, Arthur Pena
What was the author's main reason for writing this passage?
a. to explain why something happened***
b. to describe what something looked like
c. to convince the reader to change a policy
d. to tell the reader an interesting story
yes, "a" is the best choice. Ms. Sue's comment, though, is well-taken. A real absence excuse note does not need all this detail!!
Probably a. But it's a terrible example of an absence excuse letter.
Well, this is all we got. I guess a is the closest answer to this question. Don't you think so too?
To determine the author's main reason for writing this passage, we can analyze the content. The author begins by explaining Nan's absence from school and then goes on to describe the circumstances leading up to her absence, including the visit to the doctor's office. The author also provides information about the nature of Nan's bump and reassures the reader that there is no risk of infection. Finally, the author requests that Nan be allowed to make up any missed work.
Based on this analysis, the main reason for the author to write this passage is to explain why Nan was absent from school, specifically to inform Ms. Sachs about Nan's bump and the visit to the doctor's office. Therefore, option a. to explain why something happened, is the correct answer.