Student Name: 2014Standards and Grade Level Expectations Addressed in the Assessment: 6th Grade:

RWC10-GR.6-S.1-GLE.1 Reading for All Purposes

RWC10-GR.6-S.2-GLE.1 Take a Stand RWC10-GR.6-S.2-GLE.2

RWC10-GR.6-S.2-GLE.3 RWC10-GR.6-S.3-GLE.2 RWC10-GR.6-S.3-GLE.3 RWC10-GR.6-S.4-GLE.1

RWC10-GR.6-S.4-GLE.2

Non-fiction:_Debate: Better Late Than Never?

Debate: Better Late Than Never?Some states apologize for their role in slavery.

How can the United States right the historical wrong of slavery? Some U.S. lawmakers say the country should start by saying "I'm sorry." That's pretty much what Virginia did in February 2007 when it issued a resolution expressing "profound regret" for its role in the enslavement of African Americans. Delivered from the state's capital, Richmond (the former capital of the Confederacy), the resolution calls slavery "the most horrendous of all depredations of human rights and violations of our founding ideals in our nation's history."

A handful of other states, including Maryland and North Carolina, have been quick to follow Virginia's lead by passing similar resolutions. Other states may be next in line. But for some lawmakers, saying sorry isn't so simple. It's been nearly 142 years since the Civil War ended and Congress ratified the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery in the United States. Saying sorry now, critics say, just doesn't make sense.

Healing Wounds

Reynolds Political Map/Library of CongressThis map shows the comparative areas of free (red) states and slave (dark blue) states. The white line extending from California to Missouri is the compromise line.

1

© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.Article: Copyright © 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission.

Non-fiction:_Debate: Better Late Than Never?

Democrat A. Donald McEachin sponsored the bill in the Virginia House of Delegates. He's the great-grandson of a North Carolina slave who moved to Virginia after the Civil War. For McEachin, the bill is about healing the wounds of slavery. "We study history to learn from it and while we have much to celebrate in American history, we also acknowledge some very painful lessons, including ... the experiences of African Americans," he says. He thinks Virginia owes African Americans an apology because they have been the "victims of state-sponsored racism, governmental policies, and institutions of racism." By making an official apology, the state has "created an environment for reconciliation and healing," he says.

Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis) recently introduced a resolution for a national apology in the U.S. House of Representatives. He believes it would help improve race relations and bridge current economic and social inequities between blacks and whites. His resolution states, "African Americans continue to suffer from the consequences of slavery ... through enormous damage and loss ... including the loss of human dignity and liberty, the frustration of careers and professional lives, and the long-term loss of income and opportunity."

Sorry For What?

Critics say they shouldn't have to apologize for the actions of their ancestors. "I don't think I can apologize for something I haven't done. ...While I am sorry for those past injustices, my efforts here have to be to make sure they don't ever occur again," Georgia's Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott fears that such resolutions could prompt perpetual apologies. "Where do we end all this? Are we going to apologize for not doing the right thing on Social Security?" he told The New York Times.

Maryland delegate Patrick L. McDonough (R-Baltimore County) agrees. That's why he voted against his state's resolution. In addition, he told the Baltimore Sun, the United States has sufficiently apologized for slavery by fighting the Civil War, passing the Civil Rights Act, and providing "billions in aid" in programs for African Americans. Besides, he added, "I don't think apologies solve anything. They're just feel-good superficial measures."

2

© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.Article: Copyright © 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission.

Questions: Debate: Better Late than Never?

Name:_______________________

1. What is something that Tennessee Representative Steve Cohen predicts will happen if there is a national apology for slavery?

A African Americans will have less economic opportunity.

B African Americans will make more money than whites.

C African Americans will be reminded of the hardships of their ancestors.

D African Americans will bridge social inequalities with whites.

2. Which of the following is an argument of opponents of a national apology for slavery?

A An apology for slavery will mean better race relations in the U.S.

B It is appropriate to apologize for the actions of your ancestors.

C An apology for slavery could mean that apologies for other things will be necessary.

D There are no actions that government can take to right the past wrongs of

slavery or make sure it doesn’t happen again.

3. The author most likely wrote this passage in order to

A area where slaves had some rights

B area where former slaves could own land

C area that was not yet a state

D area that was still owned by Mexico

4. Read the following sentence and answer the question below: Maryland delegate Patrick L. McDonough explains that he thinks apologies don’t solve anything and that “they're just feel-good superficial measures.”

As used in this sentence, superficial means

A having deep meaning B having a big effect C having very little

effect D having a political

effect 5. The primary purpose of this passage is to

A present the debate about abolishing slavery after the Civil War

B present the debate about states apologizing for their past role in slavery

C present the debate about the necessity of public apologies for public figures

D present the debate about the effects of

racism on African Americans

1

Questions: Debate: Better Late than Never?

6. What does the 13th Amendment to the Constitution do?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

Some states feel badly about their past _________ do not think it makes sense to apologize so many years later.

A so B because C yet D unless

8. Answer the questions based on the sentence below.

The state government in Virginia issued a resolution expressing “profound regret” for its role in the enslavement of African Americans.

What? the state government

Where? ______________________________________________________________

__________

(did) What? __________________________________________________________________________

Why? _____________________________________________________________________

2

9. Read the vocabulary word and definition below and complete questions 10a, 10b, and 11.

Vocabulary Word: reconciliation (rec Â_RQ_Â_FLO_Â_L_Â_D_Â_WLRQ): to make up after a fight.

10a. Read the five sentences below and underline the word reconciliation in each sentence.

1. After their mom took away the toy they were arguing over, the brothers decided reconciliation was the only way they could make their mother happy enough to give it back.

2. Though reconciliation was everyone’s goal, neither leader would compromise for fear of looking weak back home.

3. The argument on the playground ended in reconciliation once the girls realized that the boy they were fighting over wasn’t worth their trouble.

4. The football teams fought hard during the game, but the players left their anger on the field and as soon as the game was finished, reconciliation was easily gained over some pizza.

5. Though the boy had broken up with his girlfriend, he secretly hoped for reconciliation because he still loved her and knew he made a mistake.

10b. What is something that you may give someone during a reconciliation?

11. Is reconciliation possible if someone does not apologize? Explain.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. As the former capital of the Confederacy, why would Richmond be an important place to apologize for slavery? Please work with a partner to research the answer to this question. You have 20 minutes to research the question. Then you must return to working by yourself and construct a short answer. The last step is to cite your source in MLA format. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

__________

Teacher Guide & Answers

Passage Reading Level: Lexile 950

Featured Text Structure: Argumentative – the writer presents evidence for both sides of an argument

Passage Summary: “Debate: Better Late Than Never?” presents two sides of the debate about state apologies for their role in slavery. Supporters of state apologies see it as an acknowledgement of past racism and a way to help race relations. Opponents feel that they are not responsible for apologizing for past injustices, when measures have already been taken by government to improve the lives of African Americans.

1. What is something that Tennessee Representative Steve Cohen predicts will happen if there is a national apology for slavery?

A African Americans will have less economic opportunity.

B African Americans will make more money than whites.

C African Americans will be reminded of the hardships of their ancestors.

D African Americans will bridge social inequalities with whites.

2. Which of the following is an argument of opponents of a national apology for slavery?

A An apology for slavery will mean better race relations in the U.S.

B It is appropriate to apologize for the actions of your ancestors.

C An apology for slavery could mean that apologies for other things will be necessary.

D There are no actions that government can take to right the past wrongs of slavery or make sure it doesn’t happen again.

3. Review the map of the United States.

According to the caption, free states are red and slave states are dark blue on the map. How could the rest of the map be described?

A area where slaves had some rights

B area where former slaves could own land

C area that was not yet a state D area that was still owned by

Mexico

4. Read the following sentence and answer the question below: Maryland delegate Patrick L. McDonough explains that he thinks apologies don’t solve anything and that “they're just feel-good superficial measures.”As used in this sentence, superficial means

A having deep meaning B having a big effect C having very little effect D having a political effect

5. The primary purpose of this passage is to

A present the debate about abolishing slavery after the Civil War

B present the debate about states apologizing for their past role in slavery

C present the debate about the necessity of public apologies for public figures

D present the debate about the effects of racism on African Americans

6. What does the 13th Amendment to the Constitution do?Suggested answer: The 13th Amendment abolished or ended slavery in the U.S. [paragraph 2]

7. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

Some states feel badly about their past _________ do not think it makes sense to apologize so many years later.

A so B because C yet D unless

8. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.

The state government in Virginia issued a resolution expressing “profound regret” for its role in the enslavement of African Americans.What? the state government

Where? Virginia

(did) What? issued a resolution expressing “profound regret”

Why? for its role in the enslavement of African Americans

9. ReadWorks recommends that you teach this vocabulary word to the whole class out loud using the four steps listed below.Vocabulary Word: reconciliation

Step 1: Introduce the worda. Teacher writes the word on the

board and divides it into syllables: (rec Â_RQ_Â_FLO_Â_L_Â_D_Â_WLRQ)

b. Teacher says: “This word is reconciliation. What is the

word?” [All students reply together out loud: “reconciliation.”]

Step 2: Provide a child-friendly definition

a. Teacher says: “The word reconciliation means to make up after a fight.”

b. Teacher says: “In the passage, Donald McEachin believes that an official apology created an environment for reconciliation and healing. You might say that he believes that to make up after a fight, the group that was wrong should apologize.”

c. Teacher says: “What is the word?” [All students reply together out loud: “reconciliation.

Step 3: Practice the wordTeacher provides examples and additional opportunities to repeat the word. Read the 1st sentence out loud to your students. Begin reading it again and when you come to the vocabulary word prompt students to say the vocabulary word out loud. Then, finish reading the sentence out loud to your students.10a. 1. After their mom took away the toy they were arguing over,

the brothers decided reconciliation was the only way they could make their mother happy enough to give it back.2. Though reconciliation was everyone’s goal, neither leader would compromise for fear of looking weak back home. 3. The argument on the playground ended in reconciliation once the girls realized that the boy they were fighting over wasn’t worth their trouble. 4. The football teams fought hard during the game, but the players left their anger on the field and as soon as the game was finished, reconciliation was easily gained over some pizza. 5. Though the boy had broken up with his girlfriend, he secretly hoped for reconciliation because he still loved her and knew he had made a mistake.

Step 4: Check for student understanding

This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an independent practice.

10b. What is something that you may give someone during a reconciliation?

11. Is reconciliation possible if someone does not apologize? Explain.

Suggested answer: Usually not because it’s an indication that the person is not willing to acknowledge the hurt they have caused or the mistake they have made, making it difficult to move forward with a reconciliation.

12. As the former capital of the Confederacy, why would Richmond be an important place to apologize for slavery?

Suggested Answer: Richmond would be an appropriate place to make an apology for slavery because it was the capital of the confederacy during the civil war. This is somewhat symbolic given that Richmond was the capital, as if they were giving up that seat of authority from that era.