Buzz
Compose 'Shooting Star'
I. Compose 'Shooting Star' - Preparation:
* Suggestions for answering questions:
1. Why is this text considered an explanatory informational text about a natural phenomenon?
- Because the text provides information based on scientific grounds to answer human questions and inquiries about a natural phenomenon.
2. What is the introduced natural phenomenon?
- The introduced phenomenon is the meteor shower, also known by other names such as 'falling stars' or 'changing stars.'
3. How many parts does the text structure have? What is the main content of each part?
- The text structure consists of 3 parts:
+ Part 1 (From the beginning to '... the deep craters on the continents'): Introduction and explanation of the meteor shower phenomenon.
+ Part 2 (From 'Why is there a meteor shower?' to '... convenient places to observe meteor showers'): Explaining the causes and formation of meteor showers.
+ Part 3 (From 'What does seeing a meteor shower mean?' to the end): Interesting things when witnessing a meteor shower.
4. How is the information in the text developed?
- The information in the text is developed by presenting questions in the headings (What is a meteor shower?, Why is there a meteor shower?, ...) and systematically answering those questions to explain the mentioned phenomenon.
5. What additional understanding did you gain about the introduced phenomenon from the text?
- Through the text, I learned more about the causes of meteor showers, how to determine the cycles of meteor showers, and some related information about how humans perceive this fascinating natural phenomenon.
6. Preview the text 'Meteor Shower' and explore more about this natural phenomenon from various sources.
- Some additional information I found about the meteor shower phenomenon:
+ Very few meteoroids have the potential to reach the Earth's surface. Most of them burn up completely during their journey, or they merely graze Earth's atmosphere and continue their own path in space.
+ There are very few meteoroids present on the Earth's surface for humans to observe. Most of them are buried deep under layers of soil, leaving numerous craters to mark their locations, notably the one in Wilkes Land (located in the Antarctic continent).
+ According to estimates, about 150 meteorite impacts on Earth occur each year.
7. Have you ever witnessed the meteor shower phenomenon? What are your thoughts on this phenomenon? Get ready to share with your friends after reading this article.
- I have never personally witnessed the meteor shower phenomenon. However, I have observed and learned a lot about it through movies, books, or scientific programs. What fascinates me most about this phenomenon is how people connect the falling stars with human beliefs. Nevertheless, I still consider meteor showers as celestial bodies in outer space, so they might not be directly related to luck or wishes as commonly perceived.
II. Composing the Essay 'Shooting Stars' - Reading Comprehension:
* Suggestions for answering questions:
1. What does this exhaust pipe section reveal?
- The exhaust pipe section provides a basic introduction to the phenomenon of shooting stars. Simultaneously, it poses a series of consecutive questions to guide, stimulate the reader's curiosity. Thanks to this approach, engaging with the text becomes more exciting and interesting.
2. How are the bold italicized sections different from the previous bold sections?
- The bold italicized sections consist of more specific, detailed questions that delve deeper into the issue that needs explanation. Thus, they separate each part of knowledge more distinctly for the reader to grasp.
3. Pay attention to the reasons for the appearance of meteor showers.
- The primary cause: Comets (consisting of ice, dust, and rock) orbit the Sun. When approaching the Sun, the comet disintegrates, creating dust trails along its orbit. As the comet approaches Earth, its gas and dust particles enter the atmosphere, resulting in numerous small meteors - Meteor Shower.
4. What is the main content of this section?
- The main content of this section explains the frequency and cycle of meteor shower occurrences.
5. When is it difficult to observe meteor showers?
- When influenced by clouds, weather conditions, air pollution, ...
+ Excessive cloud cover.
+ Air pollution is too high.
+ Too much light pollution.
6. Does the author believe in good or bad omens when seeing shooting stars?
- The author does not believe in good or bad omens when seeing shooting stars because they consider it as something 'highly subjective' and 'lacking scientific basis'.
7. Why do people make wishes when they see shooting stars?
- People make wishes when they see shooting stars because they believe that the wish made at that moment will come true. It is a folklore belief passed down through many generations, even appearing in the fairy tales of Aesop and Grim.
III. Crafting the Essay Shooting Stars - After Reading
* Answering Questions :
Question 1 on page 64 of the Language Arts 8 Sky Wings textbook - Volume 1:
- The key information provided by the text 'Shooting Stars' is:
+ Explaining the phenomenon of shooting stars.
+ Origin and formation of the shooting stars phenomenon, meteor showers.
+ The cycle of appearance of shooting stars.
+ Ways to observe meteor showers.
+ Human beliefs about the 'omen' of falling stars.
- To quickly grasp these pieces of information, the writer relies on identifying the bold italicized headings in the text.
Question 2, page 64 Language Arts Grade 8 Kite - Volume 1:
- The author has developed ideas and information in the text in a cause-and-effect relationship by posing a series of questions in the headings and systematically addressing those issues in a concrete and detailed manner.
- Mind map summarizing the key information in the text:
Question 3, page 64 Language Arts Grade 8 Kite - Volume 1:
- The difference between shooting stars and meteor showers:
+ Shooting Stars: Glowing streaks across the sky, the visible paths of meteors as they enter Earth's atmosphere, not a star falling from the sky.
+ Meteor Shower: Formed by the gas and dust particles from comets as they pass through Earth's atmosphere.
- According to the article, shooting stars and meteor showers occur due to celestial bodies, fragments of broken comets, metal pieces from colliding planets,... penetrating Earth's atmosphere at extremely high speeds.
Question 4, page 64 Language Arts Grade 8 Kite - Volume 1:
- In my opinion, shooting stars are a natural phenomenon that happens when asteroid fragments enter Earth's atmosphere at incredibly high speeds. This phenomenon is entirely scientific and not related to spiritual matters as people often say. However, the tradition of making wishes when seeing shooting stars is an interesting folk belief that adds beauty to human spiritual life.
Question 5, page 64 Language Arts Grade 8 Kite - Volume 1:
- If I ever see a shooting star, I would wish for everyone's life to become better. The little ones would have enough to eat, warm clothes, go to school, and have fun. The elderly would have a shelter, someone to take care of them, and enjoy their old age. I wish for this because I want everyone to have a better life, and society won't have unhappy, tragic lives anymore.
Question 6, page 64 Language Arts Grade 8 Kite - Volume 1:
- The text 'Shooting Stars' is considered an explanatory text about a natural phenomenon because:
+ The text focuses on presenting and explaining questions related to the phenomenon of shooting stars using scientific knowledge.
+ The text deploys information according to the cause-and-effect relationship.
+ The text utilizes a combination of both linguistic and non-linguistic elements (illustrations).
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To determine whether a text is informative, careful observation and thorough examination of both content and form are essential. Evaluate the quality of information that the text addresses. For a deeper understanding of this genre, please refer to other essays on Mytour such as: Composing the text 'Rising Sea'; Composing the text 'Floods: Causes and Consequences'.
