MODEL WRITING EXAMPLE

Question: Why are vines so common in the rain forest?

SOME STUDENT ANSWERS:

Vines are so common because it helps the trees get minerals and gives animals easier ways to get around.

Because of competition for light.

Vines are so common in rain forests because the tall treetops form the canopy which shades the forest floor.

Vines can climb onto the trees to get sunlight.

Vines are so common in the rainforest because of the excessive amount of rainfall that occurs in the rain forest.

BETTER ANSWERS:

Vines are so common in the rain forest because they do not get enough sunlight on the forest floor so they must climb to get light.  They live on the trees or branches.

MO’ BETER ANSWERS:

Vines are common in the rainforest because of the need for plants to somehow reach sunlight.  Since large evergreen broad-leaf trees dominate the rainforest and shade the ground, vines evolved as climbing plants.  There ability to utilize the trees themselves to climb on has allowed vines to reach sunlight and to survive.

The rainforest is the most species diverse biome in the world but because of the canopy of the trees, which blocks most sunlight from reaching the ground, there are few plants growing in the understory of a rainforest.  Plants have had to adapt to this environment either by living in the trees and getting nutrients there or by growing up from the ground and then climbing through the branches and trees to reach the top where there is enough sunlight to survive.  Because of the factor of limited sunlight certain plants such as vines have evolved in the rainforests.

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