Comparative Reading Task (30 Pts.)

For this assignment you will, read, annotate, create a venn diagram, and write a comparative summary statement.

  1. Reading and Annotation (10 pts.) - You Must:
  2. Highlight important details in the text
  3. Use the annotation margin for:
  4. Asking questions, making comments, or making connections
  5. Main ideas of a paragraph or sections
  6. Key Vocab
  7. Venn Diagram (10 pts.)
  8. Use the Insert---Drawing feature to create a venn diagram. This include two overlapping circles with similarities in the center and differences on the sided. This needs:
  9. Two overlapping circles
  10. Text boxes
  11. Labels and color code for each circle (what do the circles symbolize?)
  12. Comparative Summary Writing (10 pts.)
  13. You have the choice to do two of the following:
  14. Write a summary sentence with a sentence frame
  15. Write a summary sentence on your own
  16. Write a summary paragraph

Reading Task

Comparing and Contrasting a Temperate Biome and a Taiga Biome

by Joseph West, Demand Media
Taiga covers more land than any other terrestrial biome.
The Earth is a place of stunning natural diversity. Nonetheless, most regions can be grouped into one of several broad categories that correspond to the Earth's primary ecological communities. (see References 1) These communities, known as biomes, can be classified based on climate, vegetation and animal life. (see References 2) Temperate biomes include both forest and grassland, whereas the taiga biome is thoroughly forested.

Cold and Colder

The temperate forest biome covers latitudes ranging approximately from the southern United States to southern Canada, while the taiga biome, also known as boreal forest, extends from the latitude of southern Canada to about 60 degrees north latitude. (see References 1, References 3) Thus, these two biomes are adjacent, which explains the many similarities between taiga and northern temperate forests. Both biomes have four distinct seasons, but the temperate forest climates cover a much wider range of temperatures and precipitation patterns. Taiga, in contrast, is reliably cold: most of the precipitation falls as snow, winters are severe and the growing season is short -- about 130 days compared to 140 to 200 days for temperate forests. (see References 4)

Broad Leaves and Needle Leaves

Many temperate forests are populated by deciduous trees, which do not retain their leaves during the winter, though some temperate areas, especially along coasts or at higher elevations, include forests dominated by coniferous species. Common trees in deciduous forests include species of oak, maple and ash. Species of pine, cedar, juniper, and redwood predominate in coniferous temperate forests. Many temperate forests also contain a mix of types. Some temperate forests have a relatively thin leaf canopy that encourages an abundance of understory plants, such as wildflowers, shrubs and berries. Taiga vegetation is, in general, much less diverse. The landscape is dominated by cold-tolerant evergreen trees such as pine, fir, spruce and larch, and fewer understory plants can thrive in the low-light conditions underneath the thick evergreen canopy.

Different Trees, Different Soil

The soil in deciduous temperate forests is moderately to highly fertile. This is attributable in part to the parent rock materials from which these soils were formed, but also to the important factor of decaying leaves. Each fall, deciduous trees deposit large quantities of valuable organic matter onto the soil surface, along with mineral nutrients that were absorbed by the trees' extensive root systems and then stored in leaf tissue. Coniferous temperate forests usually develop in areas of naturally poorer soil, because coniferous species are more tolerant of infertile soil than deciduous species. Taiga soils also tend to be fairly poor -- rocks impede root penetration, the sandy texture reduces the soil's ability to retain nutrients and the pH is below the optimal range for many plants.

Cold-Hardy Creatures

Taiga and temperate forests are home to similar animal species, especially in northern temperate forests where harsh winters reduce the populations of animals that are not adapted to cold weather. Both biomes include a variety of birds, such as woodpeckers, hawks and eagles; herbivores, such as deer, rabbits and squirrels; and carnivores and omnivores, such as wolves, foxes and bears. In general, taiga contains more highly cold-tolerant animals, such as the Canada lynx and the snowshoe hare, and temperate forests contain more amphibians and reptiles.

A Sea of Grass

The temperate region also includes grasslands. The most familiar examples of this biome are the vast prairies of central North America and the Eurasian steppe. Temperate grasslands tend to be hotter and drier than taiga, though they can extend into northern areas with severe winters. Lower precipitation -- along with windy winters, animal grazing habits and various other factors -- impedes tree growth and favors perennial grasses; this difference in dominant vegetation is the most striking contrast between temperate grassland and taiga. Temperate grassland also includes numerous animal species that are absent or uncommon in taiga, such as wild horses, prairie dogs and meadowlarks.
References
●University of California, Berkeley: The World's Biomes
●University of California, Santa Barbara: Biomes
●Marietta College: Biome Map
●University of California, Berkeley: The Forest Biome
●University of California, Santa Barbara: Taiga
●University of California, Berkeley: The Grassland Biome
●Oregon State University: Temperate Coniferous Forests
Resources
●Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: Minnesota's Biomes
●Smithsonian Institute: Visions of the Boreal Forest
About the Author
Joseph West has been writing about engineering, agriculture and religion since 2006. He is actively involved in the science and practice of sustainable agriculture and now writes primarily on these topics. He completed his copy-editing certificate in 2009 and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California-San Diego.
Photo Credits
●David De Lossy/Photodisc/Getty Images / Annotation Margin

Venn Diagram

Complete the VENN Diagram with at least 3 bullets each, and then complete the task below.

INSERT VENN DIAGRAM HERE

Your instructions above! You may delete this image after you know how to make a drawing.

Summary Sentence Writing

Complete TWO of the following tasks:

Task 1 - Use one of the sentence frames below to create a comparative summary statement.

A.Although ______and ______have some similar characteristics, they are very different ______.

B.While ______and ______are both ______, there are several major differences such as ______

______.

Task 2 - Use some of the suggested wording to write your own comparative summary statement. (words or phrases to use on your own: like, about, however, are similar because, have in common, difference between, as opposed to, a distinction between, by comparison, each is, synonymous with, share common attributes)

Task 3 - Create a comparative summary paragraph

Use the image below as a summary template! You may delete the image before submitting.