1. Science and the Sense of Wonder
Isaac Asimov

2. Reading: Use support for fact and opinion
Column 1
1. Asimov proceeds to describe and explain the “hard stuff” - the scientific characteristics of stars, planets, suns, galaxies, and clusters of galaxies.
2. Asimov gives scientific details about what planets are made of – acid, hot liquid, craters, volcanoes, and deserts.
3. Asimov describes scientific details about the greatly varying sixes and shapes of suns in the universe.

3. Use support for Fact and Opinion
Second Column
Students’ answers may vary. Asimov has supported his opinions with facts that can be proved and reasonable scientific assumptions. However, all may not be in agreement as to whether this information increases one’s personal enjoyment of looking at the stars.

4. Literary Analysis: Use Word Choice
1. Informal. The author's words describe a casual, and partially unpleasant , experience of watching the stars. He implies that this way of watching the sky only touches the surface.
2. Informal. The author’s words give vivid human characteristics of breathing, consuming, and swallowing to the stars rather than describe them in a more formally scientific manner.
3. Informal. The author's words emphasize the violence of exploding stars. He is being scientifically accurate, but his word choice is not usually found in a formal scientific description.

5. Vocabulary 1. synonym: joyfully
The children ran joyfully across the sand and into the waves.
2. Synonym: Barren
There was little life in the barren winter landscape.
3. Synonym: infinite.
The damage from the hurricane seemed infinite.
B C D A

6. Asimov’s Persuasion Topic: Science and Beauty
Argument: The beauty of the stars is appreciated through observation, poetry and scientific knowledge.
Position: He is pro scientific knowledge.
Arguments: Knowledge of science helps you visualize the worlds. Other planets, stars, suns, and galaxies are strange and beautiful.
Persuasive techniques: opinions supported by facts and examples.

7. Things to know for the quiz
After listening to the astronomer, the speaker of the poem goes outside to look at the stars.
“Talking through his hat” is an idiom and an opinion.
When Asimov describes the planets as “worlds of red-hot liquid” and “volcanoes puffing plumes” he is trying to give a feeling of fascination.
Asimov believes the hard stuff in science is what makes it beautiful.
He supports his sense of wonder about stars and planets with facts.

8. Things to know Asimov uses an informal tone. “all that junk”
“a quick beauty fix”
Asimov appreciated the beauty of the night sky by watching stars and studying science.
When talking about the insect bites he got from stargazing, Asimov creates a feeling of humor.
Asimov’s main idea is that the universe is more than beauty.

9. FACTs Our galaxy is called the Milky Way.
In billions of years, the sun will burn the earth into a gas
It takes light a hundred thousand years to travel from one end of the Milky Way to the other.