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Mr. A's Writing Tools
writingtools.org
Explanatory Benchmark
Inventions
Standard: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
How This Assessment Works
1. Read Sources
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2. Answer Part 1
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STOP
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3. Plan
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4. Write Part 2
Sources to Read
Source #1
An Exhibition of Imagination
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Where can you go to meet hundreds of inventors from all over the world and see a thousand wonderful, weird, or wacky inventions? You can find it all at the International Exhibition of Inventors. Held for five days each April in Geneva, Switzerland, it is the biggest exhibition of its kind in the world. Only those inventions that have been patented are allowed to enter.
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For more than 40 years, inventors have traveled to this event. They come to show off their unique creations. Some come for social reasons — they are eager to talk to and network with other inventors like themselves. Some come to find people who might be willing to invest money in their products. Others come looking for partners to help them with either manufacturing or marketing. Along with individual inventors, small companies, research institutes, and universities also present their latest creations.
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Strolling through the event is fascinating. One display might have an incredibly useful invention designed to make lives easier. Next to it might be an invention created merely to make life more fun.
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The Amazing and Amusing
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Many of the inventions found at this exhibition are intended to make life better, safer, or more convenient. They have included lamps that can create their own power, a wind generator that needs only the slightest breeze to produce power, and a protective suit for people working in toxic or hazardous environments.
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A young inventor from China designed a set of special see-through parachutes for assisting airplanes in emergency landings. A couple from Spain showed off bags made out of tissue for placing over fruit and vegetables during unexpectedly cold or bad weather.
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A German company created a bicycle-like vehicle equipped with large, colorful rubber balls instead of wheels. The inventors thought it would be a fun way to get some exercise. A woman from South Korea offered a device for people who have trouble tying their shoelaces; it attaches to the shoelaces and ties them with a single touch. A man from Iran displayed his "super smart boots," which collect information on everything from air temperature and humidity to the wearer's blood pressure. A French company is busy marketing battery-powered roller skates that attach to the soles of peoples' shoes. With a pair of these, people can move as fast as nine miles per hour.
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Other inventions are less practical, but also more fun. One example is a portable backrest. It is designed so that people who are tired can lean back on it and rest without sitting down. The device is based on how kangaroos use their tails. What else can be found? At one display, there are mouthwash-dispensing toothbrushes and a hands-free umbrella that doubles as a pair of suspenders. Other inventors are showing off super-fast sock driers or one-handed bottle openers. There is even a device that makes changing sheets faster by flipping over and revolving the entire bed.
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The Winners
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Although many of the inventions are made for fun and entertainment, it is usually the serious ones that take home the top prizes. For example, the 2009 winner of the exhibition was an inventor from Romania. He created a mobile truck scanner that allows border guards and custom checkers to scan the interior of trucks much more quickly and thoroughly. A 2012 gold medal winner was a Hong Kong company that created a robotic glove designed to give people who had had strokes the ability to use their hands again. The 2014 winners at the exhibition won two gold medals, one for a new system for early testing for diabetes and one for a new way for healthcare workers to measure bacteria on skin and ensure their hands are germ-free.
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One of the participants at a past exhibition described inventors as people who are dreamers but who also know how to follow through on those ideas and turn them into something tangible. One thing is for sure: the ideas displayed at the annual International Exhibition of Inventors certainly are unusual and creative. Whether they will end up being produced and sold is another question altogether.
Source #2
Useless Inventions
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Reading about the background of most inventions is enough to bring to light the skill and determination of inventors. Each inventor focused on creating something new and unique. From Bell's telephone to Babbage's computer, Edison's light bulb to Farnsworth's television, these inventions ended up making lives better, easier, safer, and more convenient.
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But what happens when someone decides to invent something that was never meant to be remotely helpful? In fact, what if these inventions were fun, but utterly useless? In that case, the invention would be called a chindogu. This Japanese word means "strange tools."
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Chindogu are fascinating inventions that certainly take time and talent to make. At the same time, they are relatively useless once finished. Sure, they all do something — but is it something worth doing? Some of them cause more problems than they solve. Others simply are not practical. The one thing they have in common is that they are fun and tend to make people smile.
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The Original Inventor
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The original inventor behind chindogu is a Japanese man named Kenji Kawakami. More than 25 years ago, as a magazine editor, he designed his first chindogu just to entertain people. It was a set of glasses that funneled eye drops directly into the eyes. Readers absolutely loved it! In the decades since then, he has invented more than 700 odd creations and has written a number of books about them. Kawakami's bizarre inventions have been featured in everything from magazine articles to museum displays.
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Kawakami has thousands of fans all over the world. His "unuseless" inventions, as he calls them, have inspired countless others to start building and designing. Thousands of inventors across the world, ages 10 to 70, have been imitating his odd inventions and creating their own bizarre items.
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There are rules about what qualifies as a chindogu, of course. They cannot be useful or sold. They cannot be patented. They must be made from simple tools. No fancy computer parts are allowed. In fact, true chindogu cannot even be used — just looked at and admired. Anything that turns out to be truly useful or handy does not qualify.
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Chindogu Examples
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How can an invention be as unhelpful as the chindogu? Looking at some of Kawakami's most famous examples answers that question. For example, you might think his electric rotating spaghetti fork that winds up the noodles would be great — except that it flings spaghetti sauce everywhere. There is the hat made out of eight disposable cameras for taking 360-degree photographs, but you move so much that photos are always blurred. You might try using the solar-powered flashlight — but wait! If you have enough light to power the solar cells, why do you need a flashlight?
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Kawakami has created other inventions that you might not really want to wear. He designed a pair of shoes and socks with built in mops for cleaning the floor as you move around (with special models made for cats, dogs, and babies!). He even made a tie that doubles as an umbrella. He also invented a two-way shoe that faces both directions so you can slide it on whether you are coming in or going out. Want to avoid getting your hair in your food? Try Kawakami's long-hair stopper to wear around your face while you are eating.
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Kawakami's silly ideas also include a set of glasses with built-in fans for cutting onions without tears, a double-headed toothbrush for brushing the top and bottom teeth at the same time, and alarm clock headphones that wake you up on time without bothering anyone around you.
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His trickiest invention to date is most likely his security padlock. It has 20 numbered dials that would take 3.2 trillion years to figure out and open.
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Following one of the most basic rules of chindogu, Kawakami does not make any money from these inventions. He enjoys the chance to make something unique and to experiment. He also does not mind that he has been given the official title of the world's first chindogist.
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The concept of chindogu is being taught in schools and universities throughout the world to encourage creativity and thinking in new ways and patterns. Who knows what future inventors might come up with that no one really needs? Perhaps some of these "unuseless" inventions will spark an idea that is useful and turn out to be something great and unexpected that the world truly needs.
Source #3
Accidental Inventions
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The following information describes how lucky mistakes resulted in some very important inventions.
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The Microwave Oven
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In 1945, engineer Percy Spencer was working with a magnetron — a device that produces microwave radiation — at the Raytheon Corporation. While standing near the magnetron, Spencer noticed that a chocolate bar in his pocket had melted. Curious, he placed popcorn kernels near the machine. They popped. Next he tried an egg, which exploded. Spencer realized that the microwaves could heat food, and he built the first microwave oven. Today, microwave ovens are found in approximately 90 percent of American homes.
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Velcro
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In 1941, Swiss engineer George de Mestral went for a walk in the woods with his dog. When they returned home, he noticed that tiny burrs from plants had attached themselves to his clothing and his dog's fur. Examining the burrs under a microscope, de Mestral discovered that they had tiny hooks that caught on loops in fabric and fur. It took him eight years, but he eventually created a fastener that used this same hook-and-loop design. He called it Velcro, combining the French words "velours" (velvet) and "crochet" (hook). Velcro is now used in everything from shoes and jackets to space suits and medical devices.
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Penicillin
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In 1928, Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming left a petri dish of bacteria uncovered in his laboratory before going on vacation. When he returned, he noticed that a mold had grown on the dish — and the bacteria around the mold had been destroyed. Fleming identified the mold as Penicillium and realized it produced a substance that could kill bacteria. This accidental discovery led to the development of penicillin, the world's first widely used antibiotic. Penicillin has since saved millions of lives and transformed modern medicine.
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The Popsicle
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In 1905, eleven-year-old Frank Epperson accidentally left a cup of powdered soda mix and water with a stirring stick on his porch on a cold night. The next morning, the mixture had frozen solid around the stick, creating a frozen treat on a handle. Epperson shared his "Epsicle" with friends and family. Nearly two decades later, in 1923, he filed a patent for what his children called a "Pop's 'sicle" — and the Popsicle was born. Today, more than two billion Popsicles are sold each year.
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Play-Doh
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In the 1930s, a company called Rainbow Crafts created a soft, doughy material designed to clean coal dust from wallpaper. When homes began switching from coal heat to gas and oil, the wallpaper cleaner was no longer needed. The company was about to go out of business until a teacher discovered that children loved playing with the material. The company removed the cleaning chemicals, added colors and a pleasant smell, and renamed the product Play-Doh. It has been one of the best-selling children's toys ever since.
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These accidental inventions show that important discoveries can happen when people pay attention to unexpected results. Many of these inventors did not set out to create what they ended up making, but their curiosity and willingness to explore surprising outcomes led to inventions that changed the world.
Part 1 · Reading & ResearchWorth 30% of your overall score. Answer every question using the sources above.
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Select 2
2 pts
Choose the two statements that are supported by information from the sources. Each correct answer is supported by at least one source.
Reference: Sources 1 & 3
Fill in the bubble for 2 answers.
A. Some inventions that were not originally planned or were created by accident ended up becoming widely used products.
B. Finding funding for inventions often requires time, dedication, and additional creative thinking.
C. Some inventors create items specifically designed to help people with everyday tasks, such as getting dressed or preparing food.
D. Most inventions do not succeed at first, and they have to be changed significantly before they are ready for marketing.
E. Only serious inventions that will dramatically change people's lives tend to move from model to production.
F. Inventions created just for the purpose of entertainment and amusement are growing in overall popularity.
Answer Key
Correct: A, C
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Written Response
2 pts
Both Source #1 and Source #2 discuss inventions that were purposely designed for fun,
rather than to make life easier or better. What does Source #2 explain about these inventions that Source #1 does not? Explain why that information is helpful for the reader. Give two examples from Source #2 to support your response. Target: 50-200 words
Scoring Rubric
2Response clearly identifies what Source #2 adds (e.g., chindogu rules, the philosophy behind useless inventions, specific examples of why they fail) with two specific examples from Source #2, and explains why this information is helpful.
1Response identifies a difference between sources with one example, or two examples but limited explanation of why the information is helpful.
0Response does not address the question, lacks examples from Source #2, or contains significant inaccuracies.
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Written Response
2 pts
Identify one benefit of inventions, including those that were developed accidentally
and those that were intended just for entertainment. Provide one detail from Source #2 and one detail from Source #3 and explain how each detail supports the benefit. Be sure to identify the source of each piece of information by title or number. Target: 50-200 words
Scoring Rubric
2Response identifies a clear benefit and provides one supporting detail from each source (Source #2 and Source #3), with each source identified and each detail clearly explained.
1Response identifies a benefit with a detail from one source, or details from both sources but with limited explanation.
0Response does not address the question or lacks details from the specified sources.
STOP
Review your Part 1 answers above before continuing to Part 2.
Once you begin writing your essay, do not change your Part 1 answers. Part 2 · Explanatory EssayWorth 70% of your overall score. Plan your writing first, then draft your full response on the lines provided. Writing TaskThe three sources you read describe different types of inventions — from
purposeful creations showcased at international exhibitions, to deliberately useless "chindogu," to important discoveries made entirely by accident. Together, these sources reveal what makes inventions successful and how unexpected outcomes can lead to important contributions. Now that you have completed research on the topic of inventions, the science
club sponsor has asked you to write an explanatory article about what qualities inventions should have to be helpful and successful. The audience for your article will be students attending the science fair, teachers, and parents. Using more than one source, develop a thesis/controlling idea about the qualities of successful inventions. Once you have a thesis/controlling idea, select the most relevant information to support your thesis/controlling idea. Then, write a multi-paragraph explanatory article explaining your thesis/controlling idea. Clearly organize your article and elaborate on your ideas. Develop your ideas clearly and use your own words, except when quoting directly from the sources. Be sure to reference the source title or number when quoting or paraphrasing details or facts from the sources.
Things to Think About
Plan Your Essay
Use this organizer to plan your essay before you write. The planner is optional but helps you organize your thinking.
ThesisMy controlling idea
Evidence from Source #1Quote or paraphrase + page/line
Evidence from Source #2Quote or paraphrase + page/line
Evidence from Source #3Quote or paraphrase + page/line
ConclusionSo what? Why does it matter?
Write Your EssayVocabulary Bank
Scoring Rubric — Part 2 Essay
Self-Check Before You SubmitI read all sources carefully before answering Part 1
I answered every Part 1 question in my own words
My essay has a clear thesis or controlling idea about explanation
I used evidence from MORE THAN ONE source in my essay
I named each source by title or number when I cited evidence
I explained how each piece of evidence supports my thesis
I organized my essay with an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion
I used my own words except when quoting directly
I re-read my draft and fixed spelling/punctuation/capitalization errors
Notes & Scratch WorkUse this space for brainstorming, vocabulary you want to use, sentence drafts, or anything else that helps you think through your writing. Want the AI-coached version of this assignment?
Get step-by-step AI feedback on student writing — free for teachers at writingtools.org. Same assignment, with grade-level rubric scoring, revision coaching, and printable reports.
writingtools.org/printables/benchmark_inventions_v1
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