Image of two kids with a pet dog and a pet cat
Illustrations by Carolyn Ridsdale; Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)
Debate,

Cats vs. Dogs

The Martinez family is ready for a pet. Isabel wants a dog, but her brother Jay is on Team Cat. Whose side are you on?

From the September 2022 Issue
Complexity Factors
  • Purpose
    In this debate, a brother and sister vie over whether to get a dog or a cat as a family pet.
  • Structure
    The debate is constructed as two letters. In one, the sister present arguments for getting a dog, while in the other, her brother gives fodder for getting a cat.
  • Language
    The language is mainly conversational.
  • Knowledge Demands
    Familiarity with pet care will be helpful but is not necessary for understanding the debate.
Lexile: 500L-600L, 700L-800L
Guided Reading Level: Q
Featured Skill: Main Idea and Supporting Details,
Standards
  • Common Core
    Anchor Standards: R.1, R.2, R.8, W.1 Grade 4: RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.8, W.4.1 Grade 5: RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.8, W.5.1 Grade 6: RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.8, W.6.1
  • TEKS
    Grade 4: 4.1a, c, d; 4.6f, g, h; 4.7a, b, c, g; 4.9e; 4.11; 4.12c Grade 5: 5.1a, c, d; 5.6f, g, h; 5.7a, b, c, g; 5.9e; 5.11; 5.12c Grade 6: 6.1a, c, d; 6.5f, g, h; 6.6a, b, c, g; 6.8e; 6.10; 6.11c

Presentation View
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Lexile® measure

  • 700L-800L (same as magazine)
  • 500L-600L
Download and Print
Lower Level (500L-600L)

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Want to hear this debate read aloud by a Storyworks writer? Find the audio read-aloud in your Resources tab. 

Want to hear this debate read aloud by a Storyworks writer? Click here!

Want to hear this debate read aloud by a Storyworks writer? Click here!

Illustrations by Carolyn Ridsdale; Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)

Dear Jay,

I know you want to pick a cat from the shelter next week, but I really think a dog would make a better pet. Why? 

First of all, dogs are supersmart. They can recognize about 100 words. Cats can learn only about 30. Imagine everything we could train our pup to do! I bet it could even help us with chores. (Think of all the dirty socks our dog could fetch from under the bed!) 

Many dogs are also very good at protecting their owners. But cats? They slink away whenever there’s a loud noise. (That’s why a person who gets scared easily is called a ‘‘scaredy-cat’’!) Don’t you want a pet that’ll keep the family safe?

Besides, dogs are more fun! House cats usually sleep 15 hours a day. But with a dog, we could play fetch, tug-of-war, or chase. Plus, going on dog walks will help us get outside, which Mom is always telling us to do.

I read that dog owners are twice as likely to say they’re very happy with their pet than cat owners. Dogs are the most popular pet in the world for a reason! 

So, are you ready to be a happy dog family?


Your favorite dog lover, 

Isabel

Dear Jay,

I know you want to pick a cat from the shelter next week. But I really think a dog would make a better pet. Why? 

First, dogs are very smart. They can understand about 100 words. Cats can learn only about 30. Imagine what we could train our pup to do! 

I bet it could even help us with chores—like fetching dirty socks from under the bed! 

Many dogs are also good at protecting their owners. But cats? They run away whenever there’s a loud noise. Don’t you want a pet that’ll keep the family safe?

Besides, dogs are more fun! House cats usually sleep 15 hours a day. But with a dog, we could play tug-of-war or chase. Plus, going on dog walks will help us get outside. Mom is always telling us to do that.

And guess what I read? Dog owners are twice as likely to say they’re very happy with their pet than cat owners. Dogs are the most popular pet in the world for a reason! 

So, are you ready to be a happy dog family?


Your favorite dog lover, 

Isabel

Illustrations by Carolyn Ridsdale; Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)

Dear Isabel,

Don’t forget what Mom said: Whatever pet we choose, we’ll be the ones taking care of it! 

Cats are independent animals and are happy just chilling out. A pet kitty would need only food, water, and a litter box. Your dream dog, however, would rely on us for food, exercise, baths, and a lot of attention. With all our homework, how will we have time to care for a dog?

And speaking of baths, cats are way cleaner than dogs. A cat can spend half its time grooming itself. Dogs definitely don’t do that. In fact, most pups enjoy rolling around in dirt and even poop! (We already have a stinky baby brother. I don’t think we want a stinky pet too!)

Also, cats don’t need to be trained to do cool things. They’re already amazing hunters. A cat could stop any mice or cockroaches from camping out in our basement!

Finally, cats are cheaper to keep. When you add up all the food, toys, and vet visits, a dog usually costs almost twice as much as a cat per month. Maybe if we get a cat, we can convince Mom to raise our allowance. 

Let’s face it: A pet cat is the way to go!


Cat superfan, 

Jay

Dear Isabel,

Don’t forget what Mom said: Whatever pet we choose, we’ll be the ones taking care of it! 

Cats are happy just chilling out. 

A pet kitty would need only food, water, and a litter box. But your dream dog would rely on us for food, exercise, baths, and a lot of attention. 

We have plenty of homework. How will we have time to care for a dog?

And speaking of baths, cats are way cleaner than dogs. A cat can spend half its time cleaning and caring for itself. Dogs definitely don’t do that. In fact, most pups enjoy rolling around in dirt or poop! 

Also, cats don’t need to be trained to do cool things. They’re already amazing hunters. A cat could keep mice and cockroaches out of our basement!

Finally, cats are cheaper to keep. Add up all the food, toys, and vet visits. You’ll find that a dog usually costs almost twice as much as a cat per month. Maybe if we get a cat, we can convince Mom to raise our allowance. 

Let’s face it: A pet cat is the way to go!


Cat superfan, 

Jay

What Do You Think?

Should the Martinez family get a dog or a cat? Go back to the letters and write down reasons to support each side of the argument. State your opinion in one sentence, which can be the topic sentence for an opinion essay on this subject.


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Courtesy of Family

This debate idea came from Storyworks reader April Roberts from Opelika, Alabama. Do you have a story idea for us? Ask your teacher to email it to [email protected].

This debate idea came from Storyworks reader April Roberts from Opelika, Alabama. Do you have a story idea for us? Ask your teacher to email it to [email protected].

This article was originally published in the September 2022 issue.

This article was originally published in the September 2022 issue.

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Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
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Table of Contents

1. Preparing to Read

2. Reading the Debate

3. Discussing

4. Writing

1. Preparing to Read

Have students preview the text features. Ask:

  • What is the topic of the debate? 
  • What do you think are the two sides of the issue?

2. Reading the Debate 

Read the debate as a class or in small groups.  A lower-Lexile version is available on Storyworks Digital. 

Have students read the debate a second time. Prompt them to mark the types of support the author presents to back up each side, including:

  • Facts and statistics (F/S)
  • Quotes from experts (Q)
  • Stories or examples (EX)

3. Discussing

As a class or in groups, have students discuss:

  • Which evidence is most effective in supporting each side?
  • Is one side stronger than the other? Why?
  • What is your opinion? What evidence do you find the most convincing?
  • For more-advanced students: Do you think the author has a preferred point of view on this issue? What is your evidence?

4. Writing

Have students complete the chart in the magazine.

Distribute the activity “Write an Opinion Essay.” The lower-level version guides students to write a three-paragraph essay on the debate topic. The higher-level version prompts them to bring in additional evidence and write six paragraphs, including a rebuttal of the other side. With either version, hand out our Opinion Writing Toolkit, which offers writing tips and transition words.

Text-to-Speech