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Up the Chimney: Checking Notes and Listing Sources About Chimney Sweeps

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Up the Chimney: Checking Notes and Listing Sources About Chimney Sweeps

Match notes to paragraphs, check them against the sources and build a source list.

Read Amara's sources

Amara is writing a report about a job in her community. Last October, a chimney sweep cleaned the chimney of the wood stove at her house, so she chose that job. She found two sources. Source 1 is a print article by Daniel Brooks from the Fall issue of a magazine called Maple Street Monthly. Source 2 is a page on the Cedar Falls Fire Department website.

Source 1: Who Cleans the Chimney?

1When wood burns in a fireplace or a wood stove, smoke rises up the chimney. As the smoke cools on its way up, it leaves behind black soot and a dark, sticky material called creosote. Little by little, creosote builds up on the inside walls of the chimney. If too much of it collects, it can catch fire. That is one big reason many families hire a chimney sweep.

2A chimney sweep's job is to clean out the soot and creosote. First, the sweep covers the floor and furniture near the fireplace with drop cloths. Then the sweep pushes stiff brushes up and down the chimney. The brushes are attached to rods that screw together, so the sweep can add rods until the brush reaches the top. A strong vacuum pulls the loose soot out of the fireplace so it does not drift into the room.

3Sweeps also look for problems. Many use a small camera on a long cable to spot cracks inside the chimney. If a sweep finds a crack, the chimney may need to be repaired before the next fire is lit. They check for nests, too, because birds and other animals sometimes build homes in chimneys. A metal cap on top of the chimney can help keep animals and rain out.

4The job has a long history. Long ago, many chimney sweeps wore tall black hats. In some countries, people still say that meeting a chimney sweep brings good luck.

Source 2: Chimney Care Questions

How often should a chimney be checked? Fire safety experts suggest having a chimney checked once a year, even if you do not use the fireplace often.

When is the best time? Many families schedule a cleaning in late summer or early fall, before the cold weather starts. Sweeps are often busiest once the first chilly nights arrive.

Can I clean my chimney myself? Creosote can be hard to see and hard to remove, so we recommend hiring a trained chimney sweep.

Check the notes

Use Amara's two sources to answer each question.

1.
Match each of Amara's notes to the paragraph of Source 1 it comes from.
2.
Amara's research question is: How does a sweep keep the room clean while working? Underline the two sentences in paragraph 2 of Source 1 that help answer her question.

3.
Which note is the best summary of paragraph 3 of Source 1?
Question 3 options
4.
Which note paraphrases this sentence from Source 2 without changing its meaning?
"Fire safety experts suggest having a chimney checked once a year, even if you do not use the fireplace often."
Question 4 options
5.
Amara checked her notes against her sources. Sort each note: does it match what the source says, or does it change the meaning?

List the sources and write

Help Amara finish her source list and her report.

6.
Here is the entry for Source 1 in Amara's source list:
Brooks, Daniel. "Who Cleans the Chimney?" Maple Street Monthly, Fall issue.
Match each part of the entry to what it tells the reader.
7.
Amara needs to add Source 2 to her source list. Which entry lists it correctly?
Question 7 options
8.
Write a note card that summarizes paragraph 2 of Source 1 in your own words. Use one or two sentences.
9.
Write 2–3 sentences for Amara's final report that explain why chimneys need to be checked. Use information from both sources in your own words, and name each source.
10.
Think of a worker you have watched do a job at your home, at school or in your neighborhood. Write 2 sentences that recall what the worker did. Then write one question you would research about that job.