Reading Performance Task
Student Instructions
Sea Travel in the Eighteen Hundreds
Instructions for the Student
Read the story “Sea Trotter” and the article “Sea Travel on Packet Ships in the Eighteen
Hundreds.” As you read the story, think about the setting, characters, and plot. As you
read the article, think about the central ideas, details, and author’s purpose. After
reading them, you will answer questions about the story and the article. Then, you will
analyze the relationship between the texts. You also will create a plan for a fact-based
original story about packet ships.
Sea Trotter
1
Twelve-year-old Charlotte Leonard loved to accompany her father on trips. Her father,
Captain Joseph Leonard, was the captain of a packet ship, which was a ship that carried
mail, cargo, and travelers. Captain Leonard named his ship Sea Trotter. He, his crew,
Charlotte, and a group of passengers had sailed from Boston to Liverpool, England, over a
month ago, and soon it would be time to sail home from Liverpool to Boston. Charlotte felt
fortunate to have been invited on the journey.
2
Captain Leonard had taught
Charlotte many sailing skills. She
even dreamed of becoming a
captain one day. “At this rate, you
just might become the first woman
captain of the finest ship in the
world!” her father told her. He was
enormously impressed with how
closely Charlotte listened when he
talked about observing weather
conditions or handling sails.
Captain Leonard was very proud of
his daughter; he even called her
“Charlotte the Sailor.” Not many
children had the opportunity to sail
across the Atlantic Ocean and
learn from the crew of a packet
ship. In fact, very few girls sailed
on ships at all. Charlotte knew she
was very lucky.
3
The trip to Liverpool had been
smooth sailing. It had taken four weeks, and the weather was clear and the winds perfect
for almost the entire trip. After unloading their cargo, the crew stayed in Liverpool two
weeks to prepare the ship for the return journey. Charlotte watched the men load the new
cargo onto the ship. They also stocked up on food and water for the long journey.
Charlotte knew they had to bring plenty of provisions in case they were delayed by bad
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weather. Prior to leaving, they also checked in passengers. Charlotte passed the time by
guessing how many passengers were onboard; she estimated at least two hundred. Some
of the passengers wore fancy dresses and jackets, but most wore simple clothing, as
Charlotte did. Charlotte planned to spend her days working on the ship, and so she
preferred practical clothing. A fluffy dress would just get in the way.
4
Finally, the moment came for Sea Trotter to set sail for Boston. Charlotte helped the crew
prepare the sails and helped her father check that the nautical instruments were working.
All the passengers gathered on deck and waved to people on the dock as the ship
sailed away.
5
The first few weeks of sailing were tranquil and pleasant. Charlotte spent her time
learning everything she could from the crew. She helped Joe the cook prepare potatoes
and salted pork for dinners. She learned new sewing stitches from Thomas, the
boatswain, and she even assisted him with repairing several sails. Her favorite activity
was to assist Patrick, the quartermaster, with navigation. He taught her how to use a
compass, read nautical charts, and look for constellations in the sky. Charlotte relished in
learning the methods for sailing the ship in the right direction.
6
“You, young lady, are the best apprentice I’ve ever had,” Patrick said, marveling at
Charlotte’s abilities. Charlotte smiled as her heart swelled with pride.
7
Just as the ship neared Boston, about a day’s worth of sailing away, the weather changed
abruptly. Dark clouds hung low in the sky, and the waves started churning.
8
“All hands on deck! Time to reef the sails!” Thomas called to the crew.
9
Charlotte shivered. She had never heard Thomas sound so worried. She knew he wanted
to reef, or shorten, the sails before the increasing winds made it more difficult. One crew
member came running to help, but slipped on the wet deck and hurt his arm. Captain
Leonard took the man down to his quarters and wrapped his arm in a bandage. Charlotte
quickly took his place and helped the others reef the sails.
10
Captain Leonard returned to the deck and looked anxiously at the sky. “Let’s go below
deck until the storm is over,” he said to Charlotte. “The storm will pass soon, but we need
to take cover until then.”
11
Soon, heavy rain beat down and the wind swirled all around the Sea Trotter. Thunder
cracked overhead, lightning flashed, and gusts of wind rocked the ship back and forth.
The passengers looked at each other nervously. Before embarking on the journey, they
had known storms were a possibility, but nothing could prepare them for the reality of a
teetering, tottering ship in the middle of the high seas. Charlotte spotted a little boy
nestled in his mother’s skirt. He looked like he was about to cry.
12
“It’s going to be all right,” Charlotte assured him. “The storm will pass soon. And
tomorrow will be a beautiful day, I promise.”
13
Just as Charlotte had suspected, the next day greeted them with blue skies and bright
sunshine. Charlotte scampered up to the deck and found her father calmly standing at the
helm, steering the ship.
14
“Good morning, Charlotte, my little sailor,” he said with a smile. The churning seas of
the night before were a distant memory; the ocean was placid and smooth.
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15
“Take the spyglass and have a look in that direction,” Captain Leonard instructed her.
16
Charlotte did so and spotted a tiny dark line on the horizon.
17
“Could we really be that close to home?” she wondered in surprise.
18
“Yes, that’s right, Charlotte, that is the Massachusetts coast in the distance. You helped
us get through last night’s terrible storm by helping reef the sails and calming the
passengers. Now we will be home safely very soon. You are my real Sea Trotter, Charlotte
the Sailor!
19
Charlotte laughed and joined him at the wheel. Looking out over the seas from this
vantage point, she felt certain she was catching a glimpse of her future.
Sea Travel on Packet Ships in the Eighteen Hundreds
1
Packet ships often sailed between the United States and Europe in the mid-eighteen
hundreds. The trip on a packet ship was often difficult and uncomfortable for both the
crew and passengers. Each crew member on a packet ship had specific responsibilities;
fulfillment of these responsibilities was critical to the organization and safety of the ship.
Nonetheless, the challenges and burdens were often heavy for both crew and passengers
alike.
2
Packet ships carried cargo, mail, and passengers. A typical packet ship could hold up to
about 290 people. Many of these passengers did not have much money and were
immigrating to the United States, looking for better opportunities and a new life. These
passengers typically bought the cheapest tickets available, in steerage. Steerage was
located on the lowest level of the ship, near the cargo area, and provided only the most
basic accommodations. It was often dark, cramped, and uncomfortable. Other passengers
were wealthier and could afford private cabins. These cabins were located near the
captain’s quarters and the crew’s sleeping quarters, right below the deck. Even these
private cabins were usually very basic. Packet ships were not known for being luxurious.
3
Crew members on a packet ship had much work to do even before the ship set sail. A
load line would be painted on the side of the ship’s hull or bottom area to show how much
cargo would be safe to carry. If water went over the line, it indicated that too much cargo
was being carried. Too much cargo could make the ship unsteady. The crew also had to
book passengers. Sometimes the ship had to wait in a port for days or weeks until it had
enough passengers.
4
The captain typically ran the ship in a strict manner. He made sure the crew were
working together and were always ready to handle a problem. The captain also served as
the doctor on a ship. He gave medical care to the sick and injured and had basic medical
equipment on board. For example, he had a surgical kit that he used to set broken bones
and stitch up cuts.
5
Each sailor had a specific role on a packet ship. The quartermaster was in charge of
navigation. The boatswain was in charge of the sails. Cooks prepared meals for the crew
and passengers. There was not much variety in the meals, as food did not keep long on
the ship. Typical meals included salted beef or pork, cheese, biscuits, and fish. The crew
members would help with cleaning, and they would keep watch, and handle the sails.
They worked constantly during the day and sometimes even at night, in shifts.
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6
When they were not working the men liked to play dice, tell stories, sing songs, play
musical instruments, carve, and practice knotting. Crew members knew many types of
nautical knots important for sailing.
7
Storms made crossing the Atlantic especially risky. Every trip there was a good chance a
packet ship would sail into a heavy storm. Strong winds could damage the masts and ruin
the sails. Large waves could possibly capsize the ship. For both the passengers and even
the crew, storms were often frightening.
8
Despite the many challenges that came with sailing on a packet ship, these vessels
played a significant role in transporting people, goods, and mail across the ocean in the
eighteen hundreds. They occupy an important place in nautical history.
1.
How would you describe the character of Charlotte in “Sea Trotter”? What
conclusions can you draw about her? Use details from the text to support
your response.
2.
What is the setting in “Sea Trotter”? How does the setting influence the plot of the
story? How does the setting shape the character of Charlotte?
3.
What conclusions can you draw about the passengers on the Sea Trotter? What
conclusions can you draw about the storm that hits the ship? Use details from the
text to support your response.
4.
What are the central ideas of “Sea Travel on Packet Ships in the Eighteen
Hundreds”? How are these ideas developed? Use details from the text to support
your response.
5.
What is the author’s purpose in “Sea Travel on Packet Ships in the Eighteen
Hundreds”? How does the author achieve this purpose? Use details from the text
to support your response.
6.
What conclusions can you draw about the life of crew members on packet ships,
based on “Sea Travel on Packet Ships in the Eighteen Hundreds”?
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7.
Read these sentences from paragraphs 4 and 5 of “Sea Trotter”
Finally, the moment came for Sea Trotter to set sail for Boston. Charlotte
helped the crew prepare the sails and helped her father check that the nautical
instruments were working.
Her favorite activity was to assist Patrick, the quartermaster, with navigation.
He taught her how to use a compass, read nautical charts, and look for
constellations in the sky. Charlotte relished in learning the methods for sailing
the ship in the right direction.
Read these sentences from paragraphs 6 and 8 of “Sea Travel on Packet Ships in
the 1800s.”
Crew members knew many types of nautical knots important for sailing.
Despite the many challenges that came with sailing on a packet ship,
these vessels played a significant role in transporting people, goods,
and mail across the ocean in the eighteen hundreds. They occupy an
important place in nautical history.
The information in the sentences gives clues to the meaning of the word nautical.
Based on these clues, what does the word nautical mean? How do the clues help
you understand the meaning of the word?
8.
How did “Sea Travel on Packet Ships in the Eighteen Hundreds” help you better
understand “Sea Trotter”? Cite at least two specific examples.
Use What You Have Learned
Now it’s time to show what you have learned. You will write an essay analyzing how “Sea
Trotter” and “Sea Travel on Packet Ships in the Eighteen Hundreds” are related. You will
use this essay to help create a plan for an original literary nonfiction short story that takes
place on a packet ship. When authors write literary nonfiction, they write about facts and
real events, but they do so in a way that also tells a story.
In the essay, you should analyze the relationship between “Sea Trotter” and “Sea Travel
on Packet Ships in the Eighteen Hundreds.” You should explain what conclusions you can
draw about the setting, plot, and characters in “Sea Trotter” based on the information in
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“Sea Travel on Packet Ships in the Eighteen Hundreds.” Then, you should create a plan
for a literary nonfiction short story that is set on a packet ship. This plan should describe
how a combination of facts and storytelling would be used in the literary nonfiction piece.
You may create your plan in the form of an outline or a paragraph. You should explain
the choices you make in this plan.
9.
Use your understanding of the story “Sea Trotter” and the article “Sea Travel on
Packet Ships in the Eighteen Hundreds” to write an essay analyzing the
relationship between the two texts. How would you describe the relationship
between “Sea Trotter” and “Sea Travel on Packet Ships in the Eighteen
Hundreds”? What conclusions can you draw about “Sea Trotter” based on the
information in “Sea Travel on Packet Ships in the Eighteen Hundreds”? Think
about setting, plot, and characters, specifically. Be sure to use details from the
texts to support your answers.
Then, using your essay to help you, create a plan for a literary nonfiction short
story that takes place on a packet ship. You may create an outline or write a
paragraph. Briefly explain your choices in the plan.
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