Writing Prompt:

Drones are becoming an increasingly common sight in the skies above our communities. The
benefits to society offered by these devices are tremendous but there are also concerns about
their unregulated use.
Write an editorial in which you take a stand on whether or not the advantages of drones
outweigh their problems. Your analysis must be based on ideas, concepts, and information from
the passage set. Be sure to use specific evidence from the articles. Avoid relying on one article.
Manage your time carefully so that you can
read the passages;
plan your response;
write your response; and
revise and edit your response.
Be sure to
include a claim;
use evidence from multiple sources; and
avoid overly relying on one source.
Passage Set: Eyes in the Sky
Source 1

More people are buying drones for fun, but they need to think of safety too
By The Record, adapted by Newsela staff
12.15.14
1

Grade Level 6
Word Count 907

HACKENSACK, N.J. Long used by the military for secret missions, drones are now cheap enough for
the average person. These remote-controlled flying machines are one of the hot presents this holiday
season.

The DJI Phantom 2 Vision is a drone with four propellers and a high-definition camera. USA Today
recently called this drone, which sells for $1,200, a top holiday gift for 2014. Want a drone for less than
$100? No problem. Radioshack is selling the Surveyor Drone for just $60. The Surveyor is red, it shoots
videos and its easy to fly. Rob Powley of Mahwah, New Jersey, has so many drones that he forgets
exactly how many. He bought some already built and built others himself.

Low-Cost Fun, Simple Cameras

3

I bought them because theyre cool, Powley said. Its amazing what you can do with a drone. And
theyre getting better all the time. For years, drones were mostly used by the military to gather
information or drop bombs. Now, drones are available to almost anyone. They offer low-cost fun and
easy-to-use cameras. But more drones in the skies also bring problems for airplane pilots, tourists in
national parks and even pedestrians.

Drones increasingly face concerns over safety and privacy. There are calls for more regulation of drones
by states and the federal government. The fun gift you get under the tree this year may face many tight
new rules in the future. The laws surrounding drones vary by state and local government, said Wells C.

Bennett, who studies national security law at the Brookings Institution. Its confusing, Bennett said.
And a lot of the laws will change over the next couple of years.
Packed With New Technology
5

The biggest difference between radio-controlled planes and drones is cameras. Today, small, light
cameras such as GoPros can fly on drones and send photos and video instantly back to smartphones,
tablets and computers.

New technologies such as LIDAR cameras work like radar, but using lasers. The cameras can make
detailed 3-D models of territory from the sky. They can even spot people through trees, making them
useful for military and police. These technologies are getting lighter and cheaper, Blades said. "They
will be affordable for anyone to buy in the next 10 years," he said.

Airports Are No-Drone Zones

7

In the near future, drones will fly higher, farther and faster than anything available to consumers today.
Concerns about the privacy and safety of consumer drones are growing.

Since July, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is in charge of the nation's aviation safety,
has been receiving 30 complaints a month from pilots who have had close calls with drones, or seen
them flying in restricted airspace near airports. On Sept. 8, for example, the pilots of three different
passenger jets reported a very close call with a drone at about 1,900 feet as they flew into La Guardia
Airport in New York City. Even a small drone could bring down a jet.

Hey Drone, Leave Me Alone

9

Others worry that drones could be used to invade peoples privacy. In September, Russell Percenti of
Lower Township, New Jersey, became so angry at his neighbor for flying a drone over his house that he
shot the drone down with a shotgun. Percenti was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a
weapon and criminal mischief.

10 With small hobbyist drones with high-definition cameras, itll be easy enough to peek into your
neighbors backyard anytime you want to, said Jeramie Scott of the Electronic Privacy Information
Center.
11 Drone supporters say privacy concerns are exaggerated. A good pair of binoculars is a better spying tool
than a drone, which can only fly for a few minutes at a time while making a loud buzzing noise, said
Michael Drobac, who works for a business group that represents drone makers.
Source 2

A drone can be a cheap, safe eye in the sky, but you need a license
By CQ Roll Call, adapted by Newsela staff
10.21.14

Grade Level 6
Word Count 606

12 Film directors, sports teams, farmers, oil companies and many other businesses are hoping the
government will allow them to use a high-flying technology: drones. Drones are small airplanes or

helicopters that are flown by remote control, without a pilot. They are often used in situations that
would be too dangerous for a plane with a pilot.
13 The U.S. military has been using drones for years to drop bombs on targets overseas. Now, many
different kinds of companies hope to experiment with drones. Drones could be used for almost
anything in the future, said drone expert Rachel Stohl.
Show Me A License
14 Today, almost no companies are using drones. The U.S. government hasnt allowed them to. The
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the government group that controls flying in the U.S.,
including airplanes, helicopters and airports. So far, the FAA has mainly allowed police and research
groups to use drones. It hasnt given out many permits to businesses that want to use the unmanned
aircraft.
15 The FAA is working on a plan to deal with drones. Right now, drones are not allowed in U.S. airspace.
Because of this rule, drones cannot fly too high or go into certain areas. The FAAs plan is supposed to
be finished by 2015, but it may take longer, a government official said.
16 Drones are a challenge for the FAA. Traditional aircraft airplanes and helicopters come in standard
shapes and sizes. They are used for common jobs. Drones can come in any shape and size. They can also
be used for almost anything. [The FAA] is having a really hard time understanding the technology,
said Mary Louise Cummings, who teaches at Duke University.
Smaller And Cheaper
17 Drones can solve problems for many different types of companies. Drones are often smaller and
cheaper than traditional aircraft. They can go into areas that are too dangerous for people. Difficult
terrain, such as mountains or desert, are a good place to use drones, Stohl said. They are also useful
when conditions on the ground are dangerous, such as during a riot or a volcano eruption. Drones could
also be used to rescue people or fight fires, Cummings said.
18 Many industries need high-quality photos taken from the air, Cummings said. Some of the industries
include farming, entertainment, mapmaking, mining and wildlife conservation. Drones could fly above
bridges and into tunnels to check on safety issues. Anywhere where you think you need to see
something from high up, it's going to be not only cheaper but safer, Cummings said.
Send In The Drones!
19 Some businesses have begun using drones and many more are considering it. Insurance companies in
particular have a need for drones. When disasters hit like earthquakes or floods, people can lose their
homes or cars.
20 In order to begin rebuilding, people need payments from insurance companies. These companies help
people recover from disasters. To get the payments, insurance workers must look at the damage.
Sometimes, after an earthquake or flood, the area can be too dangerous for the workers. Drones would
allow the insurance workers to get information without putting themselves in danger.

21 Insurance is not the only type of business that wants drones. Movie companies want to use the remotely
operated planes to film scenes from the sky. Large oil companies want to use drones to search for oil off
the coast of Alaska. Golfers want to use drones to film golf events. The Washington Nationals baseball
team used a small helicopter-like drone to take pictures of the team. Even college football players have
been using drones in practice. Clemson University uses one to film football practices, which can help
the players improve.
Source 3