Introductions

Hook Sorting There are four common types of hooks: fact, description, question, and imagination statement. You can also use a quotation as your hook. Each sentence below is a hook. Sort the hooks by clicking on each sentence and choosing the correct label. Fact There are more lifeforms on human skin than there are people on the planet. One of Leonardo da Vinci's talents was that he could write with one hand while painting simultaneously with the other. Destin Florida has some of the softest and whitest sand in the entire world. Description The dog howled in pain and limped along the side of the road. His leg was cut and bleeding. The sweet smell of cotton candy floats in the air. A dark figure glides across a frozen lake, the only sound is her skates scraping the ice. Question What is the difference between successful and unsuccessful high school students? What is the purpose of life? What if you only had one day left? Imagination Statement Imagine walking to school and finding out the principal has been abducted by an alien. Imagine a world where people never go hungry. Imagine growing up to be nine feet tall. Thesis Statements Each of the next three questions will present a writing prompt. For each following writing prompt, choose the BEST thesis statement. Write an essay explaining the importance of homework. Homework is important. Homework is important because it gives students an opportunity to practice new skills. I think homework is a bad idea. In this essay, I'm going to tell you why homework is important. Write an essay explaining why mobile phones should be banned in schools. Mobile phones should be banned in schools because they are a distraction and they allow students to cheat. Mobile phones should be banned in schools. This is why mobile phones should be banned because they make kids get not pay attention. Mobile phones should be allowed in schools. Write an essay explaining why it is important to keep the promises you make. It is important to keep the promises you make because you will be perceived as honest and dependable. Keeping the promises you make is important so others will trust you. In this essay, I will explain to you why it's important to keep your promises. Yes, it's important to keep promises you make. Identifying Thesis Statements Each question below has three answer choices. Each answer choice is a sentence, but only one of the sentences is a thesis statement. Using what you know about thesis statements, identify which sentence of the three is a thesis statement. Which is a thesis statement? The Open Internet Order requires Internet service providers to deliver all online content at the same period. Internet service providers should be required to deliver all online content at the same speed. Why should Internet service providers be required to deliver all online content at the same speed? Which is a thesis statement? The government should subsidize college for median-income Americans to help with the rising cost of tuition. The cost of college tuition in the United States has been steadily increasing since the 1970s. What should the government do to help with the rising cost of tuition in the United States? Which is a thesis statement? I intend to show how exposure to secondhand smoke in public places is harmful to people’s health. A complete ban on smoking in public places is an appropriate response to mitigate the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. Research has shown that exposure to secondhand smoke in public places can be harmful to people’s health. Which is a thesis statement? In 2010, the U.S Department of Agriculture reported as nearly one hundred thousand animals suffered pain during scientific experiments. If animals experience pain and suffering in laboratory research, should scientists be allowed to use them in experiments? Animals should not be used in scientific experiments, since such experiments often subject animals to pain and suffering. Which is a thesis statement? To make school start times more synchronized with teenagers’ biological clocks, schools should begin classes no earlier than 8:30 A.M. The paragraphs that follow explain why schools should begin no earlier than 8:30 A.M. Researchers have discovered that the tendency for teenagers to stay up late at night and wake up late in the morning is biologically determined. Identifying Thesis Statements 2 In each question below you will read a sentence. Choose whether the sentence is a thesis statement or not. Is this a thesis statement:“The Paragraphs that follow serve to show the reasons the death penalty should be abolished in the United States.” Yes No Is this a thesis statement:“College admissions counselors should accept students with strong grades and varied extracurricular backgrounds over students with high test scores.” Yes No Is this a thesis statement:“This paper will explain how the estate tax can help prevent the accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few.“ Yes No Is this a thesis statement:“Reducing defense spending is the best way to downsize the government and balance the federal budget.” Yes No Is this a thesis statement:“Do unions’ actions to improve working conditions for members mean that unions should be protected?” Yes No