Write a Thesis
Everything Commas
Central Idea
Vocab
SMARTIE OUTLINE
100

The school board plans to add one and a half hours to school each day. Do you agree or disagree with extending the school day? Use specific details and examples to convince the school board to accept your position.

I (dis)agree because ________, ____________, and ______________. 
100

Add a comma/commas here if it is necessary. 

I like to run play jump and skip outside during break.

I like to run, play, jump, and skip outside during break. 

100

Identify the main idea (be specific).

Rats are a rodent of medium size. Black rats, or roof rats, have thick, coarse, black hair that keeps them warm through the weather. Roof rats can grow to be 16 inches in length including their tail. They have large ears, a tail that is longer than their body and a pointed nose. Their tale helps them with balance and maintaining body temperature. Their long noses help them nose around for food with great smell. 

The utility of the rat body

100

What does the italicized word mean?


Biology is my favorite subject; I love learning about humans and our life cycles. 

Biology = study of life

Bio = life

logy = study

100
What are the three parts of your introductory paragraph?

a. Hook

b. Bridge

c. Thesis

200

Many professional athletes and entertainers earn large sums of money. Do you agree or disagree with these individuals making high salaries? Use specific details and examples to convince others to support your position.

I (dis)agree because _______, __________, and ___________. 
200

Add a comma(s) to the sentence if it is necessary.

During break my best friend and I got into a fight. 

During break, my best friend and I got into a fight. 

200

Japan’s newest rocket failed on its first launch on 7 March, which could jeopardize the nation’s space science plans. Controllers ordered the H3 rocket to self-destruct 15 minutes into the mission after the second stage failed to ignite. Engineers will work to address the rocket’s problems.

A Japanese rocket failure

200

The funeral was a place of deep sadness

Which of the following words could replace sadness most easily?

a. loneliness

b. sorrow

c. resentment

b. sorrow fits the best

200

What are some traits of a thesis?

1. argumentative

2. with two or three reasons

3. foreshadows the order of your essay

300

Identify a challenge facing students, and use specific details and examples to explain ways to overcome that challenge.

A challenge is ________ and we can overcome it through _______ and ________. 

300

Add a comma(s) to this sentence. 

Burley is a great school and we have lots of great students and teachers. 

Burley is a great school, and we have lots of great students and teachers.

300

Do you like recess? Recess is extremely beneficial for students because it helps their mental and physical health. Students who have recess can have a mental break and return to class ready to learn, which helps them avoid stress. A lack of bad stress benefits mental health. Furthermore, recess can keep kids physically fit as they use this time to run and play.

Recess is beneficial for students because of mental and physical health reasons. 

300

The child was extremely agitated today; he could not sit still, cried easily, and even fought another child! 


Which is an antonym of the italicized word?

a. upset

b. aggressive 

c. calm 

c. calm 
300

What is an example of a THESIS statement?

a. Do you like going to the mall or the park better?

b. Studies say that parks are being replaced with shopping malls and other corporations all over America. 

c. We should not replace parks with malls because online shopping exists, we have to protect nature, and parks are good for family fun.

c. We should not replace parks with malls because online shopping exists, we have to protect nature, and parks are good for family fun.

400

Competition is a constant presence in today’s schools, where students not only compete with one another in the classroom but also in sports and in various extracurricular activities. Explain how competition can improve life or make it more difficult for students. Use specific details and examples in your response.

Competition is (good/bad) because ________, _________, and __________. 

400

Add a comma/commas here if needed:

Although I love English the Writing SOL is boring.

Although I love English, the Writing SOL is boring. 

400

Where can you find a central idea?

A. Title / headers

B. Keywords

C. Both 

C. Both

400

What is the meaning of the underlined word?

Every woman in her family is a redhead for as far back as she can remember; the gene must come from the maternal line. 

Mother's 

400
The format you use to write your body paragraphs

APE:

Answer/Topic Sentence

Proof/Evidence

Explanation

500

Sometimes people recognize similarities between themselves and a character from a book or a movie. Write about a character from a book or a movie who you think is similar to you. What do you have in common with this character? Use specific details and examples in your response.

I am like this character because _________, __________, and ___________. 

500

Correct the grammar of this sentence. 

January 25 2023:

Today I went to school and saw my crush. His name is Bartley and he has short dark hair and brown eyes. Although Bartley is so cute his best friend is mean. The best friend Adam calls me names and glares at me during class. I was just sitting staring at Bartley when all of a sudden Adam was in my face yelling at me! 

January 25, 2023:

Today, I went to school and saw my crush. His name is Bartley, and he has short dark hair and brown eyes. Although Bartley is so cute, his best friend is mean. The best friend, Adam, calls me names and glares at me during class. I was just sitting staring at Bartley when, all of a sudden, Adam was in my face, yelling at me!

500

Once again, Americans will set their clocks forward an hour this Sunday — teeing up more evening sunshine but also a few days of grogginess and confusion. (1) And once again, the lawmaker dubbed the “Sun King” is vowing that this can be the year that Congress ends the nation’s much-maligned, twice-yearly time changes. (2) “Americans want more sunshine in the chilly, winter months, and Congress can deliver that to them,” said Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), otherwise known as the "Sun King." (3)

Which line could be added to support the main idea of this paragraph between sentences 2 and 3?

1. Daylight Savings is when Americans turn back the clocks for an hour so that they can see the sun more. 

2. Daylight Savings originated when artificial light was not invented yet and people had to alter their schedules to fit that. 

3. The Sun King argues we do not need Daylight Savings anymore.

3. The Sun King argues we do not need Daylight Savings anymore.

500

The data from the first study has since become obsolete because the second study has both disproved the first and showed a blind spot in the research; more experiments will have to be done to find what is actually happening with the echolocation of bats in zoos. 

What is the meaning of the underlined word? 


useless, out of date

500

What are the parts of the conclusion paragraph?

2/3 acceptable

1. Restate Thesis

2. Summarization of main points

3. Call to action

M
e
n
u