Hooks and Introduction Paragraphs

_______________ 50% of all deaf and hard-of-hearing people use ASL. ASL is beginning to be provided by the Foreign Language Departments of many universities and high schools around the nation. The need and popularity of American Sign Language show that it should be a compulsory lesson subject at all high schools around the country.

• Is it true that bigger is always better? Could it be that society’s insatiable desire for more is in many ways giving people less?

• American Sign Language is the second most preferred foreign language in the United States.

_______________  Most would agree that he has reached a point of financial security. In fact, it would be almost impossible to figure out how one could spend one million dollars per day. For most Americans, finding an occupation that is satisfying, earning enough money to live comfortably, and figuring out a realistic blend between work and leisure are three essential factors in beginning one’s career.

• Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, could spend one million dollars per day, every day, seven days a week, and would not run out of money until he was 311 years old!

• Working students deal with a lot of stress in their lives every day.

_______________ A democracy is a system of government that places the power in the hands of the people. If individuals in a given society are not granted equal access and representation, then that government cannot claim to be a true democracy. The lack of female voices in the United States Government creates an imbalance of power based on gender. Despite the smaller percentage of women currently involved in high-level government positions, pioneers like Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Condoleeza Rice are leading the way towards gender equality in politics.

• “There cannot be true democracy unless women’s voices are heard” (Hillary Rodham Clinton).

• Is it true that bigger is always better? Could it be that society’s insatiable desire for more is in many ways giving people less?

_______________ Once society has accepted the premise that more choice is better, is it possible to reverse that trend? For small, local, family-owned businesses, more and bigger has been anything but better. Local businesses suffer from the trend of ‘more is better’ in terms of production costs, storage, and time.

• Spending time in different parts of the world can provide people with unique insights on cultural differences and a deep appreciation for ways of life other than their own.

• Is it true that bigger is always better? Could it be that society’s insatiable desire for more is in many ways giving people less?

_______________ Stress is very common for students while they are working because they have a lot of responsibilities to balance. They have a list of tasks for school and work that can overwhelm their schedules. Feeling stress is normal when there is not enough time to finish all of your responsibilities, but it can have negative results. Instead of avoiding stress, students simply need to learn how to manage it. In order for students to manage stress better, they need to prioritize their tasks, eat well, and get enough sleep.

• Working students deal with a lot of stress in their lives every day.

• People can’t live without sufficient water, yet one-third of the worldwide population does not have access to clean drinking water.