Is this a LEAD or THESIS STATEMENT?

In the winter of 2019, a virus began spreading across the world.

Is this EVIDENCE or a BRIDGE?

According to the Associated Press, a nursing home called Hebrew Home at Riverdale, New York decided to expand their pet program during the pandemic.

Is this EVIDENCE or a BRIDGE?

This is because residents at the home felt lonely, depressed, and anxious since their relatives and friends could not visit.

Is this EVIDENCE or a BRIDGE?

The staff could not seem to help one woman who was struggling with anxiety, but when a staff member brought a dog to her, “her behavior changed from crying to having her face light up and telling stories about her own experiences".

Is this EVIDENCE or a BRIDGE:

This proves that dogs can make connections that humans sometimes cannot.

Is this EVIDENCE or BRIDGE?

According to the Washington Post, many parents felt the pandemic was the perfect time to adopt a dog from the shelter.

Is this EVIDENCE or BRIDGE?

Now that parents and children are home more often, it allows them time to train and give attention to a new dog.

Is this EVIDENCE or BRIDGE?

Also, dogs help single people to stay motivated: Cathy Shield, a University of California, Berkeley graduate student said, “Having a dog is going to force me to get up early in the morning because at an absolute minimum, I have to let it out to pee”.

Is this EVIDENCE or BRIDGE?

Being responsible for a helpless living being helps us to stay busy and focus on things than our own isolation.

Is this COUNTERCLAIM or a TURN-BACK?

Some people claim that adopting a dog during a pandemic is selfish, since the dog will be at home alone when the owner returns to work.

Is this a COUNTERCLAIM or a TURN-BACK?

This may be true in some cases, but the bond between the human and the animal will continue even when the human returns to work. And besides, many jobs that are now performed from home will continue to be done from home, even after the pandemic.

Is this a RESTATEMENT OF THE THESIS or a CLOSING SENTENCE? Look back at the thesis before answering!

Dogs are an important part of the Coronavirus pandemic because they have brought comfort to many people.

Is this a SUMMARY OF POINTS or a CLOSING SENTENCE?

Dogs have always been "man's best friend", but now we can honestly say: Dogs are a comfort to all who love and need them-especially during a pandemic.

Is this a SUMMARY OF POINTS, a THESIS, or a CLOSING SENTENCE?

Canine companions have brought residents of nursing homes comfort. Families and single people have adopted dogs during the pandemic which has given them motivation to keep going through a difficult time.