WorksheetsVDOE 8th Grade Writing SOL Thesis TS Tone Vocabulary Purpose
Total questions: 40
Worksheet time: 1hrs 6mins
What is a Thesis?
The main idea of the essay
The main idea of a paragraph
The first sentence in an essay
The first sentence in a paragraph.
What is a topic sentence?
The sentence that gets your reader to want to read your essay
It's the same thing as an example or description in your body paragraphs
It's one of your main reasons that connects with one of the ideas in the thesis.
Which of these is NOT a requirement of a thesis?
Contains all the topics, categories, or opinions you will write about
Contains a transition word or phrase
Contains and relates the main idea of your essay
Guides your essay like a roadmap
Which of the following would be a good thesis for an essay about whales?
Whales are the largest animals in the world.
Dolphins and porpoises are also whales.
Whales are large ocean-dwelling mammals that have hair, are warm blooded, and give birth to live young.
Whales are mammals, eat krill, plankton, and fish, and live in complex social groups known as pods.
Which of the following is NOT a requirement of topics sentences?
Provides an example to your readers that illustrates your ideas
Contains a transitional word or phrase
Explains the reason or main idea of the body paragraph that it is in
Is directly related to the ideas in your thesis
Which of the following would NOT be a good topic sentence to include in an essay about whales with the thesis: Whales are the largest mammals, eat krill, plankton, and fish, and live in complex social groups known as pods.
To begin, whales are the largest mammals, give birth to live young, are covered in hair, and produce milk.
Next, each kind of whale has a unique diet that might include krill, plankton, small fish, crabs, and tiny crustaceans.
Additionally, whales are able to communicate though a series of chirps, whistles, and reverberations often called "songs."
Finally, whales live in complex social families known a pods with designated leaders which protect the rest of the group.
Which would be the best thesis statement for a report on the work of the famous painter Vincent van Gogh?
When Vincent van Gogh lived in Paris, he worked among many other modern painters of the time.
The sunlight and the landscape were two of painter Vincent van Gogh’s biggest inspirations in his early works.
Vincent van Gogh, one of the most famous painters of modern art, was born in Groot-Zundert, the Netherlands, in 1853.
Vincent van Gogh’s painting The Starry Night is one of his most famous and is a popular image on calendars and gift cards.
Read this: Carnegie retired as the world’s richest man. He wanted to become a philanthropist so he founded the Carnegie Institution to fund scientific research, established a pension fund for teachers with a $10 million donation, and established the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Based on the thesis, what kind of paper is Luke planning to write?
an editorial telling readers the importance of the Carnegie Institution
a persuasive essay convincing readers to donate money to important causes just as Carnegie did
a report informing readers about the generosity of Andrew Carnegie
an article providing readers with a description of famous philanthropists of the 1900s
Which of these would be the best thesis statement for a report on President George Washington?
George Washington, the first president of the United States, is often referred to in history books as the “Father of Our Country.”
Most Americans of his time loved George Washington, and ever since the Revolutionary War, our country has celebrated his birthday.
At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, George Washington is quoted as saying, “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.”
George Washington helped shape our country as an army commander, as president of the Constitutional Convention, and as the first president of the United States.
Which of these would be the best thesis statement for a report on Sacagawea?
Sacagawea joined the Lewis and Clark expedition along with her husband Toussaint Charbonneau in the winter months of 1804.
Sacagawea was one of the few females on the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Sacagawea was a Native American Shoshone woman who joined explorers Lewis and Clark on their expedition west during the years 1805 and 1806.
Sacagawea helped make the Lewis and Clark expedition a success by helping the men navigate, hunt, and cross the dangerous Rocky Mountains.
Which sentence would make the best topic sentence for a paragraph about the North Rim of the Grand Canyon?
The North Rim gets about 26 inches of rain per year and heavy snow during the winter.
The North Rim is the highest, wettest, coldest, and most forested part of the park.
The elk of the North Rim often make a loud bugling noise during the fall.
The kaibab squirrel of the North Rim is found nowhere else on Earth.
Which statement would make the BEST thesis sentence because it is the most specific?
Horses are fascinating animals because they are unique and different.
Horse breeds vary in many ways including their size, colors, and specialized abilities.
Horse breeds come in many different sizes like small, medium, large, very small, and extremely large.
The horse is an animal we know much about.
Read this thesis statement: Barrier islands provide places of recreation for those who fish and swim along them, homes for various populations of plants and animals, and the protection for coastal regions on the mainland.
Which sentence should be deleted because it presents a detail that is unimportant to the report on barrier islands?
The side facing the ocean has a beach with a sand dune behind it.
On some islands, sea turtles pull themselves ashore to dig nests.
I would like to visit someday with a high-quality camera.
The water between the island and the mainland is a vast shallow body of water called a lagoon.
Which sentence best demonstrates the appropriate tone for a school-sponsored newsletter to parents?
Lots of people need to join the parent committee because they do cool things.
Everybody, listen up cause the parent involvement committee needs new members.
The parent involvement committee is planning to hold several recruiting activities.
The committee that parents belong to is looking for some new people to join up.
A student is writing a letter to the principal. If the student’s purpose is to persuade, the tone of the writer should be
hunorous.
informal.
respectful.
sentimental.
The carpenter reproduced the broken piece so well that even the museum officials could not tell it from the others.
Which word best replaces “well” to provide more precise detail?
pleasantly
skillfully
completely
quickly
Which of the following sentences would most likely appear in a persuasive letter to the school board convincing them to stop a policy where students have to eat in their classrooms?
The cafeteria is a place where students and teachers gather to eat lunch.
I often look back to the happy hours I spend in the cafeteria.
The bell rang and we sprinted to the cafeteria. Max was the first in line. He’s always lucky like that.
Sometimes the cafeteria is full of children.
Where is one place in the world you would like to visit? Explain why you would want to visit this place, and what you would want to do or see once you arrive. Include specific details and examples in your response.
expository
persuasive
narrative
descriptive
Think about how daily life, from reading to playing games to communicating with others, has changed over the past hundred years because of technology. Using specific details and examples, explain how these advancements in technology have changed daily life.
expository
persuasive
narrative
descriptive
Most schools offer a variety of activities, classes, and clubs. Identify one of these that students enjoy and explain why they enjoy it. Include specific details and examples in your response.
expository
persuasive
narrative
descriptive
When people ask for advice, they sometimes talk to more than one person. Explain why seeking multiple opinions can help someone make a better choice. Use specific details and examples in your response.
descriptive
narrative
persuasive
expository
You have been asked to share a lesson with elementary school students. Using specific details and examples, explain the lesson and why it would be important.
descriptive
narrative
persuasive
expository
Community parks, state parks, and national parks provide a wide variety of interesting activities. Write about an enjoyable way to spend time outdoors. Using specific details and examples, explain why someone might find that activity enjoyable.
expository
persuasive
narrative
descriptive
The ancient Greek storyteller Aesop said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Explain how small acts of kindness can have an impact on others. Use specific details and examples in your response.
descriptive
narrative
persuasive
expository
Think about how daily life, from reading to playing games to communicating with others, has changed over the past hundred years because of technology. Using specific details and examples, explain how these advancements in technology have changed daily life.
descriptive
narrative
persuasive
expository
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.
descriptive
narrative
persuasive
expository
What are the advantages of earning your own money to purchase something special? Explain the advantages using specific details and examples in your response.
expository
persuasive
narrative
descriptive
Civil rights leader Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” What is one way you would like to change the world, and how can you help to bring about this change? Use specific details and examples in your response.
descriptive
narrative
persuasive
expository
An old proverb says honesty is the best policy. Sometimes, however, honesty might hurt a person’s feelings. Explain why you either agree or disagree with being honest at all times. Use specific details and examples to convince others to support your position.
descriptive
narrative
persuasive
expository
Write about someone who has shared wisdom and experience with you. Explain why it is important to learn from the experience of others. Include specific details and examples in your response.
expository
persuasive
narrative
descriptive
Many schools have partnerships with local companies and organizations that allow students to explore certain professions. Write a letter to the manager of a local workplace that performs the type of work you would like to pursue. Convince the employer to allow you to visit. Include details about why you chose that workplace and the specific job.
descriptive
narrative
persuasive
expository
What improvement would make your community better? Use specific details and examples to convince the mayor of your community to accept your idea for improving where you live.
descriptive
narrative
persuasive
expository
Thoughtful acts can take many forms, such as unexpected help or even just a kind word. Explain how a thoughtful act can benefit those involved. Use specific details and examples in your response.
descriptive
narrative
persuasive
expository
Some people think that schools should offer only nutritious drinks such as white milk, water, and natural fruit juice. Do you agree or disagree with this policy? Use specific details and examples to convince your principal to accept your position.
descriptive
narrative
persuasive
expository
Your assignment is to design a neighborhood of the future. Explain what you would include in a neighborhood of the future and why. Include specific details and examples in your design.
descriptive
narrative
persuasive
expository
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.
persuasive
descriptive
expository
narrative
Your school is considering making a change to the dress code. What is one change that you would recommend, and why is it important? Use specific details and examples to justify this change.
descriptive
narrative
persuasive
expository
Identify an enjoyable educational activity. It could be participating in a play, completing a science experiment, playing an instrument, or something else. Use specific details and examples to explain why the activity is enjoyable.
descriptive
narrative
persuasive
expository
People often credit their successes to having good attitudes. Explain the benefits of having a good attitude, even during a difficult time. Provide examples from your own experience or from having witnessed this in others.
descriptive
narrative
persuasive
expository
Is it better to take risks and perhaps make some mistakes or remain cautious and risk nothing? Explain using specific details and examples in your response.
descriptive
narrative
persuasive
expository
