Lab Activities
Lab Activity 1: Main Points, Support Points, and Specific Details
 
Objective To identify thesis statements and develop support points and specific details.

Step 1: For each of the following topics, write a thesis statement that expresses the main point for a possible short essay on the general topic.

Example: Applying to colleges
While completing my applications to colleges, I learned a lot about myself.

       

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.



       

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.



       

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.



       

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.



       

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.



     
       

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.



       

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.



       

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.



       

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.



      Step 3: For each item below, read the thesis statement and its support point. From the list that follows, choose the specific detail that does not illustrate the support point.
Example:
Thesis statement: While completing my applications to colleges, I learned a lot about myself.

Support point: I realized how much education I have already had.

[ ] I have been going to school for about fourteen years.
[X] I had many friends while I was going to middle school.
[ ] At high school, I learned many of the skills I will need in college.
[ ] At my preschool, I learned how to get along with other kids.



1. Thesis statement: Doing well in school requires more than intelligence.

Support point: It requires a student to take schoolwork seriously. 



      2. Thesis statement: I should be allowed to enroll in Chinese II, skipping Chinese I.

Support point: I have already studied what Chinese I covers. 



      3. Thesis statement: My dad learned to build houses by watching others do it.

Support point: He worked for a housing contractor for years. 



      4. Thesis statement: There are certain things I do to improve my performance in a class.

Support point: I participate during the class as much as I can. 



      5. Thesis statement: Teaching can be rewarding.

Support point: When I taught my sister Amy to play chess, I learned some things myself. 



      6. Thesis statement: Some things can help make the college experience go smoothly.

Support point: One is to have an advisor and to use his or her advice. 



      7. Thesis statement: Getting lost in the woods can be educational.

Support point: I learned how to better prepare for going into the woods. 



      8. Thesis statement: Learning to write correctly can be annoying sometimes.

Support point: It can make one feel like a trained dog. 



      9. Thesis statement: There are many different ways of learning.

Support point: I believe most people learn best by doing. 



      10. Thesis statement: Some surprising activities can actually be educational.

Support point: Playing sports can be educational. 



       

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.



Answer choices in this exercise are randomized and will appear in a different order each time the page is loaded.





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