Now let's look at some introductory paragraphs and identify which one has a hook, filler sentences, and a thesis statement.

Question

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1 point
Pumpkins are usually orange but can sometimes be yellow, white, green or red. The name pumpkin comes from the Greek word ‘pepon’, meaning ‘large melon’. Pumpkins have thick shells which contain pulp and seeds. Scientifically speaking, pumpkins are a fruit (they contain seeds) but when it comes to cooking, they are often referred to as vegetables. Pumpkins are usually shaped like a sphere (ball).
They vary in weight but an average sized pumpkin might weigh around 13 pounds (6 kilograms). Giant pumpkins can be grown for competitions, with some weighing over 1000 pounds! (450 kilograms). In 2010, the world record was 1810 pounds! That’s huge!! Pumpkin plants feature both male and female flowers, with bees typically being involved in pollination (the transfer of pollen).
Over 1 billion pounds (450 million kgs) of pumpkin are produced in the US every year. As a food, pumpkin can be baked, roasted, steamed or boiled. Pumpkin soup is popular, as are roasted pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin pie is a sweet dessert that originates in North America and is traditionally eaten during harvest time and holidays such as Thanksgiving.
Did you know that 100 grams of pumpkin produces around 26 calories of energy? Pumpkins vary in weight but an average sized pumpkin might weigh around 13 pounds (6 kilograms). Giant pumpkins can be grown for competitions, with some weighing over 1000 pounds! (450 kilograms). Over 1 billion pounds (450 million kgs) of pumpkin are produced in the US every year. As a food, pumpkin can be baked, roasted, steamed or boiled. Pumpkins are so popular in the United States because they are used for food products, decorations, and are symbolic in many cultural celebrations.

Answer 1

In the provided paragraph, the elements of a hook, filler sentences, and a thesis statement can be identified as follows:

Hook: The paragraph lacks a strong hook that grabs the reader's attention right from the beginning. It starts with factual statements about pumpkins rather than an engaging opening statement.

Filler Sentences: Several sentences in the paragraph could be considered filler, as they provide basic information without advancing the main point. For example, "Pumpkins are usually orange but can sometimes be yellow, white, green or red." and "Pumpkins are usually shaped like a sphere (ball)." These sentences provide general information but do not contribute significantly to an overarching argument or theme.

Thesis Statement: The last sentence, "Pumpkins are so popular in the United States because they are used for food products, decorations, and are symbolic in many cultural celebrations," serves as the thesis statement. It presents the main idea that will likely be elaborated upon in the rest of the writing.

In summary, the paragraph includes filler sentences and a thesis statement, but it lacks an engaging hook.