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

Let's analyze the introductory paragraphs for the presence of a hook, filler sentences, and a thesis statement:

1. Hook: A hook is a compelling opening sentence meant to grab the reader's attention. In this case, there isn't a clear hook present in any of the provided paragraphs. They primarily contain factual information about pumpkins that may not engage the reader immediately.

2. Filler sentences: Filler sentences often provide unnecessary details or rephrase information that does not add significant value to the main topic. The paragraph contains several instances of filler sentences. For example:

   • "Pumpkins are usually orange but can sometimes be yellow, white, green or red."
   • "They vary in weight but an average sized pumpkin might weigh around 13 pounds (6 kilograms)." These sentences could be considered filler since they present basic facts without adding depth or engaging the reader.

3. Thesis statement: A thesis statement clearly presents the main idea or argument of the text. In this case, the closest paragraph to having a thesis statement would be:

   • "Pumpkins are so popular in the United States because they are used for food products, decorations, and are symbolic in many cultural celebrations." This statement summarizes the main idea of the paragraph and sets the stage for further exploration of the topic.

In conclusion, the paragraphs lack a strong hook, contain several filler sentences, and include a clear thesis statement at the end.