Worksheet

Write a clear thesis statement

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

  1. Read this first

    Keep the Bag Fee (draft essay)

    [1] When the town of Marlow began charging ten cents for each plastic shopping bag two years ago, the number of bags found along Mill Creek fell sharply. [2] Now the council is considering ending the fee after complaints from shoppers and some store owners. [3] The Marlow bag fee is good for the town, and the council should not end it.

    [4] Opponents argue that the fee hurts low-income families and that stores keep the money. [5] Yet a household that forgets its bags pays about two dollars a month, and the town's reports show that most shoppers now bring their own. [6] The council's accounts also show that the fee money pays for creek cleanup rather than going to stores.

    [7] The creek volunteers counted 410 bags along one mile in the spring before the fee and 96 in the spring after. [8] Another benefit is that stores have saved money on bags, which one grocery owner confirmed in a letter. [9] Ending the fee would erase these gains.

  2. Ari wants thesis [3] to grant the opponents' worry in [4] and still take a position. Which revision does?

    • The Marlow bag fee should stay because it has cut litter in Mill Creek and the creek is beautiful again for walkers.
    • Although some households pay more, Marlow stores should be allowed to keep the bag fee money instead of paying for creek cleanup.
    • Although the Marlow bag fee costs some households a little, it should stay because it has cut litter in Mill Creek.
    • The Marlow bag fee hurts some households, so the council may be right to end it, even though litter in the creek fell.

  3. Bo checks thesis [3] against the evidence. Which thesis claims what the evidence supports and no more?

    • The Marlow bag fee costs a household that forgets its bags about two dollars in a month, according to the town.
    • The Marlow bag fee should stay, because bag litter in Mill Creek fell after it began and most shoppers pay little.
    • The bag fee has solved Marlow's litter problem and shows that fees are the way to protect the environment.
    • Marlow should ban plastic bags in stores entirely and give each shopper a reusable bag at the door of the store.

  4. Esme needs the strongest evidence that the fee reduced litter in the creek. Which note is strongest?

    • [9] Ending the fee would erase these gains, and the town would be worse off for many years to come in Marlow.
    • [7] The creek volunteers counted 410 bags along one mile in the spring before the fee and 96 in the spring after.
    • A shopper told the council that the fee had made the shopper remember to bring reusable bags to the store.
    • [8] Another benefit is that stores have saved money on bags, which one grocery owner confirmed in a letter.

  5. Jun revises thesis [3] to be clearer and keeps the writer's purpose: to keep the fee. Which revision does?

    • The Marlow bag fee should stay, because it has cut litter in Mill Creek and costs most households little each year.
    • The council should replace the bag fee with a ban on plastic bags, since the fee has cut litter in Mill Creek already.
    • The Marlow bag fee should stay, and the town should also add a fee on paper cups and bottles in the shops.
    • The Marlow bag fee has many benefits for the town, and the council should keep thinking about it carefully.

  6. Standing Desks for Every Class (draft essay)

    [1] Last year, Mr. Boyd's seventh-grade science class tried six standing desks for one semester. [2] The principal is now deciding whether to buy a standing desk for every classroom in the school. [3] Standing desks will improve students' grades, health and behavior in every class.

    [4] In the pilot, 19 of 24 students said they felt more awake in the afternoon, when lessons are usually hardest to follow. [5] Mr. Boyd reported that students at the standing desks fidgeted less during long lessons, such as lab days. [6] A magazine article about office workers says that standing for an hour burns about eight more calories than sitting. [7] Several students said they were more tired by the end of the day. [8] Test scores were not compared because the semester was short and the classes took different tests.

    [9] The school could buy six more desks for the cost of one new projector.

  7. Kira wants thesis [3] to grant the tired students in [7] and still take a position. Which revision does?

    • Although some students felt tired, standing desks are worth a trial because many felt more awake.
    • Although some students felt tired, the school should buy a new projector instead of more standing desks.
    • Some students felt tired at standing desks, so the school should not buy any more of them for now.
    • Standing desks are worth a trial in more classrooms because students felt more awake and fidgeted less.

  8. Milo needs the strongest evidence that standing desks help students stay alert. Which note is strongest?

    • Standing is obviously better for young bodies than sitting for most of a school day.
    • One student said that the standing desk was the favorite part of science class.
    • [6] A magazine article about office workers says that standing for an hour burns about eight more calories than sitting.
    • [4] In the pilot, 19 of 24 students said they felt more awake in the afternoon, when lessons are usually hardest to follow.

  9. Noah revises thesis [3] to match the evidence and keeps the writer's purpose: to get more standing desks. Which revision does?

    • The principal should reject standing desks because the pilot did not compare test scores or measure any health benefits.
    • Standing desks may help some students, and the principal should consider many options for the school and its classrooms.
    • A full purchase is premature, but the principal should buy desks for classes that ask, since the pilot showed alertness.
    • The principal should buy standing desks and also shorten each class by five minutes so students can stretch and walk around.

  10. A Library That Lends Tools (draft essay)

    [1] At the Ashford Public Library, patrons can borrow books, movies and, through a new pilot program, a few power tools. [2] The program began with a donated drill and a set of wrenches, and the library board will vote next month on whether to expand it. [3] The library should expand its tool-lending program, because it saves residents money and encourages people to share.

    [4] A survey of borrowers found that 83 of 100 would otherwise have bought or rented the tool they borrowed. [5] A single drill rental at the hardware store costs about thirty dollars for a day. [6] A librarian told the board that the tools help neighbors learn to repair things together.

    [7] Critics worry that tools might be damaged or misused. [8] The pilot loaned 140 items, and only three were returned broken, and each borrower signed a safety card. [9] The pilot also drew 40 patrons who had not held a library card before.

  11. Pia wants thesis [3] to grant the critics' worry in [7] and still take a position. Which revision does?

    • Although tools could be damaged, hardware stores should lower their prices for rented drills in town this year.
    • Because tools may be damaged, the library should end the tool program and lend books and movies again.
    • The library should expand its tool program because it saves residents money and builds a spirit of sharing in town.
    • Although tools could be damaged, the library should expand its tool program, since it saves residents money.

  12. Ren checks thesis [3] against the evidence. Which thesis claims what the evidence supports and no more?

    • The tool program will make hardware stores unnecessary and solve Ashford's cost-of-living problems within a few years.
    • The library should hire a repair expert to teach classes in the evenings for adults who borrow tools.
    • The library lent out 140 items in its pilot program, and three were returned broken by borrowers last year.
    • The library should expand its tool program, because most borrowers said it saved money and few tools were returned broken.

  13. Tala needs the strongest evidence that the program saves residents money. Which note is strongest?

    • Sharing tools is simply a smarter way for a town to live and spend its money each year and in the future.
    • [4] A survey of borrowers found that 83 of 100 would otherwise have bought or rented the tool they borrowed.
    • [6] A librarian told the board that the tools help neighbors learn to repair things together at the library.
    • [9] The pilot also drew 40 patrons who had not held a library card before, which widened its reach.
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Write a clear thesis statement

Answer Key - Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

  1. Read this first

    Keep the Bag Fee (draft essay)

    [1] When the town of Marlow began charging ten cents for each plastic shopping bag two years ago, the number of bags found along Mill Creek fell sharply. [2] Now the council is considering ending the fee after complaints from shoppers and some store owners. [3] The Marlow bag fee is good for the town, and the council should not end it.

    [4] Opponents argue that the fee hurts low-income families and that stores keep the money. [5] Yet a household that forgets its bags pays about two dollars a month, and the town's reports show that most shoppers now bring their own. [6] The council's accounts also show that the fee money pays for creek cleanup rather than going to stores.

    [7] The creek volunteers counted 410 bags along one mile in the spring before the fee and 96 in the spring after. [8] Another benefit is that stores have saved money on bags, which one grocery owner confirmed in a letter. [9] Ending the fee would erase these gains.

  2. Ari wants thesis [3] to grant the opponents' worry in [4] and still take a position. Which revision does?

    • The Marlow bag fee should stay because it has cut litter in Mill Creek and the creek is beautiful again for walkers.
    • Although some households pay more, Marlow stores should be allowed to keep the bag fee money instead of paying for creek cleanup.
    • Although the Marlow bag fee costs some households a little, it should stay because it has cut litter in Mill Creek.
    • The Marlow bag fee hurts some households, so the council may be right to end it, even though litter in the creek fell.

  3. Bo checks thesis [3] against the evidence. Which thesis claims what the evidence supports and no more?

    • The Marlow bag fee costs a household that forgets its bags about two dollars in a month, according to the town.
    • The Marlow bag fee should stay, because bag litter in Mill Creek fell after it began and most shoppers pay little.
    • The bag fee has solved Marlow's litter problem and shows that fees are the way to protect the environment.
    • Marlow should ban plastic bags in stores entirely and give each shopper a reusable bag at the door of the store.

  4. Esme needs the strongest evidence that the fee reduced litter in the creek. Which note is strongest?

    • [9] Ending the fee would erase these gains, and the town would be worse off for many years to come in Marlow.
    • [7] The creek volunteers counted 410 bags along one mile in the spring before the fee and 96 in the spring after.
    • A shopper told the council that the fee had made the shopper remember to bring reusable bags to the store.
    • [8] Another benefit is that stores have saved money on bags, which one grocery owner confirmed in a letter.

  5. Jun revises thesis [3] to be clearer and keeps the writer's purpose: to keep the fee. Which revision does?

    • The Marlow bag fee should stay, because it has cut litter in Mill Creek and costs most households little each year.
    • The council should replace the bag fee with a ban on plastic bags, since the fee has cut litter in Mill Creek already.
    • The Marlow bag fee should stay, and the town should also add a fee on paper cups and bottles in the shops.
    • The Marlow bag fee has many benefits for the town, and the council should keep thinking about it carefully.

  6. Standing Desks for Every Class (draft essay)

    [1] Last year, Mr. Boyd's seventh-grade science class tried six standing desks for one semester. [2] The principal is now deciding whether to buy a standing desk for every classroom in the school. [3] Standing desks will improve students' grades, health and behavior in every class.

    [4] In the pilot, 19 of 24 students said they felt more awake in the afternoon, when lessons are usually hardest to follow. [5] Mr. Boyd reported that students at the standing desks fidgeted less during long lessons, such as lab days. [6] A magazine article about office workers says that standing for an hour burns about eight more calories than sitting. [7] Several students said they were more tired by the end of the day. [8] Test scores were not compared because the semester was short and the classes took different tests.

    [9] The school could buy six more desks for the cost of one new projector.

  7. Kira wants thesis [3] to grant the tired students in [7] and still take a position. Which revision does?

    • Although some students felt tired, standing desks are worth a trial because many felt more awake.
    • Although some students felt tired, the school should buy a new projector instead of more standing desks.
    • Some students felt tired at standing desks, so the school should not buy any more of them for now.
    • Standing desks are worth a trial in more classrooms because students felt more awake and fidgeted less.

  8. Milo needs the strongest evidence that standing desks help students stay alert. Which note is strongest?

    • Standing is obviously better for young bodies than sitting for most of a school day.
    • One student said that the standing desk was the favorite part of science class.
    • [6] A magazine article about office workers says that standing for an hour burns about eight more calories than sitting.
    • [4] In the pilot, 19 of 24 students said they felt more awake in the afternoon, when lessons are usually hardest to follow.

  9. Noah revises thesis [3] to match the evidence and keeps the writer's purpose: to get more standing desks. Which revision does?

    • The principal should reject standing desks because the pilot did not compare test scores or measure any health benefits.
    • Standing desks may help some students, and the principal should consider many options for the school and its classrooms.
    • A full purchase is premature, but the principal should buy desks for classes that ask, since the pilot showed alertness.
    • The principal should buy standing desks and also shorten each class by five minutes so students can stretch and walk around.

  10. A Library That Lends Tools (draft essay)

    [1] At the Ashford Public Library, patrons can borrow books, movies and, through a new pilot program, a few power tools. [2] The program began with a donated drill and a set of wrenches, and the library board will vote next month on whether to expand it. [3] The library should expand its tool-lending program, because it saves residents money and encourages people to share.

    [4] A survey of borrowers found that 83 of 100 would otherwise have bought or rented the tool they borrowed. [5] A single drill rental at the hardware store costs about thirty dollars for a day. [6] A librarian told the board that the tools help neighbors learn to repair things together.

    [7] Critics worry that tools might be damaged or misused. [8] The pilot loaned 140 items, and only three were returned broken, and each borrower signed a safety card. [9] The pilot also drew 40 patrons who had not held a library card before.

  11. Pia wants thesis [3] to grant the critics' worry in [7] and still take a position. Which revision does?

    • Although tools could be damaged, hardware stores should lower their prices for rented drills in town this year.
    • Because tools may be damaged, the library should end the tool program and lend books and movies again.
    • The library should expand its tool program because it saves residents money and builds a spirit of sharing in town.
    • Although tools could be damaged, the library should expand its tool program, since it saves residents money.

  12. Ren checks thesis [3] against the evidence. Which thesis claims what the evidence supports and no more?

    • The tool program will make hardware stores unnecessary and solve Ashford's cost-of-living problems within a few years.
    • The library should hire a repair expert to teach classes in the evenings for adults who borrow tools.
    • The library lent out 140 items in its pilot program, and three were returned broken by borrowers last year.
    • The library should expand its tool program, because most borrowers said it saved money and few tools were returned broken.

  13. Tala needs the strongest evidence that the program saves residents money. Which note is strongest?

    • Sharing tools is simply a smarter way for a town to live and spend its money each year and in the future.
    • [4] A survey of borrowers found that 83 of 100 would otherwise have bought or rented the tool they borrowed.
    • [6] A librarian told the board that the tools help neighbors learn to repair things together at the library.
    • [9] The pilot also drew 40 patrons who had not held a library card before, which widened its reach.