Read Each of the Following Essay Introductions

question 19

Multiple Choice

Read each of the following essay introductions. Then select the method the writer used to begin the essay. The essay below begins with a(n)
Mario Conley joined a gang when he was just 12 years old. Drawn to the power, money, respect, and loyal friends that the gang members in his neighborhood seemed to have, Mario soon became one of them. Soon afterward, though, he learned about the dark side of gang membership. His fellow gang members pressured him to skip school, drink alcohol, do drugs, steal, lie, and fight. By the time he was sixteen, he had already been arrested ten times for drug crimes, assault, and vandalism. By age 18, he was serving a 20-year-sentence for shooting and killing a rival gang member. Mario's experience is typical of young gang members, who almost always wind up dead or in prison. Today, still behind bars, Mario advises others to avoid being seduced by the gang life. Joining a gang is one of the worst mistakes a young person can make.

• A) single-sentence thesis statement.
• B) illustration.
• C) surprising fact or idea.

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Definitions:

Middle Passage

The stage of the triangular trade in which millions of Africans were forcibly transported to the New World as part of the Atlantic slave trade.

White Sailors

Refers to naval personnel of European descent, which could highlight racial demographics within Navies, especially in historical contexts where racial segregation or discrimination was prevalent.

African Diseases

Refers to diseases that are prevalent or originate from Africa, many of which have significant impacts on public health and economies; examples include malaria, Ebola, and HIV/AIDS.

Yamasees

A Native American people originally from the southeastern United States, notable for their involvement in the Yamasee War against English colonists.