the dust bowl
during the 1930s, extreme drought and high winds made life incredibly difficult in the great plains region of the united states. in many areas rainfall was forty percent less than normal.
the soil became extremely dry, and when strong winds blew, they created tremendous dust storms. these so-called "black blizzards" were so thick that they made daylight seem like
dusk. during this terrible period, the great plains region of the united states was named the "dust bowl." over the next few years, the drought continued, and the winds created more
dust storms. in some places, the drought and high winds lasted for eight years. many people wondered if the black blizzards would ever end.
what role does the underlined sentence serve in this paragraph?
a. it is an example that serves as a supporting detail.
b. it is a fact that serves as a supporting detail.
c. it is a statistic that serves as a supporting detail. d. it is the topic sentence.

Activity construct an argument about a topic, theme, or idea that you read about in william shakespeare's romeo and juliet, act ii or act iii. make sure you create a central claim for your argument that is debatable. provide textual evidence from the play to support your argument. here are some ideas for your essay. notice how each topic is focused and specific. you may write about one of these topics or choose your own focused and specific topic: discuss juliet's level of maturity and compare it to romeo's. compare how the two characters react to the events after their marriage, when romeo is banished from verona. discuss the balcony scene. does the knowledge of romeo and juliet's final fate influence the meaning of the balcony scene or the audience's interpretation of it? discuss the characters of tybalt and romeo as they relate to the theme of family and the theme of love. explain how the character of tybalt develops the theme of family and how the character of romeo develops the theme of romantic love. discuss the character of friar laurence. what motivates him to romeo and juliet to defy their parents? part a choose a topic based on what you read in act ii or act iii of romeo and juliet. then write a thesis statement. part b identify two or three short excerpts from the play as textual evidence to support your thesis statement. part c write a 300-word essay arguing the thesis of your analysis. (i mainly need on part b and c)