Help with Language Arts?

So, this is pretty simple:
Every morning, in language arts, my language arts teacher gives us a warm-up, something like 'Write a short story using as many of the following words as possible: llama, gum, baseball, mall, dress."

However, if they're not long enough, she grades them down. This week, I couldn't think of much detail for any of the warm-ups, so I just need inspiration on adding more detail. The warm-ups are below.

Why do you think the crowds were the largest ever at yesterday’s presidential inauguration?
I think they were so large because they wanted to see the first black president’s presidential inauguration. Also, because our country’s in such a crisis right now, we all wanted to see a new president come in and take over.

Imagine you are giving a persuasive speech convincing your audience to buy a sponge. Write an effective introduction. What would be your hook?
Have you ever wanted to clean something but didn’t have the right tools? Ever wanted something that absorbs water, and every time you squeeze it water comes out? Well, look no further! Today I have something for you that will make your heart soar. Sponges! These fun cleaning supplies absorb water, and every time you clean something, it works like magic!

Imagine you could choose between yesterday and tomorrow (the past and the future). Which would you choose and why?
I would choose tomorrow, the future. Since we all know what’s happened in the past. Besides, the past is ‘nothing but a trail we leave behind’ (quote by unknown, my mom told me.) And the future always has new opportunities, and sometimes you can’t wait for today to get past, and so we just have to wait until tomorrow. The sun’ll come out tomorrow anyway. And tomorrow is a different day, and it’s always unexpected what will happen. But if today was a sunday and tomorrow was a monday and yesterday was a saturday, I’d pick yesterday.

So help? I need some more with these. I normally can add detail, but these just aren't the types of things I'm good at adding anything too.

I will add stuff in bold and color my advice. ;]

Why do you think the crowds were the largest ever at yesterday’s presidential inauguration?
I think they were so large because they wanted to see the first black president’s presidential inauguration. Also, because our country’s in such a crisis right now with global warming and our economy (it seems like the great depression is reoccurring), we all wanted to see a new president come in and take over, seeing as he can potentially make a big change with his opinions. We all want to see what he will do and if he will lead our country well.

Honestly, you should add some more reasons, what types of crisis we are going through. Add some more things about what the people think Obama would do for us.

Imagine you are giving a persuasive speech convincing your audience to buy a sponge. Write an effective introduction. What would be your hook?
Have you ever wanted to clean something but didn’t have the right tools? Don't you want to get that dirty scum, leftover food and dirt out of your dishes, your sink, and your shower? Ever wanted something that absorbs water, and every time you squeeze it water comes out? Well, look no further! Today I have something for you that will make your heart soar. Sponges! These fun cleaning supplies absorb water, and every time you clean something, it works like magic!

Hilarious, I'd say. I think this one is really fine as it is. xD

If you want, I'd say you can add what you can clean with it (as I did) and you can list its uses. Maybe you can even pretend it's some infomercial and you just invented this genius tool.

Imagine you could choose between yesterday and tomorrow (the past and the future). Which would you choose and why?
I would choose tomorrow, the future. Since we all know what’s happened in the past. Besides, the past is ‘nothing but a trail we leave behind’ (quote by unknown, my mom told me.) And the future always has new opportunities, and sometimes you can’t wait for today to get past, and so we just have to wait until tomorrow. The sun’ll come out tomorrow anyway. And tomorrow is a different day, and it’s always unexpected what will happen. But if today was a sunday and tomorrow was a monday and yesterday was a saturday, I’d pick yesterday.

I really love your reasoning. I can't find anything for myself to add in.

What about the past? Look at it from both views. What are good reasons to stay in the past? You can live it over, know what's coming, know the answers to everything in class, and fix mistakes that have happened before. I mean, seriously, haven't you ever gotten that feeling you regret doing something, and you wish you can go back and fix it?

The future... you give good reasoning. But what are some disadvantages? You could be stuck there without a clue, like you get absent in the present, you didn't turn in your homework, you missed someone's funeral or didn't see somebody off, you get attacked by many evil elements of school, and you could have missed a lot in one day.

And you could as well talk about the present. You could point out that living in the moment is the best option ever. I hence the question, "Imagine you could choose between yesterday and tomorrow".

Hope that helped. ;D

My gosh, you sound like a teacher.

Thanks for the advice! I'll add it in. I don't think I need this thread anymore.

Locked.