Your introduction is the first impression that your readers will get off your essay. If it does not interest them or they do not like what they read, then they will not take the time to read the rest of your paper.
7. An example of a literary quote
If you are writing an
essay about
persevering, consider
writing a literary quote
hook like the one on the
following slide.
8. “Tomorrow is another day.”
This quote by author Margaret Mitchell in her
1939 novel Gone with the Wind, emphasizes
that no matter what trials we are facing today,
the new light of tomorrow can provide us with
hope for the future
hookLiterary quote
9. “A literary quote can be a powerful
statement drawing readers in with
descriptive language.
10. A Well-Known Quote
Try starting your introduction
paragraph with a quote known by a
well-known figure.
11. An example of a well-known quote
Maybe you are writing
an essay about
leadership, consider
writing a well-known
quote hook like the one
on the following slide.
12. “Our deepest fear
Is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest
fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, which most
frightens us.” Here, Nelson Mandela,
revolutionary politician and philanthropist,
explains our fears are much more about
achieving success than about failing.
hookWell-known quote
13. “A quote by a well-known person can
inspire your reader to think deeply and
desire to keep reading to understand the
connection between your quote and your
essay.
15. An example of a rhetorical question
If you are writing an
essay about bullying,
consider writing a
rhetorical question
hook like the one on the
following slide.
16. How would you feel
if your child came home, crying and
distraught, telling you about another student
at school who had called him horrible names?
hookLiterary quote
19. An example of an anecdote
Perhaps your essay is
about courage,
consider writing an
anecdotal quote hook
like the one on the
following slide.
20. A veteran of the Vietnam War
admitted that every time he prepared for
battle, he experienced great fear. Even so, he
is a man of incredible courage. Courage is not
defined by the lack of fear, but by the ability
to take action in the face of fear.
hookAnecdote
21. “Using an anecdote will present the reader
with a real person, allowing them to be
more invested in the essay.
23. An example of a rhetorical question
If you are writing an
essay about modern
family life, consider
writing a rhetorical
question hook like the
one on the following
slide.
24. Fifty percent of marriages
end in divorce. This percentage reflects the
ever-changing family dynamic.
hookStatistic
25. “A statistic creates authority, lending your
reader to trust you and your opinion
presented in your essay.
26. BACKGROUND INFO
The background information in the introduction
is a bridge that will connect your hook to the
thesis statement.
27. Determine which type of essay you are writing:
Informative
Essay
Persuasive
Essay
Literary
Analysis Essay
Then write your background information based on your essay type.
28. Informative Essay
For this background info, write
sentences with details that will help
your reader understand the topic.
29. If writing
on the Black Plague
it would help the reader to know
details about the time period,
how many people died, what
areas were affected, etc.
Informative Background Info
30. Persuasive Essay
For this background info, give the
reader information about both sides
of the argument.
31. If writing
on Peeta vs. Gale
you would present both camps,
telling the reader why some people
believe Gale is better for Katniss
and why others prefer Peeta.
Persuasive Background Info
32. Literary Analysis
For this background info, give the
reader technical or contextual
information about the novel or topic.
33. If writing
on Daisy’s character
from The Great Gatsby you could
define characterization and
discuss Daisy and Gatsby’s
personal relationship.
Persuasive Background Info
34. Now you have
all you need
to write a powerful
introduction
paragraph.
36. Credits
Special thanks to all the people who made and
released these awesome resources for free:
▧ Presentation template by SlidesCarnival
▧ Photographs by Unsplash
▧ Backgrounds by Pixeden