A lesson on writing an introduction

2.  “…attract the reader's attention”
 “…tell the reader explicitly what the
thesis (the point of the paper) is”
 “…establish the significance of your
point to the reader”

3.  The first sentence of your
introduction is known as the
hook or the global
statement.
 The purpose of this
statement is to grab the
attention of your reader.
 You start the introduction
off broad and then narrow
in with a specific topic in
your last sentence (called
your thesis).

4. Provide one of the following as an opening
sentence to you paragraph. This will help get
the attention of your audience.
Intriguing quote
Interesting Fact
Anecdote
 Broad statement that connects to your topic and will
move toward being more specific throughout the
paragraph
Ask a question

5. The quote should really stand out to your
audience and connect to your topic.
Usually pop culture quotes are great.
A paper on heroes = “I think of a hero as
someone who understands the degree
of responsibility that comes with his
freedom.” One day I will
Bob Dylan be a hero!
YOU TRY…

6. Research some information and
find a fact that would really stand
out to the reader. Facts pretty
much explain the importance of
your paper if the one used is strong
enough.
An interesting fact for a paper on
preventing high school dropouts
“Each year, approximately 1.3
million students fail to graduate
from high school” (Fact Sheet).
YOU TRY…

7. A brief story about your topic that will get the attention of your
reader. Many times the story will be mentioned again in the
conclusion to bring the essay full circle.
Paper on high school start times
Cock-a-doodle-doo. The annoying sound of Sarah’s alarm clock
wakes her up for the fifth time this week. She sleepily turns off the
alarm clock at 5:30 a.m. as she drags her feet out of bed. Sarah
begins her daily routine by first drinking a large cup of coffee.
She is exhausted from sports, homework, family responsibilities,
trying to maintain a somewhat of social life, and waking up
every morning three hours before the body of a teenager is
ready to start his/her day.
YOU TRY

8. Broad
Specific
The broad statement needs to connect to your
topic and move your introduction toward being
more specific throughout the paragraph
For example if your paper was about Michael
Phelps your opening sentence might be about
the Olympic Games in general.
The Olympic Games have been the most
competitive and world watched event since
1859.
YOU TRY…

9. Ask a question that will spark your readers
interest. The question must be one that will
eventually be answered in your paper.
For example if your paper was about a Greek
god or goddess such as Athena you might ask
this question:
Have you ever wondered how the Greek Goddess of
wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice and skill came
into existence?
YOU TRY…

10.  After the hook/global statement you need
to provide some background information
on your topic.
 Tell your reader a little about your topic.
 For example if you were writing an essay
persuading people that peanut butter and
jelly sandwiches were better than ham and
cheese sandwiches you might include
information about what is found in a
peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
 Read the example in the next slide.

11.  Hook -- Peanut butter and jelly
sandwiches are eaten more than any
other sandwich in the United States.
 Background information-- A peanut
butter and jelly sandwich is made using
two pieces of bread, peanut butter, and
jelly. The peanut butter and jelly are sold
in different varieties offering many
combinations of the sandwich.
 Then you would continue with a thesis

12.  The introduction so far started off
broad and then become more
specific as you provided
background information. The last
step is creating a thesis.
 A thesis is…
› The most specific part of the
introduction
› The last sentence in the introduction
› A roadmap for the reader – letting the
reader know exactly what your paper
will be about and where it is headed.

13.  There are different styles of thesis
statements.
 You will begin with a three-point thesis for
this paper, but by the end of the year
you will be expected to create a thesis
that is not divided into three parts, but
sets the essay up for analysis.
 A three point thesis lists three areas you
will discuss in your paper.

14.  On topic with the peanut
butter and jelly paragraph we
started we will create a thesis.
 Peanut butter and jelly
sandwiched are the eaten
more in America than any
other sandwich because they
are easy to make, healthy,
and provided a variety.
 See the three different points
of the paper?
› Easy to make
› Healthy
› Variety

15.  Now your paper will be divided into
those three parts and must defend the
claims you made in your thesis.
 The next power point will help you in
writing your body paragraphs.
 Let’s practice what we have learned…

16. Adrian Van Leen, “Perth Western Australia” June
25, 2012 via Open Photo Creative Commons,
Public Domain.
“Fact Sheet.” Alliance for excellent education,
September 2010. Web. 28 June 2012.
<http://www.all4ed.org/files/GraduationRates_
FactSheet.pdf>.
Gavin Baker, “A Monkey” June 25, 2012 via Open
Photo Creative Commons, Attribution-
ShareAlike.
“Writing an Introduction.” HMC. Web. 28 June
2012.
<http://www2.hmc.edu/~alves/intros.html>.