Writing Introductions for Argumentative/Persuasive Papers Note: Because the it is often necessary to divide the introduction into mutliple paragraphs, we will refer to it as the “introductory section.”

Three parts to the introduction (style two) 1. Get the reader’s attention (“The Attention Getter”) It is recommended that you write the other parts of the introduction first, and write this later. 2. Mention the topic clearly. Include necessary background information. Provide key terms and define them if necessary. When there are clearly two opposing sides to the topic, mention both points of view as clearly as possible. Describe positions without giving specific details of their arguments. 3. State your argument. This is your thesis statement. 4. Mention your organization. Tell the reader what to expect in the essay. NOTE: Avoid giving details about your arguments in the introductory section.

Sample intro. for topic: Are zoos good or bad? One of the most joyful experiences a child can have is visiting the zoo with his family. As people grow older; however, they may change their minds about zoos. While many people see zoos as useful and important, others see zoos as cruel and wrong. Even though there are bad zoos and some cruelty is involved in their management, I believe the benefits of zoos to society are greater than (outweigh) their disadvantages. Zoos provide a great opportunity for family get togethers, educate the public about wildlife, and provide necessary habitats for endangered species.

Stress, low self-esteem, poor health and lack of discipline are problems that may all be solved by playing sports. Some people choose to play team sports such as football or basketball while others prefer to play individual sports such as tennis or gymnastics. It is true that playing team sports can be quite fulfilling; nevertheless, I believe that the rewards for participating in individual sports can be even more rewarding. In individual sports, you depend on nobody but yourself, the training is much more flexible, and the glory is all yours when winning. Can you locate the sweet nectar of parallelism in the above example? A.G. Pt. 2 Pt. 3 Pt. 4

Whether it is football or golf, baseball or swimming, gymnastics or lacrosse, sports can make a big difference in a person’s life. It is common that a person must choose between dedicating one’s self to a team sport and dedicating one’s self to an individual sport. Though it is true that competing in individual sports can be greatly rewarding, I believe that competing in team sports can be even more fulfilling.  Identify the A.G., Part 2 and its purpose, and Part 3 and its purpose. Write part four to this introduction. Be sure to use parallel structure. Parallelism is your friend! Where are the examples of strong parallelism?

We have all seen hockey players take off their gloves and start throwing punches. THIS INTRODUCTION IS MISSING PART TWO. WRITE PART TWO FOR THIS INTRODUCTION. While there are many valid reasons for finding measures to reduce and prohibit fighting in hockey, there are even better reasons to permit fighting in hockey to continue as it does today.

Did you come up with something like this? We have all seen hockey players take off their gloves and start throwing punches. Some people argue that fighting adds nothing of worth to the sport of hockey and should be prohibited. Others believe that is an essential part of the game. While there are many valid reasons for finding measures to reduce and prohibit fighting in hockey, there are even better reasons to permit fighting in hockey to continue as it does today.

Attention getting techniques. (This presentation is a work in progress and will most likely be added to by your teacher)

Mention a fact or a piece of data: Historians agree that Adolf Hitler, while perhaps the most hated political figure of our times, was probably the greatest military tactician since Napoleon.

Attention getting techniques. Vivid descripton: He was a pale little man with a funny little mustache whose charisma changed history and led millions to their deaths. His name was Adolf Hitler and he was perhaps the greatest military tactician since Napoleon.

Reduced adjective clause/appositive: Known for his funny little mustache and incredible charisma, Adolf Hitler was perhaps the greatest military tactician since Napoleon. Cooked medium rare over a an open fire, there is nothing like a big, juicy steak to whet one’s appetite. (favorite food)

See the pdf file entitled: Writing Effective Introductions and check the following examples of techniques: Provide relevant background information Use a startling remark or statistic Use a quotation Define an important term Opening with a paradox Challenging a widely held assumption or opinion