Introductions Composition I

Parts of the Introduction Hook – catches the reader’s attention Transition – moves the reader from the hook to the topic of the essay Thesis – 1 sentence at the end stating the main idea of the essay

DON’TS o Don’t Announce o Don’t Apologize o Don’t Begin with Webster’s (or any other dictionary) o Don’t Get Off Topic or Ramble

DO o Develop a strong working thesis and outline before drafting. o Be interesting! Use a hook! o Use a consistent tone. o Write at least 5 sentences in the introduction.

Methods for Creating the Hook Introduce Information o Background Information o A Fact or Statistic o A Surprising Statement o A Contradiction or Contrast Create a Personal Angle o A Question o A Personal Definition o A Quotation o An Anecdote (Brief Story)

Introducing Information 1.Use background information when your topic is about a public issue or event, or if your reader needs info to set up the rest of the essay. (Sources required if info isn’t common knowledge) Ex: Texas’s first execution of a woman in twenty-two years occurred September 17 at the Huntsville Unit of the state’s Department of Corrections, despite the protests of various human rights groups around the country. 2.Give a fact or statistic to emphasize the importance of your topic and establish credibility. (Sources required!) Ex: Between 1963 and 1993 there was a 26 percent increase in the number of college students who admitted copying academic work from another student.

Information continued... 3.Offer a surprising statement about your topic to pull readers into the subject. (Sources required if research used) Ex: Recent research has shown that the color pink has a calming effect on people. 4.Expose a contradiction between what people think is true and what is actually true. (Sources may be required!) p. 87 Ex: Many people think that after the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, the colonists defeated the British army in battle after battle. The truth is that the colonial army lost most of its battles.

Create a Personal Angle 1.Ask a question to peak curiosity or to speak directly to the reader. (Only use “you” in process essays!) p. 41 Ex: What was it like to live through the Holocaust? Ex: How would you handle a crisis situation? 2.Offer a personal definition to let readers know you want to analyze an idea or issue closely. P. 130 Ex: Success is not just a matter of making money. It’s really about having the right priorities in life.

Personal Angle continued... 3.A quotation interests readers by offering a profound or provoking idea. You can then expand or contradict that idea. Ex: “The rich are different,” F. Scott Fitzgerald said more than seventy years ago. Apparently, they still are. 4.An anecdote (brief story) puts a human face on a topic. If the story is from your life, it shows the reader why the issue is important to you. Ex: I used to believe that it was possible to stop smoking by simply quitting cold turkey. When I tried this approach, I soon realized that quitting was not so simple.

Transition and Thesis  After the hook catches the reader’s attention, the transition brings up the topic of the essay. It does this by:  expanding on the hook  commenting on the hook  contradicting the hook  The thesis takes a stand on the topic. It must be a single sentence that obviously gives the writer’s opinion.

Example Introduction Whenever I tell other students that I plan to become a teacher, I’m always met with the same response: “Why?”. As an English major, I could find plenty of jobs that pay better and have shorter hours. However, what these other jobs can’t give me is an opportunity to pass along my love for literature, to work with young people, and to serve the community. Because a teacher can have such a positive impact, I believe teaching is the best career for me.

Example Introduction According to the National Commission on Teaching and America’s future, fifty percent of new teachers quit within five years (add citation here). Who can blame them? For most, the hours are long, the pay is low, and the community may not be supportive. However, there are many rewards to teaching as well. Because a teacher can have such a positive impact on her students’ lives, I believe teaching is the best career for me.

Example Introduction As the educator Mark van Doren notes, “The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.” It is this chance to “assist discovery” that sparked my interest in teaching. Education majors can’t look forward to high pay or short hours. However, they can look forward to helping students find their interests, learn the skills they need to develop those interests, and appreciate the value of hard work. Because a teacher can have such a positive impact on her students’ lives, I believe teaching is the best career for me.

Example Introduction I never wanted to be a teacher until I met Jason. He had come from a bad school district and was far behind in English, so I began tutoring him for extra money after school. He was so determined to catch up that I found myself staying late every session and constantly thinking of new ways to explain the material. When Jason passed with a B, I knew I had found my calling. This experience proved to me that teaching offered everything I considered important in a career: the challenge of using my creativity, the chance to share my love of literature, and the opportunity to change people’s lives for the better.

Conclusions

Purpose of the Conclusion Summarize and RemindLead to the bigger picture

DON’TS  Don’t repeat the thesis word-for-word.  Don’t use clichés.  Don’t bring up new information.  Don’t announce.

DO  Reinforce the main idea.  Make some larger point.  Write 5+ sentences.

Methods for Conclusions  Review the overall idea and key points. You must do this part.  Make a recommendation. What can the reader or someone else do about the issue? P. 104  Discuss the results. For example, if you write about a personal experience, let the reader know where you are now and/or what you learned. P. 43  Make a prediction. What will happen if things do or do not change? P. 101  Offer a quotation/saying and reflect. P. 55.