How to write an introduction…

General (topic of paper) Specific (idea about topic)

General

Hook This is the first thing I will read. Make it count. It should make me want to continue reading. This will always address the topic of the paper. This will be your most general statement in your intro. Elaborate on your hook in the following sentence(s).

Hook No No’s! - Define a word. Leave Webster’s out of this. - Grandiose statement. “In all of literature…” - Dumb questions - Quotes– unless you avoid cliché. Make sure you discuss the quote. - One word

Pride. Pathological narcissism. Greed Pride. Pathological narcissism. Greed. These are all common traits in today’s society. More importantly, these traits are weaknesses, stemming from strengths such as talent, beauty, and money. This goes to show that one’s faults are often the mirror image of their strengths.

Specific

Connect your hook to the text. Include title and author’s full name (use last name after this). End with your one or two sentence thesis statement. This will be your idea about the topic. It will also be the most specific part of your intro. Think: What? How?

Pride. Pathological narcissism. Greed Pride. Pathological narcissism. Greed. These are all common traits in today’s society. More importantly, these traits are weaknesses, stemming from strengths such as talent, beauty, and money. This goes to show that one’s faults are often the mirror image of their strengths. For example, the strengths of the characters in William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Othello, can also act as critical flaws. Both Iago’s cunning and Othello’s martial skills are admirable traits, but these characteristics ultimately lead to their demise.

A person’s traits can be both strengths or weaknesses  A person’s traits can be both strengths or weaknesses. It is the situation that person is in which dictates whether that trait will manifest itself in a positive or negative way. William Shakespeare, in his play Othello, demonstrates this. Both Desdemona and Othello are characters with strong, positive qualities that identify them. For Othello, it is his sense of honor. For Desdemona, it is her strong belief in love and loyalty. However, for both Desdemona and Othello, it is these traits that lead them to be so easily corruptible by Iago, proving to be their tragic flaw.

A person’s traits can be both strengths or weaknesses  A person’s traits can be both strengths or weaknesses. It is the situation that person is in which dictates whether that trait will manifest itself in a positive or negative way. William Shakespeare, in his play Othello, demonstrates this. Both Desdemona and Othello are characters with strong, positive qualities that identify them. For Othello, it is his sense of honor. For Desdemona, it is her strong belief in love and loyalty. However, for both Desdemona and Othello, it is these traits that lead them to be so easily corruptible by Iago, proving to be their tragic flaw.

A person’s traits can be both strengths or weaknesses  A person’s traits can be both strengths or weaknesses. It is the situation that person is in which dictates whether that trait will manifest itself in a positive or negative way. William Shakespeare, in his play Othello, demonstrates this. Both Desdemona and Othello are characters with strong, positive qualities that identify them. For Othello, it is his sense of honor. For Desdemona, it is her strong belief in love and loyalty. However, for both Desdemona and Othello, it is these traits that lead them to be so easily corruptible by Iago, proving to be their tragic flaw.