SAMPLE INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH When a cell phone goes off in a classroom or at a movie theater, people are irritated, but at least lives are not endangered. When citizens are on the road, however, irresponsible cell phone users are more than irritating. They are putting innocent lives at risk. Many people have witnessed drivers so distracted by dialing and chatting that they resemble drunk drivers, weaving between lanes, for example, or nearly running down pedestrians in crosswalks. A number of bills to regulate use of cell phones on the road have been introduced in state legislatures, and the time has come to push for their passage in all states. Regulation is needed because drivers using phones are seriously impaired and because laws on negligent and reckless driving are not sufficient to punish offenders.

An introduction paragraph must contain: Hook/Attention Grabber First, you need to get your reader’s attention with a hook. Background on the Issue Next, you need to give a brief description of the topic you are writing about. Thesis/Claim The last sentence of the introduction states what side of the issue you are on. Do not use personal pronouns like: I, me, we, us, you, etc. The only exception would be when a writer hooks the reader with a first-person narrative. An introduction paragraph must contain:

Should cell phones be regulated while driving? The thesis states which side of the issue you are taking. Cell phones should be regulated while driving. Cell phones should be regulated while driving because ________, _________, and ___________. OR Cell phones should not be regulated while driving. Cell phones should not be regulated while driving because _______, _________, and ____________. Thesis Statement

Types of Hooks

Ask a question… Hook your reader! “If you work for a living, why do you kill yourself working?” – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966 movie) Depending on the type of essay it can be either rhetorical or the one that demands an answer. You may use the latter to build suspense and then reveal the necessary information to your readers at the end of your essay. Hook your reader!

Philosophical/ Universal Statement Hook your reader! “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” – Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina Famous Russian novelist successfully uses this technique in the story and creates the desire to keep reading it. Hook your reader!

Use a quote… Hook your reader! “My own experience is that once a story has been written, one has to cross out the beginning and the end. It is there that we authors do most of our lying.” – Anton Chekhov This method will help you to support your statement and bring someone else’s authority to your writing. Be sure to use a quote from a reputable source in order to avoid unpleasant surprises afterwards. Hook your reader!

Unusual/Startling Statement “As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic vermin.” – Franz Kafka, Metamorphosis Another effective technique to spark the interest of readers in your essay is to astonish them with unexpected information. Hook your reader!

Share a joke or anecdote… Q: What did Eve say to Adam on being expelled from the Garden of Eden? A: “I think we’re in a time of transition.” -Betty G. Frank, Family: The Making of an Idea, an Institution, and a Controversy in American Culture. Westview Press, 1999 Starting with an anecdote is very engaging and creates a special bonding between a reader and a writer right away. Use this knowledge carefully, as a telling of a family story and choosing the right words for it is a real art. Hook your reader!

First-Person Story Hook your reader! Description of your own emotions and thoughts works effectively when your goal is to connect with a reader and make his imagination work. It’ll be easier for him to correlate with your story, as he’ll envision himself being in your shoes. Hook your reader!

Factual Information You might start with an interesting fact: “Albert Einstein failed his first entrance exam to college in 1895. There’s no reason to give up and stop trying if something goes wrong.” Hook your reader!

Analogy Hook your reader! “Withdrawal of US troops will become like salted peanuts to the American public; the more US troops come home, the more will be demanded.” – Henry Kissinger in a memo to President Richard Nixon Analogies are an excellent tool for creating a vivid image in your reader’s mind of what you’re writing about and visualize it without any effort. Hook your reader!