What makes for an effective introductory paragraph? Attention Grabber then Description or Transition to connect to the Thesis / Claim

Introductory Paragraph Anecdote/Human Interest Story + Elaboration & Embellishment (transition or link) Thesis / Claim (last sentence) 4-8 sentences

Introductory Paragraph Example #1 “As I stepped outside of my Issaquah, Washington front door, I was immediately greeted by an immense force of wind at my left side. This greeting of powerful wind knocked me off my feet and dragged me several hundred feet before I realized I was in the middle of a violent tornado – The Tolonen Tornado of 2017, as it would become known. The east side of my tattered barn stopped me, and I finally regained my stance after ten long, torturous minutes” (Ricks). This event not only changed people, but it geographically transformed the entire region. The Tolonen Tornado left many life-changing and lasting effects on society including substantial landscape changes to the Pacific Northwest with high rates of personal and financial losses, which all led to some major historical changes. The full citation from my Works Cited page: Tolonen, Steph, and Jarom Ricks. “Tornado Experience.” 31 Jan. 2018.

Introductory Paragraph Example #2 “We all heard the warnings: Tsunamis are possible in the Seattle area. We all knew about the coastal warning system, had heard the sirens, even knew the escape routes. Little did we know this would all be necessary” (Medlin). On May 26, 2017, a shift in the sea floor at the Pacific and North American Plates boundary caused a tsunami to form along the Alaskan coast. This mighty wall of water created havoc and devastation in the Pacific Northwest. Tsunami Tolonen of 2017 completely decimated the Puget Sound area. Tsunami Tolonen is one of the most important catastrophic events of the 21st Century because it devastated the west coast of the United States, created a chain of islands in the Pacific Northwest, and changed the climate of Washington.

Introductory Paragraph Example #3 January 2018 started out as an ideal month for most children in Renton, Washington. They were excited to learn that their winter break was extended due to a massive snowstorm in their small town. Yet, when the snow began to melt under the unreasonable high temperatures of the approaching weather pattern, their excitement turned to pure panic and fear as the city began to flood. By January 15, all main roads had turned into rushing rivers, and instead of driving to work, people traded their car keys for boat paddles – they had to kayak down the roads (Le). Renton was almost completely consumed by the flooding water, and no one knew if their quaint town would ever return to what it once was. This catastrophic event was a critical point in the city’s history because it required the local rainwater system to be restructured, ruined thousands of homes, and destroyed many local businesses.

Drafting your introductory paragraph… Refer to your Photo Essay Packet pages 9-10. Your introductory paragraph is due 2/5 BOP.

-anecdote / human interest story Capture your reader’s attention with an attention grabber / hook / lead: -quote -anecdote / human interest story -scenario -fact / statistic -other ? Link the attention grabber to your thesis. 4-8 sentences Last sentence = thesis / claim