Introduction Paragraph Most important piece in your essay

What is the purpose? Get the reader’s attention Sets tone for the rest of the essay

Grabbing the reader’s attention The first sentence or two, attention grabber, can be done in a variety of ways: Quote Joke or something funny Startling information Fact or statistic Make sure it relates to your topic/thesis

Quote “George, I wish you’d look at the nursery,” states Lydia in “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury. “Take this money, this note, and this stick,” she said. “Go to the store and buy those groceries. If those boys bother you, then fight," states Richard Wright’s mother in “Black Boy.”

Fact or Statistic In 1938, Time Magazine chose Adolf Hitler for man of the year. http://www.interestingfacts.net/ A majority of teens (58%) do not think posting photos or other personal info on social networking sites is unsafe. They should read the news. http://www.onlinesafetysite.com/P1/Teenstats.htm

The Bridge Provides a brief plot snippet (1-2 Sentences) Introduces the title and the author of the work (if there is one) Links (connects) the attention getter to the thesis

Sample Introduction “George, I wish you’d look at the nursery,” states Lydia in “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury. A technologically advanced Happy Home controlled by its inhabitants causes the demise of the family unit in this futuristic short story. The children’s need for attention and love from their parents cause them to change their idealistic playroom into an African veldt. Although George and Lydia Hadley thought they were doing what was best for their children, their over-reliance on technology, their lack of parenting and attention to their children, and their own selfish desire for more brings an end to the Hadleys.

Sample Introduction “George, I wish you’d look at the nursery,” states Lydia in “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury. (A technologically advanced Happy Home controlled by its inhabitants causes the demise of the family unit in this futuristic short story. The children’s need for attention and love from their parents cause them to change their idealistic playroom into an African veldt.) Although George and Lydia Hadley thought they were doing what was best for their children, *1 their over-reliance on technology, *2 their lack of parenting and attention to their children, and *3 their own selfish desire for more brings an end to the Hadleys.