HELP!! How do I begin my paper? Writing Introductions ELA PLC

Why are introductions important? First impressions are lasting impressions! If your introduction is poor, your readers may stop there, or continue on with the wrong assumptions about your essay. If it’s good, even captivating, your readers will continue enthusiastically.

What should an introduction do? 2 main things: Get your readers’ attention and interest.(leave them dying to hear more). Identify the specific topic of the report. Don’t make the reader try and guess what you’re writing about.

Get your readers’ interest Tell a story that connects to your discussion-make sure it matches your prompt.

Begin with an interesting quote According to Winston Churchill, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Begin with a Question If a person fails at something repeatedly, should he or she consider quitting?

Begin with a scene or captivating story For the thousandth time, the boy swung his bat and struck out. Every morning for three months, he has gotten out of bed before the sun came up to practice his swing in the batting cage. Swing, swing, swing. His arms ached with the impact and reverberation. All he could do was return to the dugout with hot shame burning his cheeks.

Identify the Specific Topic or Thesis Statement BE SPECIFIC! You have to state what your topic is about. You must get to the point! Your introduction must answer the prompt.

Thesis statement To the point, concise sentence that states what the essay is about gives direction to the essay conventionally placed at the end of the introductory paragraph

What should be in my introduction? Grabber/Hook Thesis statement Preview your points Background material could go in, but NO EVIDENCE Transition Sentence Except for the grabber, the order doesn’t really matter. However, traditionally the thesis is the last sentence of the introduction. It can act as your transition sentence as well.

BIG NO-NO’s-Do Not Put This In Your Papers BIG NO-NO’s-Do Not Put This In Your Papers! It’s the #1 Killer of all papers! Avoid saying: “my paper is about…” “…this is what I’m going to write about…” “Today I’m going to write about…”

How long do introductions have to be? Introductions vary in length according to your purpose, writing style, the complexity of your topic (what you’re going to write about), and the length of your essay. Yours should not be less than 5 sentences!!!

Other things to include… Figurative Language Similes ex: “A person yelled passionately like a preacher…” Metaphors ex: “His voice began to slowly rise deep within his throat and rushed out to inspire everyone with strong encouragement.”

Example Lights, Camera, Action! Reality TV is something that both teens and adults tend to enjoy. Some parents on these shows sometimes bring their children into the picture. Realty TV can invade their privacy, cause embarrassment, and some kids are just too young to encounter fame. This instant stardom is unacceptable because some of them are for too young for television.