How to Write a kick-butt introduction Wednesday, October 5, 2016

The Role of the Infamous Introduction Your introduction acts as a bridge that transports the readers from their own lives into the “place” of your analysis. SET IT UP! In other words, I should feel like I’m temporarily entering the world of your mind, or the world of Grendel, the Dragon,etc.

What it SHOULD Include: Somewhere, artfully sandwiched within, the writer should include the thesis statement. The thesis statement kind of acts like a semi-outline for the paper (as it tells the reader what the essay is about). Some kind of transitional “hook” to move the reader to the body of the essay.

A Recipe for Writing an Introduction Three Parts: Background/Context What’s going on? What is a brief synopsis of Grendel? The Problem/Question What is Grendel dealing with? What are you discussing? The Proposed Solution/Analysis/Answer What do you think the answer to the question is? How do you know?

Why should you even bother writing a good introduction? You never get a second chance to make a first impression! Hook your reader. Your intro. is an important road map for the rest of your paper. Ideally, your introduction will make your readers WANT to read your paper.

Strategies for Writing an Effective Introduction Paragraph Start by thinking about the question(s) you are trying to answer. Decide how general or broad or narrow your topic should be. Try writing your introduction last. Don’t be afraid to write a tentative introduction and change it later. Open with something that draws the reader in.

Now, Practice! In many households with teenagers, there are often arguments over cell phones. Think about the importance of having a cell phone. Now, persuade your audience to buy a cell phone. In your notes, referring to your notes, write an introduction paragraph to this essay prompt.