Introduction Paragraphs feature the Most important sentence in your essay

Intriguing Introduction Paragraphs Your introduction paragraph is the first paragraph of your essay.  You immediately want to grab your reader's attention.  Then you want to inform your reader about what you are writing about and finish the paragraph with the argument of the paper—essentially, the thesis statement.

Attention Getter How do you select a strong quote? Necessary Background What should be included to bridge the attention getter to the thesis statement? Thesis Statement What are the 4 parts of a quality thesis statement?

Attention Getter: 2-4 sentences You grab your reader’s attention and EXPLAIN the connection to the novel Do not begin with “Did you know…” kinds of questions Instead, begin your paper with: A quote from the novel A legitimate fact or statistic A well known quote from an outside source (thinkexist.com) Whatever option you choose…you MUST explain in a sentence or two how the quote, fact, etc. RELATES TO THE LITERATURE!

Bridge: 2 Sentences Introduces the title of the work and the author (before thesis) Provides a brief plot snippet – DO NOT re-tell the entire story Consider what the prompt is asking and try to explain elements of the story that relate to the prompt

Thesis statement: 1 sentence Name the 4 Parts and their functions…

Sample Introduction “George, I wish you’d look at the nursery,” stated 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,” stated 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.