Introductions for Essay Two

Audience One of the problems that beginning writers have is audience. It’s hard sometimes for people to realize what their readers need to know. When something is obvious to the writer, it’s natural for the writer to assume that the reader knows exactly what he’s talking about.

But we don’t! Not till you tell us.

Therefore, it’s necessary for a writer to have a split personality-- To be a little schizophrenic

You have to be Writer and reader At the same time

For Essay Two Give me a three-part intro –A conscious lead-in –A defining transition –A previewing thesis

A Conscious Lead-in Be able to tell me exactly what technique you used: –Story? –Description? –Startling statement? –Allusion? –Interesting facts? Just make sure it would grab your attention (like the detergent’s grabbing the lady’s attention)!

A Defining Transition  Define the stereotype that you’re discussing so that the reader could recognize it in real life—  Even if you think it’s obvious what the stereotype means, you still need to define it.

Bad English Teacher 

Conclude the Intro With a two-part thesis: advantages and disadvantages

Sample Intro Click to see it grow

Thesis You have to know what your thesis is before you begin writing the intro Having been stereotyped a smart-girl had a number of disadvantages, but ultimately, it was a good thing.

First, the lead-in She was part of everybody’s high school class: the smart girl. Close your eyes and you can see her: probably skinny, with stringy hair and glasses. She doesn’t wear make-up or stylish clothes, and you don’t know her eye color because she’s always got her head ducked down into some book or the light is gleaming off her glasses as she stares past you, looking at something nobody else sees and thinking about things that nobody else cares about.

Next, define the stereotype The smart-girl stereotype might mean slightly different things to different people, but she’s instantly identifiable to everyone, no matter where. The smart girl is socially awkward, but capable of making really good grades; she stays on the outside of every group, with people admiring or scorning her, but never really taking the time to get to know her. I know these things because that was the stereotype I carried through most of my early life.

End it with your previewing thesis At the time, it seemed like a burdensome label, but as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that it helped me become the person I am today.

Here’s the intro in its entirety She was part of everybody’s high school class: the smart girl. Close your eyes and you can see her: probably skinny, with stringy hair and glasses. She doesn’t wear make-up or stylish clothes, and you don’t know her eye color because she’s always got her head ducked down into some book or the light is gleaming off her glasses as she stares past you, looking at something nobody else sees and thinking about things that nobody else cares about (lead- in, description). The smart-girl stereotype might mean slightly different things to different people, but she’s instantly identifiable to everyone, no matter where. The smart girl is socially awkward, but capable of making really good grades; she stays on the outside of every group, with people admiring or scorning her, but never really taking the time to get to know her. I know these things because that was the stereotype I carried through most of my early life. At the time, it seemed like a burdensome label, but as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that it helped me become the person I am today.