Writing an Effective Introduction Hook Background Thesis/Claim

The Outline of an introduction: Broad to specific Hook/Attention Getter/Opener Background information about your topic Thesis/Claim

Hook: Engage your reader! Example hooks:  Use a quotation Robert Frost wrote, “Good fences make good neighbors”. Our school board thinks security cameras make safe schools.  Make a bold statement Security cameras have never stopped a thief or a vandal. Use an imagine statement today!  The “imagine” statement Imagine being afraid to go to class in the building that is supposed to educate you for the next four years.

Add background to fill in the topic!  Use the prompt to briefly explain your topic: Many schools in America have security issues. Even our school experiences fights, theft, and vandalism. The school board is researching ways to stop these activities and to protect the students from them. For literature, background is: Title, author, genre, subject matter…

Thesis/Claim Example Thesis/Claims:  To, Plus a Verb To prevent dangerous situations, the school board should buy and install security cameras in every classroom.  To create an excellent sea disaster story, Junger uses excellent detail, realistic characters, and a positive ending to make the reader feel optimistic.  However Statements Security cameras are useful in catching inappropriate behavior after an event occurs, however, they do nothing to stop that event from happening.  Both stories are great sea disasters that make the reader reel, however, the morbid and helpless tone of Longfellow’s work resonates with the reader.  Two Nouns and Two Commas Security cameras, an effective deterrent for some crimes, should not be the only means of security in our high school.  Sea disasters, a harrowing experience avoided by most people, are best told in the narrative nonfiction genre with facts and real life events.

Bring it all together in a draft: Imagine being afraid to go to class in the building that is supposed to educate you for the next four years. Many schools in America have security issues. Even our school experiences fights, theft, and vandalism. The school board is researching ways to stop these activities and to protect the students from them. Security cameras are useful in catching inappropriate behavior after an event occurs, however, they do nothing to stop that event from happening.

Two Prompts to Practice: MFAT, brainstorm and write an introductory paragraph.  Most of us have a favorite time of year. What is your favorite time of year? Write a multiparagraph essay for your teacher explaining what time of the year is your favorite and why?  Community officials have proposed that individuals under the age of 18 cannot be out after 9 pm unless they are with an adult. Take a position on this proposal. Write a multiparagraph letter persuading community officials to support your position.