Introduction and Attention Grabbing Leads Purpose: Immediately hook your reader and get your reader’s attention. Give your reader some background information on your topic Frames your thesis.
ABT: Pieces to a Knockout Introduction Paragraph 1) Attention Grabbing lead: 2) Bridge Bridge between the attention grabbing lead to the thesis. (Links/transitions the lead to the thesis statement.) 3) Thesis Statement: Main argument of your essay: 3 specific reasons, 1 sentence
A: Attention Grabbing Leads Paint the Picture – Set up a scene or story in just a few sentences to connect with the reader, explain your point, and add interest. Statistic or Shocking Fact – Add facts and statistics to surprise and invoke curiosity, confusion, frustration, or any other feelings which make the audience want to read more.
Paint the Picture: Paint a picture– vivid details create a vision for the reader to imagine. Give a brief example to create situations of empathy/sympathy. Relevant - (relates to the topic). Specific details - (the more specific details are, the more engaging the hook).
Paint the Picture Examples Top quality example: The internet is an easy and accessible place for bullying among teens, with aggressive messaging and a lack of consequences for negative communication. One nasty posting can quickly be shared with hundreds of others, creating a ripple/domino effect. The underlying negative message gets magnified, often with damaging results. Poor quality example: Facebook bullying is bad and gets out of control.
Paint the Picture HONOR Examples Top quality example: The internet realm is a fertile breeding ground for bullying among teens, with aggressive messaging and a lack of consequences for hostile communication. One nasty posting can quickly be shared with hundreds of others, creating a ripple effect which magnifies the underlying negative message, often with damaging effects. Poor quality example: Facebook bullying is bad and gets out of control.
Statistic or Shocking Fact: Shocking facts and statistics are used to surprise and invoke curiosity, frustration, or any other feelings which make the audience want to read more. The fact/ statistic is true (believable). The source of the fact is given or credibility is established. This is done by providing credentials.
Examples of Statistics or Shocking Facts: Top Quality Example: According to National Geographic, “Over 1.5 billion people do not have access to clean, safe water.” Poor Quality Example: 85% of the families who have dirty drinking water in New Haven say they don’t like it.
B: Build the Bridge! Sentence which smoothes the way between your attention-grabbing lead and the thesis. (= transition sentence!!!) AG Lead + + Thesis= INTRO
Standard Intro Example A: The internet is an easy and accessible place for bullying among teens, with aggressive messaging and a lack of consequences for negative communication. One nasty posting can quickly be shared with hundreds of others, creating a ripple effect which magnifies the underlying negative message, often with damaging effects. B: Across America, much attention is being focused on how to solve the problem of online bullying. T: Schools should create a formal discipline plan for online bullying because it would clearly define unacceptable behavior, ensure students’ safety online, and build a stronger sense of student community.
B: Across America, much attention is A: The internet realm is a fertile breeding ground for bullying among teens, with aggressive messaging and a lack of consequences for hostile communication. One nasty posting can quickly be shared with hundreds of others, creating a ripple effect which magnifies the underlying negative message, often with damaging effects. B: Across America, much attention is being focused on how to solve the problem of online bullying. T: Schools should create a formal discipline plan for online bullying because it would clearly define unacceptable behavior, ensure students’ safety online, and build a stronger sense of student community. (honors)
A: According to National Geographic, “Over 1 A: According to National Geographic, “Over 1.5 billion people do not have access to clean, safe water.” B: Many people suffer from illnesses associated with dirty drinking water, and so it is important that corrective steps be taken to provide relief. T: America should invest in helping provide clean drinking water to developing nations because technological advances have lessened cost, it brings political stability, and prevents avoidable death and suffering for millions.