Introductions Introductions should generate interest in an essay, provide context (background information), and clarify its main point. Funnel: Move from general to specific, ending with your thesis statement. About 1/3-1/2 page for 3-4 page essay

Things to Try Quotation – Something from the website: a memorable description, slogan, etc. – “You fuel, you train, you push... You fuel, you train to win.” This tweet on the Gatorade website exemplifies the Gatorade marketing strategy.

Anecdote or short narrative – Some short representative story about the product or company being advertised. – In 2013 and 2014, he was named the Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year. Beginning in that same year, he won two consecutive cross country national championships and never lost a race in the This athlete accomplished these feats while earning a 4.11 grade point average in his high school classes and volunteering his time to tutor other students and contribute to his community. Grant Fisher, from Grand Blanc, Michigan, featured on Gatorade’s website as one of their Athlete of the Year/Player of the Year Award recipients, is a prime example of the type of amateur athlete that Gatorade wants its customers to associate with their product and company name.

Interesting fact – Something about the product or company to get attention – Water is the most readily available fluid on the planet and is nature’s original thirst-quencher. However, according to Gatorade, “when it comes to optimal field performance, water isn’t enough.”

Question – Rhetorical question related to the product or company. – “Why G?” Gatorade forces visitor to its website to consider why they should drink Gatorade over all the other sports drink options available. – How important is it to athletes to have the competitive edge in their sports? How do they get this edge? Gatorade attempts to answer these questions on their company website.

Definition – Your own specific definition of some concept or quality associated with the product or company – Greatness is achieving a level of excellence that separates someone from all others. Greatness can be achieved in nearly any arena, from politics to art. The Gatorade website focuses on greatness in competitive world of sports.

Basic Background Information – Description of the website’s key features. – Include thesis statement

Conclusions What last impression do I want to make? Conclusions should reinforce the thesis and echo the introduction.

Comment or elaborate on some aspect of the introduction – Comment on the opening quotation – Finish the narrative – Reemphasize the interesting fact – Finish answering the question – Refer to the definition – Refer back to the key features of the advertisement