How to Write An Effective Introductory Paragraph

What goes into an introduction? Hook/General Statement Addresses the big focus of the assignment, but also mentions something about what you are specifically discussing Introduce your subject Who are you writing about? Can include background (like biographical information and facts)

What goes into an introduction? Bridge Sentence Address the assignment in more detail How did you find connections between the writer’s identity and their writing? Thesis Statement In your thesis, Don’t be too broad or specific. Should be able to stand alone If a person were to read just your thesis statement, they should know exactly what your paper will be about.

1) Hook/General Statement Works to pique the reader’s interest Addresses both the overall assignment question while introducing the specific focus of the paper Do not mention your subject just yet!

Examples of Hooks/General Statements Bad Hook/ General Statements There are many connections a person can make between a writer and their work. For years, writers have been putting their identity into their written work. Good Hook/ General Statements A person can be shaped by a their experiences and their history, and these aspects are often evident in a person’s personal work. Writers are often most inspired by the people and events that they encounter in their life, creating a thread that connects their identity with their writing.

2) Introduce Your Subject Include biographical information here, but not too much What are some things about your writer that may be pertinent to the reader? Create a picture of your subject for the reader Does NOT have to be long - can be done in 1-2 sentences Must make sure to include author’s name, story, and something about that story that deals with your topic.

Examples of Introducing the Subject Bad Subject Intro Amy Tan is a best-selling novelist who was born in Oakland, California on February 19, 1952. Born to John and Daisy Tan, Amy lived in several California communities as a child. Growing up, she read plenty of books, which she calls “her salvation.” She is married to Lou DeMattei, who is not Chinese; they don’t have any children together. … Good Subject Intro Amy Tan, a first-generation Chinese American born to Chinese immigrant parents, is a novelist who has written countless stories celebrating the history of China and its people.

3) Bridge Sentence(s) How does your subject relate to the general topic of the paper? Mention some ways that author’s writing is connected to the topic

Examples of Bridge Sentences Bad Bridge Sentences Tan has written a lot of books. In her books, she talks a lot about girls without moms. Also, she writes about people who are confused about her culture. Lastly, she loves English, so she writes about that, too. Good Bridge Sentences Her novels have inspired various movies and works of theater, but her own work has been influenced by aspects much closer to home. Tan’s novels, such as The Joy Luck Club, Saving Fish from Drowning, and her newest novel, The Valley of Amazement, all echo various facets of her identity - a daughter looking for a definitive bond with her mother; a young woman confused by her cultural identity due to her ability to speak multiple languages; and a lover of the English language.

4) Thesis Statement What is your paper about? Do NOT beat around the bush! Thesis should be able to stand alone If a person were to read ONLY your thesis statement, they should be able to tell what your paper is about.

Examples of Thesis Statements Bad Thesis Statement Both the narrator from “The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant” and the narrator from “The Pit and the Pendulum” are similar because they struggle. Good Thesis Statement The narrators from “The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant,” and “The Pit and the Pendulum” both undergo struggles that shape them differently, yet both react to the struggles in similar manners in that they both show panic and question their situations.

BAD INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH There are many connections a person can make between a writer and their work. Amy Tan is a best-selling novelist who was born in Oakland, California on February 19, 1952. Born to John and Daisy Tan, Amy lived in several California communities as a child. Growing up, she read plenty of books, which she calls “her salvation.” She is married to Lou DeMattei, who is not Chinese; they don’t have any children together. Tan has written a lot of books. In her books, she talks a lot about girls without moms. Also, she writes about people who are confused about her culture. Lastly, she loves English, so she writes about that, too. Amy Tan shows her identity by writing about her family, English, and being Chinese.

GOOD INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH Writers are often most inspired by the people and events that they encounter in their life, creating a thread that connects their identity with their writing. Amy Tan, a first-generation Chinese American born to Chinese immigrant parents, is a novelist who has written countless stories celebrating the history of China and its people. Her novels have inspired various movies and works of theater, but her own work has been influenced by aspects much closer to home. Tan’s novels, such as The Joy Luck Club, Saving Fish from Drowning, and her newest novel, The Valley of Amazement, all echo various facets of her identity - a daughter looking for a definitive bond with her mother; a young woman confused by her cultural identity due to her ability to speak multiple languages; and a lover of the English language. Amy Tan’s novel The Valley of Amazement is a product of Tan’s familial relationships, her love for the English language, and her culturally diverse heritage.

What should be included in the conclusion paragraph… - Signal the end of the paper - Reiterate your thesis statement - What you may have learned - “The Big Picture” Transitional words or phrases should be used to signal your reader that you are ending your paper. Your thesis should be restated in a way that summarizes your expanded ideas in the previous paragraphs. Another good idea is to tell what you learned; what did you get or accomplish from your research? “Explain why the content matters in terms of the “Big Picture.”” In other words, why is the content of your essay important to read? Speculate about the Future.

Common mistakes in closing paragraphs… DON’T BE REPETIVTIVE!! This is probably the most common mistake in concluding paragraphs. It can be difficult not to repeat yourself because you are restating your thesis, but you’re not rewriting your thesis, just summarizing the ideas previously discussed. *Suggestion: “Address the implications of the essays central claim”; “ask a rhetorical question” that will lead the reader into a further thought process.