1. Essay Introductions:
ATTENTION GRABBERS

2. Startling Information
must be true and verifiable
doesn't need to be totally new to your readers.
could simply be a relevant fact that clearly illustrates the point you wish to make.
--transition to your THESIS

3. Example: Startling Information
According to a 2008 study by the CDC, "over 9 million children, ages 6-19 years-old are overweight or obese." This is three times what it was in 1980.

4. Anecdote a small story that illustrates the point of your essay
think of it as an episode, not a full blown story with characters, plot, setting, etc.

5. Example: Anecdote
When the plane came crashing down into the island, the boys’ lives would be forever altered. The island may have appeared to be a playground without adult supervision at first, but each child would soon discover that it was a dark and chaotic hell.

6. Summary Information
Global Statement: A few sentences explaining your topic in general terms
Each sentence should become gradually more specific, until you reach your thesis.
For an essay on symbolism, start with a brief definition of symbolism and then explain why an author might include this in a story

7. Example: Summary Information (or Global Statement)
Symbolism is a method authors use to stimulate new thoughts and ideas in a reader. It is through symbolism that an author encourages his or her reader to go beyond the obvious to find the true meaning of even the most ordinary object.

8. ALWAYS: End your Essay Introduction with your THESIS STATEMENT.
Lead the reader from your attention grabber to your THESIS STATEMENT.
For Lit Response, write 2 sentences about the literature and/or the author.
“In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding…”
End your Essay Introduction with your THESIS STATEMENT.
That’s a total of at least 4 sentences.

9. THESIS STATEMENTS MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER
Give focus and structure to your essays and
MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER
2 arguable prongs
(one for each body paragraph)
Characters and events in the literature are not considered arguable prongs.

10. Which is the best thesis statement?
Lord of the Flies is about a group of British boys stranded on an island.
Many objects are symbolic in Lord of the Flies, including Piggy’s glasses.
Piggy’s glasses are a symbol used to illustrate his intelligence and his desire to see things clearly.

11. Things NOT to do in an introductory paragraph:
Avoid phrases like the following:
In my opinion . . .
I think. . .
I'm not sure about this, but . . .
Although I don’t know much . . .
In this essay I will…
The purpose of this essay is to…