1. Let’s Get Introduced!

2. You never get a second chance to make a first impression!

3. The introduction of your essay is the most important part
The introduction of your essay is the most important part! The reader decides here if your paper is worth reading!

4. Let’s face it – we’ve all read essays like this:

5. Here’s some examples of what you DON’T want to do...

6. The “it” lead... The “question” lead... The “definition” lead...
“It was a beautiful day in Texas...”
The “question” lead...
“Have you ever had something
difficult happen to you?”
The “definition” lead...
“Webster’s defines thoughtful as...”
Not another
BORING
introduction!
AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!

7. Never fear. Effective introductions are here
Never fear! Effective introductions are here! There are several ways to create an introduction that immediately grabs your reader and creates connections.

8. of your story and leave the reader
Jump In!
Jump into the middle
of your story and leave the reader
wanting more...

9. What do you think about this one. “Drunk driving is very dangerous
What do you think about this one? “Drunk driving is very dangerous. It can cause accidents that kill or injure thousands of people.”
Boring!

10. Let’s try this one: “As Bob adjusts his radio, a tree appears out of nowhere too late to turn the wheel!”
Better!

11. Snapshot
Create a picture
in the reader’s mind.

12. Let’s try this one: “My worst memory was dinnertime.”
Boring!

13. How about...
“The dinner table was bare except the stingy plates of dry meatloaf and runny mashed potatoes. No one had an appetite—especially me.”
Better!

14. Ba-Da-Bing!
Start with introducing
someone’s thoughts or feelings.

15. WOW! Ba = feet Da = see Bing = think
“As I stood on the edge of the roof,
I looked down
and whimpered, “I hope I don’t fall!”
WOW!

16. Thoughtshot
Begin your essay
with a thought inside
a character’s
head.

17. “I couldn’t imagine why my father hollered for me at 7:00 in the morning! I thought fast about what I had done.”
Interesting!

18. character doing something.
Ready...Set...Action!
Begin with your main
character doing something.

19. “Sally pushed away from the table, bolted out of the kitchen, and slammed the back door. She ran down the dock as quick as a lightening strike, hurrying toward the sound of her father’s voice.”
What’s next?

20. Onomatopoeia
Introduce your essay
with a sound.

21. “Crack. The limb snapped underneath me
“Crack! The limb snapped underneath me. I felt the rush of air slip past my arms as I fell to the grass below.”
Ouch!

22. Can you guess which kind of introduction it is?
Here are some
fairly good examples…
Can you guess which kind of introduction it is?

23. Jump in! “We’ve never given a party that something (or someone)
didn’t crawl inside our house and die.”
Jump in!

24. Ready… Set… Action! The other night, a tree
from the end of the driveway swerved
in front of me and clipped my right fender!
Ready…
Set…
Action!

25. Snapshot! My eyes watered and my jaw felt like it was
on fire after Bob quickly turned and his elbow jabbed into my face!
Snapshot!

26. “Tick, Tock.” I heard several clocks in various rooms of the house; however, if I want to know what time it really is, I have to look at my cell phone!
Onomatopoeia!

27. on a trip and it would take more than three weeks? Sweet!
I just couldn’t understand what my sister was telling me. We were all going
on a trip and it would take more than three weeks? Sweet!
Thoughtshot!

28. “What. Tim is going to be at the Houston rodeo any you have tickets
“What! Tim is going to be at the Houston rodeo any you have tickets!” I squealed while racing outside and searching for my family.
Ba-Da-Bing!

29. and see if you can identify
Think you got it?
Now it is your turn
to try!
Get with a partner
and see if you can identify
some introductions!

30. “Have we been introduced?”