1. The Introductory paragraph
English 9

2. Purpose
Grab your reader’s attention
Introduce the topic of your essay

3. How to captivate your audience?
Definition
Relevant fact
Unusual detail
Question
Personal experience
Short narrative or example
Choose one of these methods and use it every time!
Become an expert
Be more prepared, relaxed, and confident

4. Practice Here’s a very broad essay topic:
“MUSIC”
In small groups, write an essay lead that addresses this topic.
Row 1 – Definition
“Music is a way to express oneself through sound.”
Row 2 – Relevant fact
“Did you know that people with amnesia listen to the Billboard Top 10 to help bring back their memory?”
Row 3 – Unusual detail
“Bob Dylan introduced marijuana to the Beatles.”
Row 4 – Question
“Is autotune an instrument? – that’s what Justin Bieber thinks.”
Row 5 – Personal experience
“All eyes are on me. I’m about to start my performance when CLUNK, my bow drops to the ground.”
Row 6 – Short narrative or example
“Tears rolled down his face as their song played on trying to fill the emptiness he felt in his heart.”
When your group has completed their lead, elect someone to write it on the board.

5. What not to do! “I think,” “I feel,” “in my opinion,”
Avoid mechanically announcing the topic
“In this essay I will discuss…” “I will talk about…” “I am going to prove…”
Do not apologize
Stay away from stating your thesis in your first sentence

6. Okay, so I’ve written a lead… now what??
Transition towards your thesis:
Ex: Today smoking is an issue which is on everybody’s mind. The whole country is divided on this issue. Some people believe that smoking should be banned everywhere, while others hearken back to the 70’s when a teacher could smoke in their classroom… while teaching. I believe that tobacco should be outlawed because smoking endangers everyone’s health, pollutes the environment, and drains us of valuable energy.

7. Another example:
People have different tastes in everything – from food and clothes to books and music. When it comes to music in particular, people often argue that the music from the past is better than the music of today. This is a valid argument. The popular music of the sixties and seventies is better than the popular music of today.

8. Finally… your thesis!
A thesis should inform your reader what your writing will be about.
Formula: Topic + Opinion + Support = Thesis

9. Assignment
Write an introductory paragraph on one of the following topics: road trips, the first day of school, the weird family member everyone always has, cafeteria food, clowns, ninjas, choose your own topic.
Must contain one of the essay leads we’ve discussed
Must be between words
Capture my attention
State the purpose of your essay