1. Creating Great Introductions and Thesis Statements
English 0310
Distance Education
Mrs. Puder

2. Introductions Should Capture The Reader’s Attention And Build Interest In The Subject
Point Out a Vivid Quotation or Quotations (Find a quotation that is relevant to today’s society and attention-getting)
Reveal a Startling Statistic
Present a Question or Sequence of Questions (An Important – Significant Question or Questions)
Narrate a Story (Tell a story related to the question your thesis answers.)
Describe a Person, Place, or Thing
Create a Visual Image That Represents Your Subject
The Following Introductory Methods Are Ways To Capture The Reader’s Attention and Build Interest in the Subject – One or More Can be Used in the Introductory Paragraph
Let the Audience Know About a Surprising or Shocking Statement
Refer To Something You’ve Read
Make a Historical Comparison or Contrast
Define a Word Central To Your Subject (Avoid the tired opener that begins “According to the dictionary )
Use an Interesting Detail Or Fact
Illustrate a Fascinating Biography

3. The Thesis Statement:
Is the last sentence in the Introductory Paragraph
It can be an Implied or Specific Statement
Implied Thesis ( A General Idea Is Given Without Specifics)
There are a number of things I am going to do differently this semester to be successful.
Specific Thesis (Specifics Are Given)
If I complete all assignments, study for tests early, and seek out tutoring, I will be successful in class.

4. Sample Introduction Question – Create a Visual Image That Represents Your Subject
The  Little Things 
Have  you ever taken time from your busy life and thought about what is really important to you? Sometimes the smallest things can have the biggest impact on our very existence. We never stop to think of a giant oak emerging from a tiny seed or of another life being the center of our own. Even with the adversity of the world today, it is possible for one person to have a significant impact on another person . In my case, that person is my son. This child I am to teach and love has somehow enlightened me about patience, endurance, and affection; thus, he is the most significant person in my life. (Specific Thesis)

5. Question – Interesting Detail or Fact – Referring to Something You Have Read
A Spanking Good Time
First impressions have been studied throughout the world. Did you know that after leaving a bad impression on someone, it takes at least seventeen further encounters for the person to at least reassess your character? Firsts are a very important part of everyone’s lives, maybe because there is a first to everything or maybe because everything important in a life is cherished through firsts: first words, first steps, first kiss, or first car. Firsts always leave a forever lingering impression on people. It has for me. I remember my first spanking. Specific Thesis Statement.

6. Narration and Description (Creating a Story that Links to Your Thesis Statement)
Little Kid in the Big City 
My eyes slide open as I slowly became conscious.
My mother was yelling from the kitchen.
“Wake up and get ready for school.”
As I staggered to the bathroom, keeping my comforter draped around my body, I could feel the freezing wood floor stinging my feet. I was too petrified to let the rest of my body be overcome by the frigid temperature of the apartment. I managed to wash my face and brush my teeth using only my right hand since the left was too preoccupied keeping the covers insulating my body. While the difficult part was using the restroom, I was determined to successfully remain warm throughout the entire time I spent in the bathroom. I retraced my steps back to my room .

7. Story Continued
We both attended St. Mark’s Private School on 8th Street, and we traveled the same route, over eight blocks, every day to school.
As my mother hollered good-bye and ran out the door, I started to put on my uniform. I was independent for a fifth grader, considering I was able to get myself ready for school, which included knotting my own tie. I finished putting on my uniform and ran out the door, remembering to grab five dollars my Mom left out for lunch. I took the elevator down the second floor and quietly tapped on George’s door.
His Mom answered the door to politely notify me.
“Poor George’ isn’t going to school today; he is running a fever.”

8. Story Continued I was pelted with some more demands from my mother.
“Dress in layers.”
“Is it still cold outside?” I inquired.
She responded mockingly, “A winter in Manhattan is always cold!”
My mother and I lived on the fifth floor of a poorly heated apartment building in Manhattan. I am not sure of the exact location, but I remembered hearing that we lived ten minutes from anywhere. My Mom was a secretary at a large corporation and had to be at work earlier, so I would head off to school after she was gone. I walked to school with a kid, George, who lived in my building because my Mom was too uncomfortable with me going on my own.

9. Story Connected To Thesis Statement
She closed the door as I marched back to the elevator. I pressed the down button for the elevator as it dawned on me, I would have to walk to school myself! I walked out the front door of the building, realizing I had never walked such a long distance in Manhattan without a companion. This was my first time walking to school alone . Specific Thesis Statement.

10. Conclusions Bring The Paper To An End By:
Looking back over the points mentioned in the body paragraphs
Emphasizing important points you don’t want the reader to forget
Referring to something in the introduction
Looking forward maybe poising a question for the reader to consider
Giving advice
Suggesting a call to action based on a position put forth in the essay

11. Help From The McGraw-Hill Handbook
See Introduction,
72-74.
Introductions and Conclusion – For Multicultural Students, 75.