1. Introduction Paragraph
Take notes!

2. Introduction Paragraph
The purpose of your introduction paragraph is:
To creatively grab your reader’s attention, making her interested, wanting to read the rest of the paper.
Provide background information about the topic.
To outline what your paper will be about.

3. Introduction Paragraph
There are three main parts:
Hook
Transition
Thesis Statement

4. Introduction
Broad
Specific

5. Hook NO Questions!! Purpose: Options for hooks:
Grab the reader’s attention
Make the reader want to keep reading
Options for hooks:
Quotes from historical or well-known figures
Startling facts (NOT a piece of your evidence!)
Thought-provoking statement about your topic
NO Questions!!
Maintain formal voice: No 1st/2nd person

6. Hook
Example:
American author Aldous Huxley once said, “Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means of going backwards.”

7. Hook
Example:
In America, 98% of students own some sort of digital device (“Positive Impact of Technology”).

8. Hook
Example:
Children who used to be content playing outside with friends now spend the majority of their time isolated, in front of screens.

9. Transition
Purpose:
Guide the reader from the hook to the thesis statement.
Here, you should provide background information about your topic. What is the core of the debate that is happening around your topic?
This would also be a good place to introduce both your argument and the counter.

10. Transition
Example:
Children who used to be content playing outside with friends now spend the majority of their time isolated, in front of screens. Many people are worried about the way that technology is affecting America’s youth. On the one hand, concerns include questions about how the overuse of technology at increasingly younger ages will negatively affect a child’s brain, health, and social interactions. However, opponents to this idea focus on how technology can help children and students when it comes to connecting with each other, completing schoolwork effectively and efficiently, and even “rewiring” their brains to think in more creative ways.

11. Thesis Purpose: Outline what you will talk about in your paper
Create the structure your paper will follow

12. Thesis
Example:
Technology is a great benefit to students and teenagers because it helps with schoolwork and enhances creativity.
Claim
Reason #1
Reason #2

13. Children who used to be content playing outside with friends now spend the majority of their time isolated, in front of screens. Many people are worried about the way that technology is affecting America’s youth. On the one hand, concerns include questions about how the overuse of technology at increasingly younger ages will negatively affect a child’s brain, health, and social interactions. However, opponents to this idea focus on how technology can help children and students when it comes to connecting with each other, completing schoolwork effectively and efficiently, and even “rewiring” their brains to think in more creative ways. Technology is a great benefit to students and teenagers because it helps with schoolwork and enhances creativity.

14. Conclusion Purpose: To wrap up all the ideas in your paper
To call the reader to take action as a result of your argument

15. Conclusion Three main parts: Restate thesis Summary of main points
Call to action

16. Restate Thesis Purpose:
Bring the body of your paper back to your thesis statement
MUST be a restatement: DO NOT copy and paste the same sentence from your introduction.

17. Restate Thesis Example:
The arguments against technology in a teenagers life may be worth considering; however, it is clear that technology is a strong benefit to students when it comes to their schoolwork and creative ability.

18. Summary of Main Points Purpose:
Briefly show how the body of your paper proved your thesis
Summarize each body paragraph in one sentence.

19. Summary of Main Points Example:
First, technology strongly helps students complete schoolwork effectively with the use of online research sources, and increases communication with their teachers.
Also, technology enhances teenager’s social skills by providing ways to meet new people online, as well as maintain relationships with family and friends who may be far away.

20. Call to Action Purpose:
Challenge the reader to DO SOMETHING about “it” (your argument)
What is the outcome you want as a result of your claim?
Hint: This is not your claim – this is not where you convince, but where you challenge to action.

21. Final Thoughts Example:
Parents and teachers of teenagers should not shun technology in the lives of teens. That is a losing battle. However, if we embrace the technologies that teens are already using, we can help teenagers be more engaged and successful in school and at home.

22. The arguments against technology in a teenager’s life may be worth considering; however, it is clear that technology is a strong benefit to students when
it comes to their schoolwork and creative ability. First, technology strongly helps students complete schoolwork effectively with the use of online research sources, and increases communication with their teachers. Also, technology enhances a teenager’s social skills by providing ways to meet new people online, as well as maintain relationships with family and friends who may be far away. Parents and teachers of teenagers should not shun technology in the lives of teens. That is a losing battle. However, if we embrace the technologies that teens are already using, we can help teenagers be more engaged and successful in school and at home.