1. Writing: How Do I Start My Paper?????
Mrs. Macemore

2. Where Do I Begin?
Fact: Beginning and ending a paper will be the hardest part. Fact: I can help make it easier!

3. What Should an Introduction Do?
Point the way into your essay.
Spark your readers’ interest.
Commit you to a certain language
Establish a frame, or form, for your writing.

4. Point the Way into Your Essay
This means that it gives the reader some clue of what you are going to be writing about in your essay.

5. Spark Your Reader’s Interest
This one is simple enough. Your introduction should be interesting enough to make someone want to finish reading your work. Attention grabbers: Open with a thought-provoking question. Provide a dramatic or eye-opening statement.

6. Commit You to a Certain Language
Your opening paragraph is also used to establish your language style for the rest of the paper/essay. If you are writing formally, you will want your introduction to be formal as well. If you are writing informally, you will want your introduction to show that. Tuxedo Language vs. T-Shirt Language

7. Establish a Frame for Your Writing
This means that your opening paragraph will provide a mini-outline for your reader. It tells them the main points they will be seeing as they read the rest of the paper. Clue: List all your main points in your introduction (close to the end of it) and treat your subject in a very serious manner. You are the expert on what you are writing about.

8. Still Confused?
Think of an introduction like you would think of a movie trailer. What are some things you look for in one of those?