1. Educational Support Services Essay Introductions Copy: Janet Farra Design: Verna Fisher

2. There are several ways to organize your introduction. The following slides show three typical styles with samples. There are several ways to organize your introduction. The following slides show three typical styles with samples.

3. Three introduction styles with samples Illustrative essay using extended thesis statement. Illustrative essay using extended thesis statement. –Topic introduction –Thesis (in bold on next slide) –3 points (in italics on next slide) General essay General essay –Topic introduction –Thesis (on slide 5) Critical interpretation of literature Critical interpretation of literature –Identifying sentence: author, title, and basic idea of text (in italics on slide 6) –Thesis (in bold on slide 6)

4. Illustrative introduction sample Restaurants such as McDonalds, Burger King, Arbys and Long John Silver have become food industry giants by catering to those who need to get and eat a meal quickly. The average American eats fast food four times a week. However, our health has been negatively affected by this trend. Fast food offers inflated calories, deflated nutrition, and death to family time around the dinner table. Restaurants such as McDonalds, Burger King, Arbys and Long John Silver have become food industry giants by catering to those who need to get and eat a meal quickly. The average American eats fast food four times a week. However, our health has been negatively affected by this trend. Fast food offers inflated calories, deflated nutrition, and death to family time around the dinner table.

5. General introduction The dull rumble started while we were watching CNN coverage of the war in Afghanistan from our resort condominium in Acapulco, Mexico in early October of 2001. The sound quickly grew more intense as the floor began to shake under our feet. Our reactions varied. I thought “Earthquake!” and hid under the table, while my husband wondered “Why would anyone bomb Mexico?” Later, even as we laughed about our first experience of an earthquake, we realized that the events of September 11, 2001, had radically altered our perception of the world. The dull rumble started while we were watching CNN coverage of the war in Afghanistan from our resort condominium in Acapulco, Mexico in early October of 2001. The sound quickly grew more intense as the floor began to shake under our feet. Our reactions varied. I thought “Earthquake!” and hid under the table, while my husband wondered “Why would anyone bomb Mexico?” Later, even as we laughed about our first experience of an earthquake, we realized that the events of September 11, 2001, had radically altered our perception of the world.

6. Critical interpretation sample Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House in the Big Woods” is a charming story of pioneer life in the 1800s. Laura describes one year of her family’s life in the woods of Wisconsin as seen through her eyes as a young child. This account includes rich descriptions of the things that impressed her at that time: her first rag doll, her pa’s story-telling skill, and a community celebration at sugar- making time. Playtime with her older sister, Mary, is full of creative imagination with acorn-cap tea cups and leaf plates. Even as a five-year-old, Laura makes significant contributions to family life as Ma and Pa’s little helper. Wilder pulls her readers into the story, allowing them to perceive her world through a child’s eyes. Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House in the Big Woods” is a charming story of pioneer life in the 1800s. Laura describes one year of her family’s life in the woods of Wisconsin as seen through her eyes as a young child. This account includes rich descriptions of the things that impressed her at that time: her first rag doll, her pa’s story-telling skill, and a community celebration at sugar- making time. Playtime with her older sister, Mary, is full of creative imagination with acorn-cap tea cups and leaf plates. Even as a five-year-old, Laura makes significant contributions to family life as Ma and Pa’s little helper. Wilder pulls her readers into the story, allowing them to perceive her world through a child’s eyes.