1. SWBAT Introduce the topic of their essay using a "hook" and creating a thesis statement.71

2. Do Now
Answer the following in your writing notebook: Who will be reading this essay?  What does that reader care about?  
Turn-and-talk, sharing your answers.

3. Why is the first paragraph important?
The first paragraph of an essay is meant to introduce the topic and to "hook" the reader-get the reader interested in continuing to read.

4. First step – the “hook” Who will read this essay?
What does the reader care about?

5. Hook Reader – the teacher
Cares about – that you understood both stories and the ideas and strategies used in both.
Firoozeh Dumas and Mawi Asgedom both write about their experiences as American immigrants.

6. Group activity
How would the hook change if your readers were your classmates instead of your teacher?
Rewrite the hook with your classmates as the reader.

7. Background information
The background information gives some quick basic information about the topic before introducing the thesis statement.
What does the reader need to know about both texts before reading the essay?

8. Background information
In “Funny in Farsi”, Dumas details her funny experiences dealing with Americans who don’t know much about her country, Iran.
In “Of Beetles and Angels”, Asgedom reflects on his struggles in America as he came from Ethiopia through his graduation from Harvard University.

9. Thesis statement
The thesis statement in an informative essay is what you will be discussing.
Here, you will mention how the two memoirs are alike, and also how they are different.
This is called a Compare/Contrast statement.

10. Thesis statement – How are they similar?
Both authors explore immigrant experiences.
Both authors discuss interacting with American culture.
Both authors detail personal experiences as immigrants to America.

11. Thesis statement – How are they different?
Dumas and Asgedom have different perspectives on America.
Both authors use different strategies to convey their different perspectives.

12. Sample thesis statement:
Although both Dumas and Asgedom detail personal experiences as immigrants to America, these authors use different strategies to convey their perspectives on their new home.

13. Signal words for compare/contrast:
Similar
Both
Also
In addition
Likewise
Similarly
Too
As well as
Similar to
Much like
each
Different
Although
But
however
In contrast
Otherwise
Even though
Instead
On the contrary
while

14. Completed first paragraph:
Firoozeh Dumas and Mawi Asgedom both write about their experiences as American immigrants. In “Funny in Farsi”, Dumas details her funny experiences dealing with Americans who don’t know much about her country, Iran. In “Of Beetles and Angels”, Asgedom reflects on his struggles in America as he came from Ethiopia through his graduation from Harvard University. Although both Dumas and Asgedom detail personal experiences as immigrants to America, these authors use different strategies to convey their perspectives on their new home.

15. Activity
Create an introduction paragraph using a “hook”, background information and a thesis statement.
Use the examples on pages to help create a thesis statement.
I will be helping you as needed.