Introductory Paragraph Nice to meet you. What are you all about?
Introductory Paragraph A good introductory paragraph makes a reader want to continue reading. It excites the reader about an essay s topic. It gives a small amount of background information. It turns that excitement into curiosity about a well stated thesis statement. Finally, It gives the reader a connection to the body of an essay.
Formula for an Introductory Paragraph Hook Information-Adding Sentence Pivot Sentence Set-up Sentence Thesis
Example Introduction At some point we ve all been upset at our parents and wanted to walk out the front door. (hook) Sometimes the life of a teenager can be stressful and many times parents only add to that stress. (Info-adding sentence) Just because parents sometimes add more stress to life than they take away it doesn t mean they don t care. (Pivot Sentence) The Treasure of Lemon Brown, by Walter Dean Myers, is an example of how even when we re upset at our parents the bond between us is still strong and necessary. (Set-up Sentence) Walter Dean Myers uses plot conflicts and character traits as tools to show how the bond between a son and a father is important and necessary in the lives of each of them. (Thesis)
Explanation of Introductory Elements Hook: The first sentence in the introduction needs to grab the reader s attention. It needs to be general and introduce the topic of the thesis without referring directly to it. (examples to follow) Information-Adding Sentence: the second sentence adds information about the grabber, again, still general and not yet referring to the thesis. Pivot Sentence: the third sentence pivots or turns us toward the thesis. This is the first sentence that hints about our thesis. We can use a key word about our thesis here.
Explanation of Introductory Elements (Cont.) Set-Up Sentence: The fourth sentence is the set-up or lead-in sentence. It leads us directly to the thesis, connecting the topic or idea of the grabber to the point made by the thesis. Thesis: The final sentence is the thesis we wrote first. Everything written so far should lead directly to this idea, the whole point of our paper. Don t be afraid to alter the thesis a little so it flows with the set-up sentence.
Let s look at the formula again Hook Information-Adding Sentence Pivot Sentence Set-up Sentence Thesis
Types of Hooks Begin with a thought-provoking question Do not use you in the question! Is it true that bigger is always better? Could it be that society s insatiable desire for more is in many ways giving people less? An intriguing example Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, could spend one million dollars per day, every day, seven days a week and would not run out of money until he was 311 years old!
Types of Hooks A vivid anecdote (short scenario) It seemed that all they did was drive, and each time they stopped it was to visit another site. That morning in Washington D.C. was different. A provocative quotation There cannot be true democracy unless women s voices are heard (Hillary Rodham Clinton). A puzzling scenario A duck s quack doesn t echo. Some people might find a deep and mysterious meaning in this fact
For Your Notes: Types of Hooks Begin with a thought-provoking question (overused) Do not use you in the question! An intriguing example A puzzling scenario A vivid anecdote (short scenario) A provocative quotation
A Few Questions 1. What is the purpose of a good introductory paragraph? A. To add facts to the essay the reader might need to understand the essay. B. To excite the reader and get them interested in the essay. C. To make sure the reader knows what is going to be in the essay.
A Few Questions The first sentence in an introduction is also called? A. The pivot sentence B. The information adding sentence C. The hook D. The thesis
A Few Questions Walter Dean Myers uses plot conflicts and character traits as tools to show how the bond between a son and a father is important and necessary in the lives of each of them. This is an example of what part of an introductory paragraph? A. Thesis B. Hook C. Information adding sentence D. Pivot sentence
A Few Questions At some point we ve all been upset at our parents and wanted to walk out the front door. This is an example of what type of hook? A. A vivid anecdote (short scenario) B. A provocative quotation C. A puzzling scenario