EXPOSITORY INTRODUCTIONS

How to write a memorable piece

FOCUS

The purpose of an introduction is to introduce your topic in a way that hooks the reader.

In order to do this, you must think outside the box and avoid stating the topic outright.

WRITING A GOOD INTRODUCTION A good introduction begins with a good

first sentence—something to catch the reader’s attention and make him/her crave more.

A good introduction does not give every detail away, nor does it list topics to be discussed in the paper.

DO NOT

State the topic outrightI am going to write about…My essay is going to be

about…In this essay I will examine

the …My story is all about…My English teacher told me

to write this essay about… Make it about you

I remember when…I think we should all…I always make an effort to…

AVOID BEGINNING WITH CLICHÉS AND QUESTIONS

“Life is like a box of chocolates…”

Have you ever wondered why…?

Since the dawn of time… At the end of the day… When all is said and done… Is the time ever really right?

THESIS STATEMENT REVIEW: Prompt: Write an essay explaining

how fear affects life.

PROMPT: WRITE AN ESSAY EXPLAINING HOW FEAR AFFECTS LIFE.

Surprising fact or statement: Contrary to popular belief, over 40% of phobias begin before the tender age of 10.

Suspense: Beads of sweat drip from the face as a the microphone sits, lonely and undisturbed in the center of the stage.

Quotation: Jim Morrison once said, “We fear violence less than our own feelings.”

Select one of the above methods: You try!

PROMPT: WRITE AN ESSAY EXPLAINING HOW FEAR AFFECTS LIFE.

Jim Morrison once said, “We fear violence less than our own feelings.” Many people bottle up emotions simply to avoid facing them, yet they are not afraid to run when being chased. While it may be true that fear comes in many forms, the fear of expressing emotions can cause a person to miss out on love.

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A NOTE ON ANECDOTES… Try to leave your personal stories out of

expository writing. This will prevent you from writing in the first person. Instead, try this!

A man in Cambridge, Massachusetts, took his neighbor to court because the neighbor hadn’t cut his grass in fourteen years. A woman in Madison, Wisconsin, sued her neighbor because the leaves from his tree fell in her yard, and she had to rake them. Perhaps if lines of communication had been open or if each had shown a little more compassion to each other, it wouldn’t have gone so far. It is important to respect your neighbors by establishing a relationship with them in order to prevent a hostile environments.

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THESIS STATEMENT REVIEW: Prompt: Write an essay explaining

why it is important to have all the facts before making a judgment.

PROMPT: WRITE AN ESSAY EXPLAINING WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE ALL THE FACTS BEFORE MAKING A JUDGMENT.

Surprising fact or statement: Buyers beware! A suit, shined shoes, a Rolex, Old Spice, and a dazzling smile doesn’t make someone an expert. Quotation: Beloved American author Mark Twain once said, “Man is the only animal that blushes…or needs to.” Anecdote: Somewhere there is a boy with dazed and bloodshot eyes; his hair is a tangled mess.Select one of the above methods: You try!

PROMPT: WRITE AN ESSAY EXPLAINING WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE ALL THE FACTS BEFORE MAKING A DECISION.

Buyers beware! A suit, shined shoes, a Rolex, Old Spice, and a dazzling smile doesn’t make someone an expert. People should not let smooth-talking advertisers, manufacturers, and salesmen sell them the wrong product simply because they seem to know what they are talking about. It is important to get all of the facts before making a decision because otherwise, the choice may end up costing a lot more than just money.

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YOU TRY!

Using the same prompt, I will provide you with stems to complete an expository introduction.

I will be reading some of your introductions out loud to the class—each introduction will remain anonymous and we will pick each of them apart for CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.

*Make sure your writing is neat and legible. Be sure to write in complete sentences.

YOU TRY: WRITE AN ESSAY EXPLAINING WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE ALL THE FACTS BEFORE MAKING A DECISION.

Somewhere there is a boy with dazed and bloodshot eyes; his hair is a tangled mess. _____________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. It is important to get all of the facts before making a decision because _______________________________________________________________.

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NOW, LET US SHARE!

PROMPT: EXPLAIN WHY HONESTY IS IMPORTANT IN A FRIENDSHIP.Dialogue: “I can’t believe you told everyone after you promised you wouldn’t!” cried Tracy.

Metaphor/simile: Dishonesty is a train wreck waiting to happen. Or Betrayal is like having a rug ripped from under you. Quotation: Frank Ocean once said, “Once I catch you in one lie, it makes me question everything you’ve said.”

PROMPT: EXPLAIN WHY HONESTY IS IMPORTANT IN A FRIENDSHIP.Dialogue:

Metaphor/simile:or

Quotation:

YOU

T RY

PROMPT: WRITE AN ESSAY EXPLAINING WHY HONESTY IS IMPORTANT IN A FRIENDSHIP.

Frank Ocean once said, “Once I catch you in a lie, it makes me question everything you’ve said.” There is nothing worse than realizing a friend has been lying all along. Honesty is the foundation of a true friendship and should never be taken for granted because everything can be lost in an instant.

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PROMPT: WRITE AN ESSAY EXPLAINING HOW BULLYING IS A DESTRUCTIVE FORCE.Surprising fact or statement: According to the National Education Association, “Approximately 160,000 teens skip school every day because of bullying.”

Suspense: No one could have imagined how far a person would go once provoked. Quotation: Maya Angelou once said, “Words are things. You must be careful…”

PROMPT: WRITE AN ESSAY EXPLAINING HOW BULLYING IS A DESTRUCTIVE FORCE.

According to the National Education Association, “Approximately 160,000 teens skip school every day because of bullying.” School should be a place where students feel safe and comfortable, but because of the widespread epidemic of bullying, students would rather stay home than deal with bullies. Bullying is a damaging force, which can cause a ripple effect that leads teens down a destructive path.

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PROMPT: EXPLAIN WHY IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO QUIT.

Dialogue: “Walk away now and you’ll be a quitter forever!” shouted Coach Morris.

Metaphor/simile: Quitting is dying. Or Quitting is like stopping to get water and never making it to the finish line.

Quotation: Peter le fleur once said, regrettably, “Right now it feels a little like shame.”

“Walk away now and you’ll be a quitter forever!” shouted Coach Morris. The decision to walk off the field, not finish a test, or leave a job before really giving it a chance, can end up being a bigger problem than anticipated. It is important not to quit because it can easily become a habit.

PROMPT: EXPLAIN WHY IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO QUIT.

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YOU TRY!

Take all of my advice into consideration. Make it interesting and leave your reader wanting more!

I will be reading some of your introductions out loud to the class—each introduction will remain anonymous and we will pick each of them apart for CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.

*Make sure your writing is neat and legible. Be sure to write in complete sentences.

PROMPT: EXPLAIN WHETHER PIONEER HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE SCHOOL UNIFORMS.Dialogue: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Metaphor/simile: ________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Surprising face or statement: _____________________________________________________________________________________.

TAKE ONE OF YOUR HOOKS AND TURN IT INTO AN INTRODUCTION.

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NOW, LET US SHARE!

NOW LET US TAKE A LOOK AT AN EXAMPLE FROM YOUR ACTUAL PROMPT!

Prompt: Write an essay explaining how choices can impact the future.

PROMPT: EXPLAIN HOW CHOICES CAN AFFECT THE FUTURE.

Surprising fact or statement: Imagine a line of 25,000 dead and mangled bodies stretching for miles; that is the number of victims of drunk driving every year.

Metaphor/simile: Mistakes are awakenings.

Quotation: The late great Lucille Ball once said, “I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven‘t.”

Select one of the above methods: You try!

PROMPT: WRITE AN ESSAY EXPLAINING HOW CHOICES CAN AFFECT THE FUTURE.

Imagine a line of 25,000 dead and mangled bodies stretching for miles; that is the number of victims of drunk driving every year. Each and every one of those lives could have been saved if people simply took the time to think before making a rash decision. Choosing to get behind the wheel of a car after consuming alcohol or drugs, not only affects the victim, but it can also ruin the driver’s chance at a future.

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