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How to Write an IntroductionEN47
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The Basic Components of an
Introductiongrabberbackgroundthesisblueprint
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The Intro Should...... get the reader's interest so that he or
she will want to read more. ... let the reader know what the
writing is going to be about.
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Getting the Readers AttentionProfessional writers use five
basicpatterns to grab a reader's interest: historical review
anecdotal surprising statement famous person declarative
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But Im not a professional writer!
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No worries - all writers can use these basic patterns.
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Historical ReviewSome topics are better understood if a brief
historical review of the topic is presented to lead into the topic
of the paper. EX: "a biographical sketch of a war hero or "an
upcoming execution of a convicted criminal."
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EX: The victory brought pure elation and joy. It was May 1954,
just days after the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in Brown v.
Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. At NAACP headquarters in New
York the mood was euphoric. Telegrams of congratulations poured in
from around the world; reporters and well-wishers crowded the
halls. [After reaching back forty years ago to bring up the
landmark Supreme Court decision that started school desegregation,
this article discusses school segregation in the present time.]
from "Integration Turns 40" by Juan Williams in Modern Maturity,
April/May, 1994.
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AnecdotalAn anecdote is a little story. Begin a paper by
relating a small story that leads into the topic of your paper.
Your story should be a small episode, not a full blown story with
characters and plot and setting.
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I can see it now: I am walking home from school down Eighth
Street as a crowd pours out from the newly built Cardinals stadium.
On my way, I am nearly hit by a speeding car, right after two
homeless people ask me for money. I continue further and see heaps
of garbage littering the streets from the many football
fans.Jessica Kentgen January 14, 1998
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Surprising StatementAlso called a bold statement.There are many
ways a statement can surprise a reader. Sometimes the statement is
surprising because it is disgusting. Sometimes it is joyful.
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Sometimes it is shocking. Sometimes it is surprising because of
who said it. Sometimes it is surprising because it includes
profanity.
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Have a minute? Good. Because that may be all it takes to save
the life of a childyour child. Accidents kill nearly 8000 children
under age 15 each year. And for every fatality, 42 more children
are admitted to hospitals for treatment. Yet such deaths and
injuries can be avoided through these easy steps parents can take
right now. You don't have a minute to lose. from "60 Seconds That
Could Save Your Child" by Cathy Perlmutter with Maureen Sangiorgio
in Prevention, September, 1993.
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Famous PersonDropping the name of a famous person at the
beginning of a paper usually gets the reader's attention. It may be
something that person said (a quote) or something he or she did
that can be presented as an interest grabber.
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The famous person may be dead or alive, good or bad. Of course,
this person's name, words, or actions must be relevant to the
topic.
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The most widely read writer in America today is not Stephen
King, Michael Chrichton or John Grisham. It's Margaret Milner
Richardson, the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, whose
name appears on the "1040 Forms and Instructions" booklet. I doubt
that Margaret wrote the entire 1040 pamphlet, but the annual
introductory letter, "A Note from the Commissioner," bears her
signature. from "Dear Taxpayer" by Will Manley in Booklist, May 1,
1993.
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DeclarativeUse this technique carefully. In this pattern, the
writer simply states straight out the topic of his paper. A
declarative grabber is usually the thesis statement.
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Schools should be based on books not looks!
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FactSometimes factual information is the best way to begin.A
fact should be something that can be proven, not just common
knowledge.
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The problem of childhood obesity in the United States has grown
considerably in recent years. Between 16 and 33 percent of children
and adolescents are obese. Obesity is among the easiest medical
conditions to recognize but most difficult to treat. Unhealthy
weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible
for over 300,000 deaths each year. The annual cost to society for
obesity is estimated at nearly $100 billion. Overweight children
are much more likely to become overweight adults unless they adopt
and maintain healthier patterns of eating and exercise.
http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/obesity_in_children_and_teens
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StatisticsData, numbers, percentages for some topics, a
statistic is the best way to begin.When using data, it is best to
cite your source.
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Television plays too great a role in the lives of American
children. 71% of 8- to 18-year-olds have a TV in their bedroom
[1a]; 54% have a DVD/VCR player, 37% have cable/satellite TV, and
20% have premium channels [2]. [1a] Rideout VJ, Foehr UG, Roberts
DF. Generation M2: media in the lives of 8-18 year-olds. Kaiser
Family Foundation. January 2010. Available at:
http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/8010.pdf. Accessed 30 June 2010.
[2] Roberts DF, Foehr UG, Rideout V. Generation M: media in the
lives of 8-18 year-olds. Kaiser Family Foundation. March 2005.
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Background Informationsimilar to historical reviewit provides
information necessary to understanding the issuea bit like
exposition in literature
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Thesis Statementthe main idea (focus) or your essayMany writers
think of a thesis statement as an umbrella: everything that you
carry along in your essay has to fit under this umbrella.
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The thesis statement should remain flexible until the paper is
actually finished. It ought to be one of the last things that we
fuss with in the rewriting process.
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The thesis statement usually appears near the beginning of a
paper. It can be the first sentence of an essay (declarative), but
that can feel like a simplistic, unexciting beginning. It more
frequently appears at or near the end of the first paragraph or
two.
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Avoid announcing the thesis statement as if it were a thesis
statement. In other words, avoid using phrases such as "The purpose
of this paper is . . . . " or "In this paper, I will attempt to . .
. ."
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Blueprintsets up the framework for your essaycan be part of the
thesis statement or stand aloneis usually in three parts
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I am fully against the idea of building a stadium and convention
center in Mesa. My reasons include: the extravagant cost and the
may financial problems it will cause, decreased value in
surrounding residential areas, and the many forms of pollution
which will arise from the project.Jessica Kentgen January 14,
1998
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Things NOT to do in an introductory paragraph:
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Apologize. Never suggest that you don't know what you're talking
about or that your opinion doesnt matter.. Avoid phrases like the
following: In my [humble] opinion . . .I'm not sure about this, but
. . .
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Announce your intentions. Do not flatly announce what you are
about to do in an essay. In this paper I will . . . The purpose of
this essay is to . . .
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Use a dictionary or encyclopedia definition. According to
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary,a widget is . . .Although definitions
are extremely useful and it might serve your purpose to devise your
own definition(s) later in the essay, you want to avoid using this
hackneyed beginning to an essay.
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Dilly-dally. Get to it. Move confidently into your essay.
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http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/intros.htm
