INTRODUCTIONS:THE HARDEST PART

OF ANY PAPER

PURPOSE

Every introduction has two major purposes:

To get the reader’s attention

To introduce the topic

PURPOSE

To get the reader’s attention

If you don’t grab their attention in the first paragraph, they won’t listen to everything else you have to say

PURPOSE

To introduce the topic

This can be done by a thesis statement at the end of the introduction

THINGS TO NEVER, EVER DO IN AN INTRODUCTION

ApologizeAnnounce your intentionsUse a dictionary definitionDilly-dally

THINGS TO NEVER, EVER DO IN AN INTRODUCTION

Apologize

Don’t say things like:“In my opinion...” “I’m not sure, but...”

THINGS TO NEVER, EVER DO IN AN INTRODUCTION

Announce your intentions

Never say:“This paper will be about...”“In this paper I am going to...”

THINGS TO NEVER, EVER DO IN AN INTRODUCTION

Use a dictionary definition

Definitions can be useful, but not in an introduction; it is insulting to the reader

THINGS TO NEVER, EVER DO IN AN INTRODUCTION

Dilly-dally

Get to it. Don’t waste time getting to the point. Don’t write words simply to take up space.

THINGS TO TRY USING IN AN INTRODUCTION

Historical review

Give a brief historical review leading up to the point where your paper begins

THINGS TO TRY USING IN AN INTRODUCTION

Anecdotal

Anecdote=short, funny storyEveryone loves personal

stories, just make sure it is a short one

ANECDOTE EXAMPLE

I have three younger brothers, and we are best friends now that we are grown up. But when we were kids, look out! One example stands out in my mind. My mother had a large basket of peaches in the kitchen, which she had warned us to leave alone so she could make jam. (We were about 5 and 4 at this time). I decided I wanted just one bite of peach; she would never notice one bite gone. That peach was wonderful. I wanted more, but was afraid she would notice one missing peach. So instead I took one bite out of every peach in the basket, then put them back so you couldn’t see the bitemarks. When Mom found the basket and noticed the bitemarks, she went ballistic and demanded to know who had done it. I blamed my brother, and for some reason she believed me. He got sent to bed with no lunch, he got no snacks for the rest of the week, and she spanked him. I got an extra treat for lunch. For years, the peach incident was a sore point among us. But we were like many other brothers and sisters—we often didn’t get along.

THINGS TO TRY USING IN AN INTRODUCTION

Surprising statement

The statement may be surprising because it’s disgusting, joyful, shocking, or because of who said it

THINGS TO TRY USING IN AN INTRODUCTION

Famous person

Drop the name of a famous person who ties into your thesis to get attention

THINGS TO TRY USING IN AN INTRODUCTION

Declarative

Simply declare your thesis in the first sentence

Can be boring unless done well

THINGS TO TRY USING IN AN INTRODUCTION

Question technique

Ask a question related to your topic

Forces the reader’s brain to engage in your topic

THINGS TO TRY USING IN AN INTRODUCTION

What’s the only place in the United States where people can go and feel like they’ve stepped back 200 years? Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, that’s where. For many years, Williamsburg has delighted scholars and tourists alike with its authentic portrayal of revolutionary American life.

THINGS TO TRY USING IN AN INTRODUCTION

Use fragments.

Normally fragments are a big grammar no-no. But used occasionally and with purpose, they can be very effective.

THINGS TO TRY USING IN AN INTRODUCTION

Use fragments.

Floating gardens. Dirt bridges. Moving canoes. These are the images that met the Spanish conquistadors when they entered the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.

THINGS TO TRY USING IN AN INTRODUCTION

· Strong Three Words

This is similar to the fragment strategy, but more grammatical.

THINGS TO TRY USING IN AN INTRODUCTION

· Strong Three Words

Guns, bombs, and terror--these three words describe the situation in Northern Ireland, a place where Catholics and Protestants fight over religion.

THINGS TO TRY USING IN AN INTRODUCTION

· Describe a Situation

Hiram Bingham paused and wiped the sweat from his brow. He could hear the buzzing of insects swarming in the jungle. A few more miles and he’d have to stop traveling for today. Continuing uphill, he passed through some particularly dense foliage, then unexpectedly, the area cleared somewhat. He gazed about, hardly daring to believe his eyes. Having been hidden for 400 years, Bingham had just discovered the lost city of the Maya, Macchu Picchu.