GET IT STARTED WITH A BANG!Introductions:

PURPOSES OF THE INTRODUCTION

To grab the readers attention

PURPOSES OF THE INTRODUCTION

To grab the reader’s attention To create a positive first impression

PURPOSES OF THE INTRODUCTION

To grab the reader’s attention To create a positive first impression To establish an appropriate tone:

serious, humorous, etc

PURPOSES OF THE INTRODUCTION

To grab the reader’s attention To create a positive first impression To establish an appropriate tone To provide necessary background info

For lit analysis, usually this is title, author, and a very brief summary of plot

PURPOSES OF THE INTRODUCTION

To grab the reader’s attention To create a positive first impression To establish an appropriate tone To provide necessary background info Frequently but not always states the

thesis

INTRODUCTORY TECHNIQUES

Rhetorical Question (a last resort . . .)

INTRODUCTORY TECHNIQUES

Rhetorical Question (a last resort . . .) Quotation

INTRODUCTORY TECHNIQUES

Rhetorical Question (a last resort . . .) Quotation Anecdote: a brief story, esp if it’s

about you

INTRODUCTORY TECHNIQUES

Rhetorical Question (a last resort . . .) Quotation Anecdote: a brief story, esp if it’s

about you Interesting fact or statistic

INTRODUCTORY TECHNIQUES

Rhetorical Question (a last resort . . .) Quotation Anecdote: a brief story, esp if it’s

about you Interesting fact or statistic Controversial statement: something

that a large number of people might disagree with

OTHER ELEMENTS OF GOOD INTROS

Begin broad and end narrow

OTHER ELEMENTS OF GOOD INTROS

Begin broad and end narrow Try to gradually narrow to a thesis

OTHER ELEMENTS OF GOOD INTROS

Begin broad and end narrow Try to gradually narrow to a thesis Have a “bridge” between the technique

and the thesis: this makes it clear what the relationship is between the technique and the essay as a whole