Persuasive Introductions

What is the purpose of an Introduction?

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

1st reason

2nd reason

3rd reason

Thesis: Main argument of the essay

What should or should not happen?

Introduction

Get your reader’s attentionGive your reader some background

information on your topicMain purpose: to deliver the thesis

3 Parts of an Introduction

Lead: gets the reader’s attention

Background: what your reader needs to know to understand your topic

Thesis: your main argument (what your essay will be about exactly)

Persuasive Introductions: 3 Parts

Lead: gets the reader’s attentionHow can you shock your readers or get their

attention?Relate the lead to the rest of the essay…Background: what your reader needs to know to

understand your topic What is your essay going to be about? What

is going on right now?Thesis: your main argument (what your essay will

be about exactly) What should (or should not) happen?

Part 1: Persuasive Leads – 2 strategies

Strategy 1 – “Imagine…”Have your reader imagine the best case scenario (related to

your topic)Imagine you walk to school each morning

feeling proud and excited of who you are. You get to express yourself and your creativity with how you talk, the school work you do, and even in the clothes you wear. However, this can’t really happen right now.

Have your reader imagine the worst case scenario Imagine you’re the parent of a sixth grader.

Every day, after working long hours to benefit your family, you have to wash your child’s uniform so that she can look nice for school the next day. After a while, you realize that you could have bought two new outfits for your daughter with all the money you’ve spent on laundry detergent. This is what EPACS parents deal with every day.The “so what?”

Persuasive Leads – 2 Strategies

Strategy 2 – Ask a Question- Have you ever wanted to express

yourself but couldn’t? This is how students with uniforms feel every day.

- Have you ever thought that there are tons of rules out there that don’t make sense? There is at least one example of a “non-sense” rule at our school: the dress code.

The “so what?”

The “so what?”

The “so what” sentence hints at the topic of the essay but probably doesn’t say it directly. That’s what the background is for…

Part 2: Background: What is your topic? What info does your reader need?

What is going on right now?

Currently, _____________________.- Currently, students at East Palo Alto

Charter School (EPACS) have to wear a uniform each day. If students violate the dress code, they are punished.

- Currently, there is a dress code at East Palo Alto Charter School (EPACS) that requires all students to wear a uniform each day. If students don’t wear the proper uniform, they earn detentions or other penalties.

Part 3: Thesis

What is your main argument? (3-Part Thesis)

______________ should ___________ because ____________, ____________, and ____________.

Topic Stand

1st supporting reason

2nd supporting reason 3rd supporting reason