Writing the Introduction

A Recipe for SuccessUse this easy-to-follow recipe for an introduction

that is sure to be tasteful, appetizing and perfectly simmered.

Begin with a hook…

• Use a famous quote or song lyric that relates to an aspect of your novel

• Grab the reader’s attention• Make your audience want to read• When choosing a hook, consider

theme, setting, conflict

Explain Hook

• This might sound like a “no-brainer” but it is an important step that many people skip (so don’t skip it)

• In YOUR OWN WORDS, explain the meaning or significance of the hook.

• Help your audience understand why this quote was important enough to open the term paper.

Hook-to-BookH-2-B

• Make a connection between the book and literature in general.

• Does your hook discuss a theme or conflict or concern that is commonly found in literature?

• Are there many literary works that seek to answer a question presented in your hook?

Relevant Context

• This is where you – the expert – provide information that your audience needs in order to follow your thesis argument.

• It will USUALLY focus on explaining the setting – time and place. For instance, for The Color Purple or I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, you have explain what life was like in the South in the 1930’s.

• BUT it could be about a term or a movement – The American Dream, or the meat-packing industry, or the double nature of man.

Novel Summary

• This is where you should introduce your novel title, author and a basic plot overview.

• Do not overwhelm your audience with a blow-by-blow account of the story.

• Focus on the most pertinent plot information – setting, protagonist/antagonist, conflict and so forth.

Lead-in to Thesis

• In a quick sentence, prepare your audience for the thesis

• Alert them so they are “tuned in”

THESIS

• POW! This is IT – the THESIS!• Include the title, author, literary

element and message of the work.

Thesis Subtopics

• Add one more sentence to your intro that includes the 3 OR 4 subtopics your paper will explore.

• For example, if you are discussing the oppression of women in The Color Purple, you might write: “Walker uses the primary female characters of Celie, Shug, and Sophia to depict a community of women who both face oppression and, in turn, oppress other women.”

• This is a guide for the reader – it tells the audience that you will discuss 1.)Celie 2.)Shug and 3.)Sophia (in that order).

 Example

• American actor Fred Ward once said, “I think we're struggling with trying to redefine various positions at this point in 

history. To allow freedom for women, freedom for men, freedom from those sharply defined gender roles.” Indeed, 

these “sharply defined gender roles” did exist in the sixteenth century during the English Renaissance, and pieces of 

these stereotypes still linger in modern society. Stereotypical gender roles have been challenged through the workplace, 

media, marches, and most importantly: literature. Countless novels, plays, and essays combat the defining gender roles 

of the Renaissance era’s strong, intelligent male and delicate, ignorant female. William Shakespeare, arguably the most 

noted playwright of all time, was a key figure in the defying of these gender stereotypes through his literature. Though 

his characters seem to comply with the gender roles, one delving deeper into Shakespeare’s work can discover the 

underlying defiance portrayed through his characters. This is true especially in his play The Merchant of Venice, which 

tells the tale of Bassanio, his friend Antonio, and the unfortunate Shylock. When Shylock loans Antonio money, who, in 

turn, is lending the money to Bassanio, he strikes a deal with him that demands repayment in a month’s time or a pound 

of flesh. When Antonio is unable to hold up his end of the deal, he- conspiring with Portia, her maid Nerissa and Jessica, 

Shylock’s own daughter- creates a ploy to out best Shylock, which culminates in their victory over the lender. Thus, The

Merchant of Venice, one of Shakespeare’s many romantic comedies, contains three female figures who push against the 

conventions of gender: Nerissa, Jessica, and the heroine, Portia.In his play, The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare uses 

the characterizations of the female characters, especially Portia, to manipulate and defy the gender roles of his time, the 

English Renaissance. Through Shakespeare’s (SUBTOPIC 1) emphasizing of feminine wit and deception, (SUPTOPIC 2) 

challenging of relationship roles, and (SUBTOPIC 3) disobedience of the “rules” of father daughter relations, Shakespeare 

effectively challenges his society’s conformity of gender roles.