Writing the Introductory Paragraph for the AP Literature Essays

K. Matteson

Most Important:

• Figure out what the prompt wants from you, and make sure you address all parts of the prompt somewhere in your paragraph!!

YOUR VOICE

• I want to hear it.• The AP readers want to hear it.• WRITE WITH IT!(Just make sure you use proper grammar when

you do so )

Things to include in your Intro:

1. You must identify the name of the work (novel or poem).

2. You must identify who wrote the poem or prose.

3. Some background information, or brief summary of the work.

4.A Thesis statement.

Let’s look at an example:

See handout: “The Flowers” by Alice Walker

My introduction:

All children find themselves, at one time or another, at a threshold between innocence and experience, youth and maturity. In her short story “The Flowers”, Alice Walker captures this moment for a ten year-old girl named Myop as she makes “her own path, bouncing this way and that” toward a discovery that irrevocably steals Myop’s innocence. Walker’s shifting imagery and laden symbols prepare the reader for the horrific scene while the child’s quiet reaction creates an effective climax to this coming of age tale.

Hook – Common associationBrief Summary of the work

Thesis

All children find themselves, at one time or another, at a threshold between innocence and experience, youth and maturity. In her short story “The Flowers”, Alice Walker captures this moment for a ten year-old girl named Myop as she makes “her own path, bouncing this way and that” toward a discovery that irrevocably steals Myop’s innocence. Walker’s shifting imagery and laden symbols prepare the reader for the horrific scene while the child’s quiet reaction creates an effective climax to this coming of age tale.

Hints:

• If there are more than two devices listed in the prompt for you to consider in your discussion, choose 2-3 to focus on. You are NOT required to address all devices.

• Always, even if the prompt doesn’t directly ask you to do so, discuss the theme of the piece. The readers want to see you are able to make connections between the devices and the overall meaning of the work.