Writing an Writing an IntroductionIntroduction

English 12English 12

The TempestThe Tempest Essay Essay

Purpose of an Introduction:Purpose of an Introduction:

1. To get the reader's attention. 1. To get the reader's attention. 2. To lead the reader into your 2. To lead the reader into your

paper and to establish your paper and to establish your thesis. thesis.

3. To control your essay by 3. To control your essay by moving from a general discussion moving from a general discussion of the subject to the specific of the subject to the specific thesis that your paper will prove.thesis that your paper will prove.

How do I begin?How do I begin?

You could begin with an You could begin with an attention attention grabber.grabber. This information must be This information must be true and verifiable, and it doesn't true and verifiable, and it doesn't need to be totally new to your need to be totally new to your readers. It could simply be a pertinent readers. It could simply be a pertinent fact that explicitly illustrates the point fact that explicitly illustrates the point you wish to make. If you begin with a you wish to make. If you begin with a piece of startling information, follow it piece of startling information, follow it with a sentence or two of elaboration.with a sentence or two of elaboration.

Example:Example: People love magic. Last year, magician People love magic. Last year, magician

David Copperfield did over 300 shows at the David Copperfield did over 300 shows at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. At over MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. At over $100 a ticket, audiences of over 1200 were $100 a ticket, audiences of over 1200 were delighted by his otherworldly abilities. delighted by his otherworldly abilities. Prospero, Shakespeare’s title character in Prospero, Shakespeare’s title character in The Tempest, The Tempest, also dazzles the audience with also dazzles the audience with his command of magic. His command of the his command of magic. His command of the island, his control over Ariel and Caliban, and island, his control over Ariel and Caliban, and his ability to cause a storm while protecting his ability to cause a storm while protecting those within it all point to a man with those within it all point to a man with tremendous magical gifts. As with David tremendous magical gifts. As with David Copperfield, it is the magic that makes the Copperfield, it is the magic that makes the show show The TempestThe Tempest worth viewing. worth viewing.

How do I begin?How do I begin? You could begin with a quotation from the You could begin with a quotation from the

play that reflects your thesis. Follow this play that reflects your thesis. Follow this quote with a sentence or two of quote with a sentence or two of elaboration. elaboration.

Example:Example: ““Hell is empty, and all the devils are Hell is empty, and all the devils are

here.” (I, i, 44-45) In Shakespeare’s here.” (I, i, 44-45) In Shakespeare’s The The TempestTempest, evil is pervasive. Prospero has , evil is pervasive. Prospero has been treated cruelly by his brother been treated cruelly by his brother Antonio, but he himself has gone on to Antonio, but he himself has gone on to treat Ariel, his fairy and slave, with treat Ariel, his fairy and slave, with contempt. After the storm, when Antonio contempt. After the storm, when Antonio and Sebastian arrive on the island, it is and Sebastian arrive on the island, it is clear that history is set to repeat itself. It clear that history is set to repeat itself. It is only by foiling the plans of the evil is only by foiling the plans of the evil doers on the island that Prospero is able to doers on the island that Prospero is able to rid himself of the evil within, and forgive. rid himself of the evil within, and forgive.

How do I begin?How do I begin?

If you tread carefully, you can begin with If you tread carefully, you can begin with an anecdote. an anecdote. An anecdote is a story that An anecdote is a story that illustrates a point. Be sure your anecdote illustrates a point. Be sure your anecdote is short, to the point, and relevant to your is short, to the point, and relevant to your topic. This can be a topic. This can be a very effective opener for your essay, but very effective opener for your essay, but use it cautiously, as it could sound either use it cautiously, as it could sound either hokey or irrelevant. hokey or irrelevant.

Example:Example: My friend Karen was one of six girls raised My friend Karen was one of six girls raised

by a single mother in rural Ireland. She by a single mother in rural Ireland. She went to all-girls schools from kindergarten went to all-girls schools from kindergarten until her graduation from high school, and until her graduation from high school, and then went to a women’s college. She had then went to a women’s college. She had very little experience of men, and ended up very little experience of men, and ended up marrying the first boy she ever dated. Like marrying the first boy she ever dated. Like Miranda in Shakespeare’s Miranda in Shakespeare’s The TempestThe Tempest, my , my friend Karen was not troubled by her limited friend Karen was not troubled by her limited knowledge of men. Miranda’s innocence, knowledge of men. Miranda’s innocence, unaffected and unadorned beauty, unaffected and unadorned beauty, intelligence and forthright nature caused intelligence and forthright nature caused Ferdinand to fall in love at first sight. Like Ferdinand to fall in love at first sight. Like my friend Karen, Miranda’s lack of my friend Karen, Miranda’s lack of experience with men worked in her favor.experience with men worked in her favor.

How do I begin?How do I begin?

Summary Information: A few sentences Summary Information: A few sentences explaining your topic in general terms explaining your topic in general terms can lead the reader gently to your thesis. can lead the reader gently to your thesis. Each sentence can become gradually Each sentence can become gradually more specific, until you reach your thesis. more specific, until you reach your thesis. This is called the “funneled” form of This is called the “funneled” form of introduction, and it is quite popular. introduction, and it is quite popular.

Example:Example: Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s The TempestThe Tempest is a study on is a study on

the nature of imperialism. At the time the nature of imperialism. At the time that the play was written, England was that the play was written, England was creating a global empire, with holdings in creating a global empire, with holdings in India, Africa, and North America. The India, Africa, and North America. The island in island in The TempestThe Tempest represents the represents the new world. Through a study of new world. Through a study of Prospero’s treatment of Caliban and Prospero’s treatment of Caliban and Ariel, as well as a discussion of the Ariel, as well as a discussion of the absurd ambitions of Stephano and absurd ambitions of Stephano and Trinculo, the reader can assess Trinculo, the reader can assess Shakespeare’s views. It is clear from a Shakespeare’s views. It is clear from a reading of reading of The TempestThe Tempest that that Shakespeare was against imperialism. Shakespeare was against imperialism.

How NOT to Begin!How NOT to Begin!

““Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘guilt’ as: ‘Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘guilt’ as: ‘a a feeling of responsibility or remorse for feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.’”…real or imagined.’”…EEK! English teachers EEK! English teachers see this all the time, and it HURTS!see this all the time, and it HURTS!

““In this essay I will…” Argh! That’s about as In this essay I will…” Argh! That’s about as subtle as a train wreck. The subtle as a train wreck. The passivepassive voice voice is appropriate for formal, persuasive is appropriate for formal, persuasive essays.essays.

Elements of an IntroductionElements of an IntroductionAn introduction should include:An introduction should include:- A brief summary of the action of the play or a A brief summary of the action of the play or a

description of the characters being discusseddescription of the characters being discussed- A hint as to the topics to be discussed in the A hint as to the topics to be discussed in the

essay – this can be specific, or more general if essay – this can be specific, or more general if there are numerous topics being discussedthere are numerous topics being discussed

- A THESIS – What will you A THESIS – What will you proveprove to your reader to your reader in this essay? in this essay?

DESPITE WHAT WE TOLD YOU IN GRADE DESPITE WHAT WE TOLD YOU IN GRADE 10, THE ORDER DOES NOT MATTER; 10, THE ORDER DOES NOT MATTER; WRITE WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.WRITE WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.