Writing Workshop #1

The Introduction Paragraph

Prepared by Brittany Bingold for Perry High School

What does an introduction paragraph do?

• An introduction is usually the first paragraph of your academic essay.

• If you’re writing a long essay, you might need 2 or 3 paragraphs to introduce your topic to your reader.

A good introduction does 2 things:

• Gets the reader’s attention. 

• Provides a specific or debatable thesis statement. 

The Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

• Directly address the prompt.

• Include your thesis; however, do not say

• Say something that will pique the interest of the reader

• An introduction should be two or four sentences long.

• Mention the author and the title of the work (if you know them) in the introduction.

Don’t:• Do not repeat or paraphrase the prompt.

• Do not make a general value judgment about the author.

• Never refer to an author by his/her first name.

• Do not say “This paper will…” or “I think that…” or “I believe…” This weakens your statements.

• Do not use broad statements such as “All authors since the beginning of time...”

• Avoid superlatives like all, none, never, always

The Standard HooksHooks/Attention Getters: You can get a reader’s attention by telling a story, providing a

statistic, pointing out something strange or interesting, providing and discussing an interesting quote, etc. Be interesting and find some original angle via which to engage others in your topic.

Standard Hook 1: Open with a question

9-10 Graders

Standard Hook #2: Tell an Appropriate Anecdote

9-10 Graders

Standard Hook #3: Create a Vivid Image

9-10 Graders

Standard Hook #4: Begin with a Startling Statement

9-10 Graders

Standard Hook #5: Start with a Quotation

9-10 Graders

Standard Hook #6: Begin with a Definition

9-10 Graders

Standard Hook #7: Begin with Analogy

9-10 Graders

Practice Task – 9th and 10th Graders Directions: Look at our current prompt. How can we “hook” the reader using a standard hook method?

Each table will be assigned a method. Together, using the examples, write a hook for our current prompt. Then, type it up using Socrative. You have 10 minutes.

Table 1 – Open with a question

Table 2 – Relate an appropriate anecdote

Table 3 – Create an image

Table 4 – Begin with a startling statement

Table 5 – Open with a quote

Table 6 – Use a definition

Table 7 – Cite an analogy

Table 8 – Relate an appropriate anecdote

The Advanced Hooks

Advanced Hook #1: The Smattering

11-12 Graders

Advanced Hooks #2: Extended Metaphor/Epic Simile/Full-Circle Analogy

11-12 Graders

Advanced Hooks #2: Extended Metaphor/Epic Simile/Full-Circle Analogy

11-12 Graders

Advanced Hooks #3: Allusions

11-12 Graders

Advanced Hooks #4: Parallel Characters

11-12 Graders

Advanced Hooks #4: Paradox

11-12 Graders

Advanced Hooks #5: Quote from Prompt Page

11-12 Graders

Practice Task – 11th and 12th Graders Directions: Look at our current prompt. How can we “hook” the reader using an advanced hook method?

Each table will be assigned a method. Together, using the examples, write a hook for our current prompt. Then, type it up using Socrative. You have 10 minutes.

Table 1 – The Smattering

Table 2 – Extended metaphor

Table 3 – Epic simile

Table 4 – Full-Circle Analogy

Table 5 – Allusion

Table 6 – Parallel Characters

Table 7 – Paradox

Table 8 – Quote from Prompt Page

CONTEXT AND/OR CONCESSION

The stuff that goes between the hook and the thesis statement

CONTEXT The context guides our discussion of our topic by situating us within a particular text, historical time, or theoretical frame. We move from a broader topic to a specific context.

It sometimes can also be the “why do we care?” about your topic.

EXAMPLE - HOOK, CONTEXT, THESIS

Many of Shakespeare’s tragedies illustrate the concept that individual will is no match for pre-ordained fate. Romeo and Juliet is a classic Shakespearean tragedy in this sense. In it, the young lovers struggle to overcome many barriers in order to be together. Through the foreshadowing element of the chorus, the characterization of Romeo and Juliet as young and naïve, and the situational irony of the final scene, the play reinforces the idea that individuals are powerless to change their fates. Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet thus serves as a reminder that the course of fate cannot be altered by hard work or cunning; we must accept our fate as is.

CONCESSION What are concessions? While every essay needs to make an argument, at some point you need to acknowledge the other side. Acknowledging differing points of view on your topic is called concession. Making concessions is important because they show that you understand both sides of the issue.

A few tips for using concession:Always summarize counter-arguments in a fair manner. Taking a cheap shot makes you look bad, not your opponent.

Get concessions out of the way as soon as possible. Leaving them to the end will weaken your own argument so a great place to but one is right after your hook.

EXAMPLE - HOOK, CONCESSION, THESIS

Call of Duty…Halo…Modern Warfare-video games that to any on-looker may seem violent or downright horrific. Over the years, many groups have argued that violent videogames have desensitized teens to real life violence making them more likely to be involved in fights, school shootings and other criminal activity. However, this stance fails to recognize an individual’s responsibility for their own behavior and does not acknowledge that most teens are capable of telling the difference between right and wrong, reality and fantasy.

THESIS STATEMENTS

O N C E YO U H AV E A H O O K A N D H AV E G I V E N C O N T E X T / C O N C E SS I O N , YO U H AV E T O

I D E N T I F Y YO U R M A I N P U R P O S E F O R T H E E SS AY !

WHAT IS A THESIS STATEMENT?–Most important sentence in your paper

–The single sentence that ___________, ________, and / or _________ the topic of your essay and your approach to the topic

–Lets readers know your ___________

–Answers: What am I trying to ________ through the research / points in my paper?

formulates

states sums up

purpose

prove

FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF STRONG THESIS STATEMENTS• 1. A strong thesis statement takes some sort of stand.

– A thesis must show your conclusions about a topic.

• 2. A strong thesis statement justifies discussion.

– Your thesis should indicate the point of the discussion.

FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF STRONG THESIS STATEMENTS• 3. A strong thesis statement expresses one main idea.

– Readers need to be able to see that your paper has one main point. If your thesis statement expresses more than one idea, then you might confuse your readers about the subject of your paper.

• 4. A strong thesis statement is specific.– A thesis statement should show exactly what your paper will be about, and will

help you keep your paper to a manageable topic.

THESIS STATEMENTS SHOULD:• Be ________–What does this mean??

• Thesis statements should not contain pre-established ______. Why?

• Thesis statements should present information and your ________________ to the information.

• Even though you don’t say, “________” or “________,” your thesis is your __________ based on the ________ and ___________ you’ve made as you’ve __________ for your paper.

provable

facts

“take” or approach

I think

I believe opinionresearch conclusions

prepared

THESIS STATEMENTS SHOULD:• Take your essay’s purpose and audience into account

• Contain action verbs, strong adjectives, and specific, illustrative vocabulary–Avoid- “___,” “___,” “_____,” etc.

–Avoid- “___________” or other vague, generalized statements

is are have

many ways

CONSTRUCTING A STRONG THESIS STATEMENT

• How do you write a good thesis statement?

• Magic Formula:

________________+

______________ +

_________________________________ =

Strong Thesis Statement

Specific Topic

Active Verb

Point(s) you are proving (your approach)

FORMULA EXAMPLE FOR LITERATURESpecific Topic + Active Verb + Point(s) you are proving (your approach) = Strong Thesis Statement

Elie Wiesel’s Night + presents + the argument that remaining silent about the world’s atrocities is just as horrible as committing them ourselves. = Strong Thesis Statement

THESIS STATEMENT: TWO DIFFERENT APPROACHES• There are two ways to construct a strong thesis statement (and include your supporting details).

• Using the same “magic formula”, you can construct:

– A _______ Pronged Thesis

– A _____ Part Thesis

Three

Two

A THREE PRONGED THESIS• Your thesis includes your ______, your ___________________, and the _______________________ you will use to prove and discuss your topic in the body of your essay.

topic

approach to the topic

three aspects / main points

A THREE PRONGED THESIS EXAMPLE FOR LITERATURE:

• Literary contemporaries William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson exhibit similar styles of language, character development, and plot execution. = Strong Thesis!

• Topic + active verb + 3 prongs / main points / the approach that you use to prove your topic = strong thesis

1

3

2

A THREE PRONG THESIS FOR ANALYSIS

____________________, in _____________________ uses

(author) (title)

____________________, _______________________ and

(element) (element)

___________________

(element)

in order to __________________________________.

(achieve what purpose)

A TWO PART THESIS• As you grow as a writer, you should expand into the two

part thesis approach.

• Here, you state your thesis and argument to topic in one sentence.

– This is actually the true definition of a thesis statement… one sentence with topic/argument/analysis.

TWO PART THESIS FOR ARGUMENT/SYNTHESIS

Restate part of prompt into an arguable and provable statement with two parts.

Sample: Whether a teenager or a celebrity, one person can make a difference in the world.

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