Writing Great Introductions

The first paragraph IN ANY

PIECE OF WRITING

is the most important

wins or loses your readers
is usually the hardest part
Should Hook the reader into reading
on

What should be in your intro?

A Hook right at the beginning (see later
slides)
the thesis /focus/central idea of the
essay /article
A way to lead the reader into the body
of the work: either a preview of the
major points OR an effective
transitional phrase

OUCH!

HOOKS

TO CATCH YOUR AUDIENCE

OPTION #1
START WITH A QUOTATION
EXAMPLE:
Joyce Maguire Pavaos insight that,
Adoption is not about finding children for
families, its about finding families for
children reminds us that the adoption of a
child is not something that should be done
on impulse

OPTION #2
START WITH A QUESTION/SET OF
QUESTIONS/ PROBLEM (remember
rule of 3)
EXAMPLE:
What is it like to be homeless? How would
it feel to know there was nowhere to go
back to when darkness falls? How would
you deal with having no fixed address, no
roots, no identity?

OPTION #3
BEGIN WITH A STARTLING STATEMENT OR
STATISTIC
EXAMPLE:
Steve is a lawyer, his wife, Janet is a police
officer. Their combined family income is
$150,000. Their combined family debt is
$85,000. This year they joined the 72,615 other
Californians who filed for personal bankruptcy
this year (ABI 2)

OPTION #4
Use a PERSONAL STORY
EXAMPLE:
When I was seven, Mom and Dad took me to
Marineland park in Niagara Falls. I remember
wondering how the huge whales could be
happy in their tiny pool. Now, twenty years
later, I realize the damage that theme parks
such as these can inflict on these precious
mammals.

OPTION #5
START WITH A CASE STUDY
EXAMPLE:
Jay is a sixteen year old grade 11 student
who was on the honour roll in grades 7,8
and 9. Now his marks are all around 30%,
he attends class once a week and he has
the shakes. Why.

OPTION #6
USE A "WHAT IF" SCENARIO TO
DRAMATIZE THE TOPIC
EXAMPLE:
What if our city became a warzone for
gangs, drug dealers, and drive-by
shootings, much like Detroit or LA?
What if you couldnt walk down the
street safely? What ifIt could if we
dont regulate the use of guns.