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INTRODUCTIONS

Parts of an Introduction:

Hook or attention-getter
Context and background
information
Thesis statement

INTRODUCTIONS
Strategies for Writing an Introduction:

Consider the question(s) you need to answer (What will be your

thesis?)

Open with an attention grabber or hookPay special attention to

your first sentence (i.e. an anecdote that exemplifies your thesis,
authoritative quotation, controversial opinion, shocking fact or
statistic).

Provide context that is necessary to understanding the thesis

statement; your introduction should come to a point with the
thesis.

Be straightforward and confident!

Dont be afraid to write a tentative introduction and come back to

change it later.

INTRODUCTIONS
Less Effective Introductions:
The place holder introduction
Example: Slavery was one of the greatest tragedies in
American history. There were many different aspects of
slavery. Each created different kinds of problems for
enslaved people.
The restated question introduction
The Websters Dictionary introduction
The dawn of man introduction
The book report/summary introduction
The broad, vague question or obvious question
introduction
The clichd introduction
The announcement introduction

INTRODUCTIONS
What Not to Do:
Apologize (i.e. In my humble opinion. . ., Im
not sure, but I feel that. . ., etc.)
Announce your intentions (i.e. In this paper I
will. . ., The purpose of this essay is to. . .,
etc.)
Dilly-dally (Move confidently into your essay
and be concise!)

INTRODUCTIONS
Remember. . .
If you are bored writing your introduction,
your audience will be bored reading it.
Engage your readers right off the bat with
an effective hook, provide context for
your thesis or claim, and then state your
thesis in a confident, concise way.