Mrs.

Mammana / English 9

Introductory Paragraphs
Below are three introductory paragraphs for three different essays about Tobias Wolff’s short
story “Powder.” Using these paragraphs as models, think about what makes a strong introductory
paragraph. As you analyze these models, ask yourself:
 What content (information) belongs in an introduction?
 What is the structure of an introduction (what information goes where)?
 What characterizes this style of writing (tone, word choice, formatting, etc)?

Introduction to an essay about character:

Merge to the Middle: Exploring the Contrast between Father and Son

In his story “Powder,” Tobias Wolff explores the relationship between a father and son as
they encounter a storm on the way home from the ski slopes. It is Christmas Eve day, and the
father is supposed to bring his son home no later than dinnertime from skiing. However, due to
the father’s carefree attitude, they wind up in some tricky spots on the way home. The father and
son are examples of two different extreme personalities, the father being a fun-loving,
irresponsible person and the son being an anxious and almost overly cautious person. Wolff
wants to get across the idea that one can be a responsible and fun-loving person by taking the
good aspects from each character and eliminating the bad. The author develops the theme that
the reader needs to come to the middle of the character’s two extreme’s through details from the
father’s past, the contrast of the father’s and son’s personalities, the dialogue between father and
son, and the son’s final transformation.

Introduction to an essay about symbolism:

Analyzing Powder: The Symbolism of the Snow

In Tobias Wolff’s short story “Powder,” the snow provides an important symbol. In the story, the
father takes his son on a ski trip and promises to have him home to his mother by Christmas Eve
dinner. On their way home, they are caught by a heavy snowfall that they must navigate through
in order to get to back in time. The title “Powder” highlights snow in the story, which symbolizes
the relationship between the boy and his father.

Introduction to an essay about theme:

Not Perfect: Unconditional Love in Tobias Wolff’s “Powder”

In the short story “Powder,” Tobias Wolff creates a story about acceptance and coming-
of-age. In the story, the father takes his son on a ski trip and promises to have him home to his
mother by Christmas Eve dinner. The father and son have a rocky relationship due to the father’s
carelessness and irresponsibility. “Powder” focuses on the boy’s epiphany, in which he realizes
that his father is not perfect, but that the boy can still love his father unconditionally. Wolff
 Mrs. Mammana / English 9

develops this theme through the imagery of the snow, the contrasting personalities of the father
and son, and the final lines of the story.

Content: Based on these three examples, what kind of information should always be included in
an introductory paragraph?

Structure: Think of the introduction as a three-part paragraph. What information should be in

each of the three parts (beginning, middle, and end) of an introductory paragraph?

1.

2.

3.

Style: What else do these paragraphs have in common? What do you notice about this style of
writing (called analytical writing)?

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 Mrs. Mammana / English 9