Introductions

Make sure to start with a bang!

 The argumentative essay is a genre
of writing that requires the student to
investigate a topic; collect, generate, and
What is an evaluate evidence; and establish a position
on the topic in a concise manner.
argumentative
The goal of an argumentative essay is
essay? always to convince or persuade a given
group of audience to understand the other
side of the argument to support a new
belief or idea.
 Your introduction is what tells the reader
what they’re reading:
○ They’re used to grab the attention
of the reader (Your hook)
Why the intro ○ Building background information

is important! and define the purpose of your

paper (“Why was this written?”)
○ To create the focus and stance on
your argument (Your thesis/claim)
Starting with a hook,
bite the bait
★ Single Word-set off an important word by itself and follow it with a fact
or description
■ Ex. Smoking. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer
in the US.
★ Description-paint a picture for your reader, try to use lots of imagery and
address your five senses.
★ Start with a sound and then lead it into a description or story related to topic.
★ Thought provoking higher level question! Do not use yes, no, or maybe lower level questions!!!
★ Interesting Fact- writer presents an intriguing piece of information related to topic.
■ Ex. All the cans of Red Bull sold in 2013 add up to 475 tons of caffeine.
 This will follow similarly with your hook. Discuss
in a few general ideas the why your discussion
Building topic is an issue and needs to be brought to
background attention.
knowledge
“Smoking is the number one cause of lung
cancer in the United States. Even though every
tobacco product has the Surgeon General’s
warning about this health concern, it’s still an
epidemic, and a great number of adults and
teens still see themselves smoking. Smoking
products should… *thesis*”
Build your thesis: TP 123
• T = the topic you’re
discussing
• P = your position on it
• 1, 2, 3 = the three
subtopics to be
discussed in the body of
the essay

T-P-123
EXAMPLE
Your 1, 2, and 3 subtopics that
build your stance is created
from your evidence based
research!
Have your stance, and use
your research to create them
“The age of nicotine and tobacco
purchase should be raised to 25 because
body and mental growth can be slowed if
consumed (1), it’s an addictive substance
(2), and it will reduce young college
friends buying product for older
highschool students (3).”
Rules to a thesis
★ A thesis is the main argument of an essay. It is probably the single most important part
of an academic paper.
★ The claim defines your papers goals, direction, and scope.
★ They must be argumentative. When you make a claim, you are arguing for a certain
interpretation or understanding of your subject.
★ A good claim is specific. It makes a focused argument (MTV‟s popularity is waning
because it no longer plays music videos) rather than a general one (MTV sucks)
Example Outline for Effective
Argumentative introduction
oStart with a question.
o Try to avoid a vague question such as, “Are cell phones bad?”
o Create clear, concise questions such as, “Should cellphones be allowed in
class?”

oYour claim should invite continued debate by taking a strong

position that could be argued. So answer your question (this is your
position) and give your reasons (not your specific evidence but generic
reasons), and you will have a nice, clear claim.
oHighlight your claim (topic and position) in red, and evidence to
support your claim (subtopics) in green.
oExample of a claim: Young teenagers should not have cellphones in
class because they are unnecessary tools (1), it distracts them from
instruction (2), and they learn poor communication skills (3).
 All together now...
“Cell phones are a great modern invention with many capabilities, all of which can be held
Hook and in the pocket. With all the apps a cell phone can use, it’s actually an incredible piece of
Background
technology. You can call your grandma while you’re reading a new recipe to make chicken.
It’s fantastic! However, they’re not really useful beyond personal uses such as that. Their
major downfall is they serve no real academic purpose. Students should not have
T-P-123 cellphones in class because they are unnecessary tools, it distracts them from instruction,
and they learn poor communication skills.”