Constructing an Effective Introduction Paragraph

Constructing an Effective

Introduction Paragraph

You can think of the

progression of ideas in an introduction paragraph as

an upside down

triangle.

Your ideas should move/develop

BROAD SPECIFIC

UNIVERSAL TEXT

An effective introduction contains

three important components.

Hook (1-3 sentences)

O Introduces a universal idea that relates to the text.

OObjective is to draw in as many readers as possible.

OPreview the big ideas the paper will discuss.

HookO Some options:

• General Statement about topic/relating to life• Shocking statistic• Startling story• Relevant Quotation• Setting the scene• Define an abstract idea Ex: Sin is defined as…• Begin with a statement about the author or

type of lit.• Identify the author’s purpose

O NO QUESTIONS

ExampleO General statement about

topic/life

O Topic: Sin in Lord of the FliesO Hook: Looking around contemporary

society, it seems that sin is all around us. There is crime, political dishonesty, and unforgivable decadence on the part of our celebrities.

Example: A Shocking Statistic

In 2011, 51,209 violent crimes were reported in New York City alone (New York State Crime Report). This shocking statistic surely is evidence that sin is alive and well in American society

Example: A Shocking Story

O A Shocking Story: Recently in Wisconsin, a young mother was brutally assaulted during a home invasion. She was left bloodied and suffering. What makes this event even more horrifying is the fact that it all occurred in front of her two year old child. These kinds of horrific acts occur every day in America, and surely are evidence of the sinful behavior that is prevalent in our society.

Example: Relevant Quotation

O Plato once said that “Pleasure is the bait of sin.” One could argue that all sinners are trying to satisfy the Id, that part of ourselves that only seeks pleasure through instant gratification.

Example: Setting the Scene

O Caesar enters the Capitol, joyful at the possibility of being crowned that day. This ebullient pride grows as he sees the other senators, his friends and powerful men, beginning to gather around him to ask for his pardon. And then he sees the flash of the first dagger and confusion descends upon him as he feels the first stabs of betrayal.

Example: Author or Type of Lit

William Golding was a veteran who came home from World War II disillusioned with humanity. Having witnessed the atrocities of war, he now believed that all people were capable of horrible things when given the chance.

Example: The Author’s Purpose

Harper Lee grew up in Alabama in the 20’s and 30’s, a time an place ripe with racial discrimination and oppression. These early life experiences inspired her to write To Kill a Mockingbird, a novel that examines the danger of misguided prejudice.

Bridge

OConnects the broad statement about life to your focus or the novel.

OGives some minimal background on the plot of the text, specific to your topic and thesis.

Thesis Statement(1 sentence, last sentence)

Answers the prompt/questionMakes a claim/Is arguable!Considers the “so what” question-why is this important to the work? What does it reveal?Ex: Brutus is the hero of the work.-Wrong! No “so what!”Better: Brutus emerges as the hero of the work when he reveals that following one’s moral compass is more important than achieving political success.