Writing an essay introduction. Your full introduction has 3 parts: Hook/Lead: literally “hooks” the reader Connecting Details: reasons why Thesis: states.

Writing an essay Writing an essay introductionintroduction

Your full introduction has 3 parts:

Hook/Lead: literally “hooks” the reader Connecting Details: reasons why Thesis: states main argument with

subject and opinion

It’s like a sandwich….the meat = connecting details, with the hook

and thesis being the bread!

I’m the connecting

details!

SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE 3 SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE 3 PARTS OF YOUR INTRO. YOU PARTS OF YOUR INTRO. YOU

NEED TO INCLUDE NEED TO INCLUDE DEMOCRATIC IDEALS AND DEMOCRATIC IDEALS AND

CONSTITUTIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES PRINCIPLES

(see handout)(see handout)

Democratic Ideals: the Democratic Ideals: the standards we live by in our standards we live by in our

governmentgovernment• JusticeJustice = fairness = fairness• EqualityEquality = the state of being alike in = the state of being alike in

status/naturestatus/nature• Life Life = existence= existence• Pursuit of Happiness Pursuit of Happiness = the right to find = the right to find

happinesshappiness• Liberty Liberty = freedom from oppression= freedom from oppression• Common Good Common Good = something that benefits all= something that benefits all• Diversity Diversity = individual difference/uniqueness= individual difference/uniqueness• Truth Truth = an indisputable fact= an indisputable fact• Popular Sovereignty Popular Sovereignty = voting= voting

Connecting your topic to Connecting your topic to the ideal…the ideal…

Write your topic in the “my topic” Write your topic in the “my topic” circle on your paper.circle on your paper.

Now, create a web that illustrates Now, create a web that illustrates the relationship between your topic the relationship between your topic and the democratic ideal. and the democratic ideal.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

GAY MARRIAGE

EQUALITY – If equality is an ideal valued by our country, how is it that all people are not treated equally in the

eyes of the law?

Constitutional Principles = Constitutional Principles = Rules/Guidelines that must be Rules/Guidelines that must be

followed by gov’t:followed by gov’t:Rule of law Rule of law = law applies to EVERYONE, even gov’t= law applies to EVERYONE, even gov’tSeparation of Powers Separation of Powers = division of gov’t authority = division of gov’t authority

among the 3 branchesamong the 3 branchesRepresentative Government Representative Government = a gov’t where = a gov’t where

citizens take part through elected officials who act citizens take part through elected officials who act on their behalfon their behalf

Checks & Balances Checks & Balances = a process that allows each = a process that allows each branch of government to limit the power of the branch of government to limit the power of the other branchesother branches

Civil Rights Civil Rights = rights of individuals to get equal = rights of individuals to get equal treatmenttreatment

Human Rights Human Rights = fundamental rights possessed by = fundamental rights possessed by all humansall humans

FederalismFederalism = Government that is divided between a = Government that is divided between a central government (Washington DC) and more central government (Washington DC) and more localized governments (states, cities, etc.)localized governments (states, cities, etc.)

Connecting your topic to Connecting your topic to the PRINCIPLE…the PRINCIPLE…

Now, create the last side of the web Now, create the last side of the web that illustrates the relationship that illustrates the relationship between your topic and the between your topic and the Constitutional Principle. Constitutional Principle.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

GAY MARRIAGE

CIVIL RIGHTS – All individuals are entitled to equal treatment, so this violates the 14th

amendment’s right of equal protection under

the laws.

You must include AT LEAST TWO You must include AT LEAST TWO Democratic Ideals and/or Constitutional Democratic Ideals and/or Constitutional Principles in your intro paragraph. More Principles in your intro paragraph. More would be better, but at least two are would be better, but at least two are required (you can have one from each list, required (you can have one from each list, or two from one…just have two!).or two from one…just have two!).

Your topic sentences for body paragraphs Your topic sentences for body paragraphs should include mention of the Ideals or should include mention of the Ideals or Principles-- let these guide each essay Principles-- let these guide each essay paragraph!paragraph!

YOUR INTRO TASK:YOUR INTRO TASK:

The hook (a.k.a. lead)

There are my types of hooks. Let’s look at your handout for examples…

1.Hook2.Conn. Details3.Thesis

Connecting details: These Connecting details: These are the three reasons you’ll are the three reasons you’ll use to prove your thesis…use to prove your thesis…

Connecting details lead to your Connecting details lead to your thesis…they are the reasons you’ll thesis…they are the reasons you’ll use to prove your thesisuse to prove your thesis

Your paper will have three body Your paper will have three body paragraphs; each will focus on a paragraphs; each will focus on a different idea that will prove your different idea that will prove your thesis. thesis. If you list these main ideas If you list these main ideas before your thesis, they become your before your thesis, they become your connecting details.connecting details.

Hook: Close your eyes. Imagine being forced to pray to a god in which you don’t believe. Or being tortured for criticizing your leaders. Or being arrested for participating in an anti-government rally. Imagine living in a country without freedom of religion, speech or assembly. Luckily, we Americans possess all of these basic human rights and don’t have to.

Connecting Details: In this country, both our citizens and news mediums have the freedom to express what they deem important. We can practice religion without interference from the government, and we can come together peacefully in protest. Where would be without these critical rights that promote the common good?

Thesis: The rights guaranteed to all Americans under the First Amendment are rights we simply could not live without.

(can you pull out the subjects of my body paragraphs???)

Connecting Details Example:

Uno mas example-ito:Hook:

If the drop is too short, death comes through gradual strangulation; if too long, the jerk of the rope rips the head off. Too many precious lives have been taken in cruel manners such as these.

Connecting Details:Life is a gift, and truth cannot be disputed: history has shown thatAmerica’s death penalty violates the 8th Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment, that the application of the death penalty is racist, and that innocent people are sometimes executed

(can you pull out the subjects of my body paragraphs?).

Thesis:America’s death penalty should be abolished in favor of punishments that don’t lend themselves to a system that is harshly unfair.

Thesis Statement

Has…

A subject and an opinion

A Thesis Statement:A Thesis Statement:

1.1. Must state your main argument Must state your main argument (with subject and opinion).(with subject and opinion).

2.2. Must NOT be in the first person: “I Must NOT be in the first person: “I think, I feel, I know…”.think, I feel, I know…”.

3.3. Is often stated in one complete Is often stated in one complete sentence, but can be several.sentence, but can be several.

4.4. Generally appears toward the end Generally appears toward the end or middle end of your intro.or middle end of your intro.

Are these thesis statements? Why or Why not?

The 8th Amendment bans cruel and unusual punishment for those convicted of crimes.

In Washington state students are not required to say the pledge of allegiance, but they should be for the common good* of all Americans.

*common good is underlined because it’s a democratic ideal!!

In the following thesis statements, underline the subject once, and

the opinion twice Corporal punishment is pure

justice* and should be allowed in school to improve student behavior.

The Electoral College is unjust* and should be abolished in favor of popular vote.

*justice is a democratic ideal; unjust is just another form of the word!

Thesis StatementThesis Statement On the back of your Hooks/Leads paper On the back of your Hooks/Leads paper

(or in available space in your packet) (or in available space in your packet) please write your first draft of your thesis please write your first draft of your thesis statement.statement.

Start with “This paper will argue that…”Start with “This paper will argue that…” Gun control should be increased so that…Gun control should be increased so that… Foreign-born citizens should be allowed to…Foreign-born citizens should be allowed to… The Electoral College should be abolished in The Electoral College should be abolished in

favor of…favor of… Share…

Thesis StatementThesis Statement Now cross out “This paper will argue Now cross out “This paper will argue

that…”that…” Now take a minute and try to include a Now take a minute and try to include a

democratic ideal or constitutional democratic ideal or constitutional principle (but you don’t need to if its principle (but you don’t need to if its found elsewhere in your intro).found elsewhere in your intro).

Share at your tables. Check for subject Share at your tables. Check for subject and opinion and demo. Ideals/const. and opinion and demo. Ideals/const. princ. Share with the class…princ. Share with the class…

Now I need a volunteer…Now I need a volunteer…

……to highlight the hook, 3 to highlight the hook, 3 details/reasons, and thesis in the intro details/reasons, and thesis in the intro paragraph on the next slide.paragraph on the next slide.

Who??Who??

You also all need an eval sheet….they’ll You also all need an eval sheet….they’ll highlight stuff, then you’ll evaluate it!highlight stuff, then you’ll evaluate it!

Intro from paper titled “Freedom”Intro from paper titled “Freedom”

““It’s not just the books under fire now that worry me. It It’s not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. All due to fear of censorship. As always, young never be read. All due to fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers.” (Judy Blume) Judy Blume readers will be the real losers.” (Judy Blume) Judy Blume would be sad to know that more than a book a day is banned would be sad to know that more than a book a day is banned from America’s public schools and libraries. This denies the from America’s public schools and libraries. This denies the common good by preventing kids from learning and reading common good by preventing kids from learning and reading what they choose. It is a basic human right to be able to both what they choose. It is a basic human right to be able to both express and receive ideas, but censorship prevents this from express and receive ideas, but censorship prevents this from happening. Books that some claim to be harmful to kids happening. Books that some claim to be harmful to kids actually provide an opportunity to teach some important actually provide an opportunity to teach some important lessons; often lessons that parents don’t feel comfortable lessons; often lessons that parents don’t feel comfortable teaching themselves. The First Amendment clearly provides teaching themselves. The First Amendment clearly provides for free expression, so books should never be targeted for for free expression, so books should never be targeted for censorship. Book banning is blatant censorship that hurts censorship. Book banning is blatant censorship that hurts society, and should not be allowed under the First society, and should not be allowed under the First Amendment’s freedom of expression clause. Amendment’s freedom of expression clause.

Next, let’s look at more sample intro Next, let’s look at more sample intro paragraphsparagraphs

You need a pencil and intro paragraphsYou need a pencil and intro paragraphs You also need a groupYou also need a group And some highlighters (3 colors per group)And some highlighters (3 colors per group) As a group, read the paragraph aloud. Identify As a group, read the paragraph aloud. Identify

and highlight each of the following in a different and highlight each of the following in a different color:color: HookHook 3 reasons why/details3 reasons why/details ThesisThesis After you’ve done this for the first paragraph, use the After you’ve done this for the first paragraph, use the

eval sheet provided to score it. Then go on to next…eval sheet provided to score it. Then go on to next…