Transcript Introductions PPT

Introductions
One purpose of the introduction
 Your introduction needs to attract your reader! This
is sometimes called a “hook.”
Writers can attract readers in a number of ways,
such as:
Using
a “story within a story”
Using
interesting figurative language
Using
pointed, specific language
There are many kinds of hooks
 (Surprising) fact or observation
 Question
 Historical overview (if it’s important to your paper)
 The kind of hook you use will vary depending on the
kind of essay you’re writing.
There are also hooks to avoid!
 Dictionary definition
 “Tone: the way a writer…”
 Announcements
 “In this paper, I will analyze…”
 Broad generalization
 “Everyone in the world knows…”
 “Since the beginning of time…”
 The “Have you ever…?” question (or, usually, any question
at all.)
You will immediately “unhook” your reader if…
 … your first sentence is not grammatical.
 … you spell the author’s name wrong.
 … you spell the title wrong.
 … you give inaccurate information about the text.
One way to think of an introduction…
 In general, an
introduction is like a
funnel.
The introduction moves from broad information to
narrow information
 Broad information: context (background or
situation) of the essay you will analyze
Name of text
 Name of author
 Overview of text (2-3 sentences only!)
 Any other background information your reader might
need to understand your thesis or your essay

 Narrow information: your thesis statement
Helpful tips for analysis introductions
 Give the title of the text (and format it correctly)
 Give the author’s full name
 Give a brief summary of the text – especially anything that is
particularly important to your points.
 Do not use a quote from the text in the intro
 Do not use PIE in the intro
 End with a thesis statement that forecasts the order of your essay.
The three most important features of your introduction:
 Hook
 (attract your readers)
 Context
 (background information about the text and anything else your
readers might need to know about)
 Thesis
 (last sentence of your intro – you know all about this!)
Try it out!
 Attract your readers
 Give the context:





(this order is variable)
Author
Text
Very general overview
Any other important points so that your readers can follow you
 Finish with your thesis (in this class, this is not variable:
please put your thesis at the end of your intro.)