The Intro Paragraph
General
 NO PLOT
SUMMARY.
Context (Book title and
author’s name. microsummary (one sentence
or less).
Specific
Thesis (Specific,
talks about only your
essay)
Intro:
Hook (General, related
to THEME.) Could be
one or two sentences
or even longer.
Connecting Sentence
(bridge between context
and thesis. Not always
needed)
Hook: “Political language…is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an
appearance of solidity to pure wind.” George Orwell wrote this in his famous essay, “Politics and the
English Language. Here, Orwell is writing about the ways that language and power are closely related;
those that have power can use language to manipulate and lie.
Context: In his novella, Animal Farm, an allegory about Animals who seize power on their farm, Orwell
writes on this same theme of language and power. Each character in the book stands in as a symbol of
something in the real world. The pig named Squealer represents the press and media.
Thesis: Orwell wrote this character to show what happens when information (access) is dominated by the
group in power.
Body Paragraph:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Claim: Squealer shows how dictatorships need to control access to information
Context, Evidence: Early in the novel, Squealer, Napoleon and Snowball created Animalism
without input from Animals. (Find exact quote)
Commentary: This clearly shows that the pigs were already keeping the real decision making
from the rest of the animals.
Commentary Since the animals represent the masses of people in society in Animal Farm, their
absence from the process is significant; they are not able to participate or critique those in power.
Connection to thesis and transition: The separation from the animals shows what happens when
lack of participation keeps the average members of a society from participating. Not only do the
animals remain apart from all decisions, but their lack of literacy makes it even easier for Squealer
to dominate.
Context, Evidence In chapter three, as the Animals are establishing their new society free from
the oppression of Mr. Jones, we learn that, “As for the Pigs, they could already read and write
perfectly….” Pg. 49
Commentary: Squealer and the rest of the pigs exploit this fact and use it to their advantage.
Commentary: This shows how important it is for the average citizen to stay informed. Think about
the way that Squealer is able to manipulate the seven commandments throughout the book. If the
Animals had all been able to read them from the beginning, it would not have been so easy for
Squealer to, “turn black into white (Orwell, 36).
D:\106763380.doc
Due: Monday, November 21st
Directions: Recreate this on a separate sheet of paper or go to my website and type directly onto
your computer. You can change the format slightly. For example, you may not have three claims or
body paragraphs. Use my model to guide you.
Hook:
Context:
Thesis:
1. Transition and first claim
2. Context
3. Evidence
4. Commentary
5. Commentary
6. Connection to thesis
7. Transition
8. Evidence
9. Commentary
10. Commentary
11. Conclusion
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Transition and second claim (topic sentence)
Context
Evidence
Commentary
Commentary
Connection to thesis
Transition
Evidence
Commentary
Commentary
Conclusion
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Transition and third claim
Context
Evidence
Commentary
Commentary
Connection to thesis
Transition
Evidence
Commentary
Commentary
Conclusion
Conclusion
(think reverse of the introduction)
D:\106763380.doc