Introductions
Strategies/Examples
Required Elements
1. Opening or Hook (purpose is to get the
reader on track with the topic of the
paper)
2. Clear statement of the paper’s purpose
(also called a thesis statement)
3. Brief overview of the paper’s main points
(the main ideas in the body paragraphs)
The Opening or Hook
Idea One:
Ask an open-ended question (that gets the
person thinking about a concept in the
paper)
Why do people do the things they do? Each
of us is motivated by certain desires and
goals, and such is the case in Miller’s “The
Crucible.”
The Opening or Hook
Idea Two:
Begin with a quote from a well-known person that
relates to a concept in the paper
Woodrow Wilson once said, “I would rather lose in
a cause that will some day win, than win in a
cause that will some day lose!” His quote is
reflected by the characters in Miller’s “The
Crucible.” John Proctor is willing to die for a
cause he believes will some day triumph, yet
Abigail Williams gains a short-term victory and
abandons he fight shortly thereafter.
The Opening or Hook
Idea Three:
General/universal statement of truth that loosely
relates to central concept in the paper
Everyone is driven by personal desires and goals.
Our very behavior is determined by how we
approach the journey to these desires and
goals. The characters in Miller’s “The Crucible”
are no different; each is motivated by a personal
desire …
The Opening or Hook
Idea Four:
Interesting statistic or fact dealing with a concept in
the paper
In 1692 hysteria broke out over the existence of
witches in Salem, MA. As a result, nineteen
people were hanged, one person was pressed
to death, and as many as thirteen people may
have died in prison …
The Opening
Idea Five:
Tell a short story or anecdote that introduces
concepts in the paper
When we see a child break a rule he knows exists,
we are puzzled. Yet when we see that the child
breaks the rule because he desires a greater
chance at winning, for example, a prize, we
realize that his behavior is determined by his
motivation for the prize.
The Opening or Hook
Idea Six:
State your thesis or main claim (only advised for
the opening when writing under a time constraint
or short paper length requirement)
Many issues are raised in Miller’s “The Crucible,”
and those issues are raised through the actions
and behaviors of characters. The way the issues
are portrayed provides certain messages to the
audience, and the audience must decide
whether to align with or stand against the play…
The Thesis
A thesis centers around a specific topic.
This paper’s topic: How an author’s use of
irony can result in excitement in the
reader.
The Thesis
A thesis should:
State the purpose of the paper (in the case
of an informative/exploratory essay)
Take a stand (in the case of an
argumentative essay)
This paper is argumentative – it claims that
irony results in increased reader emotion
Thesis Characteristics
A good thesis is clearly stated and, if it
focuses on one text, mentions the author
and text title.
Example: The use of color by F. Scott
Fitzgerald in his novel The Great Gatsby
highlights certain themes in the book, and
enhances the reader’s experience.
Thesis Samples
Monty Python’s film “Monty Python and
the Holy Grail” uses irony and satire to
mock and twist the traditional hero’s
journey as well as poke fun at chivalry and
courtly love.
Although racism is present in Twain’s The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the way
this racism is presented reveals that the
book itself is not racist.
Thesis Sample
An author’s use of the literary device irony
can result in heightened emotional
responses in the reader.
Thesis Sample
Many issues are raised in Miller’s “The
Crucible,” and those issues are raised
through the actions and behaviors of
characters. The way the issues are
portrayed provides certain messages to
the audience, and the audience must
decide whether to align with or stand
against the play. I was particularly drawn
to the issue(s) of …
Outline of the Paper
Include a general outline or “road map” of
the major points in the paper within your
intro. Doing so helps your reader prepare
mentally for the main ideas that they are
about to read. Insert these main ideas
either before or after your thesis.
Outline of the Paper
… (thesis). Liam O’Flaherty causes the
reader to experience shock at the end of
his story “The Sniper” by using irony, and
in his short story “The Most Dangerous
Game” Richard Connell employs irony to
increase the tension felt by the reader.
Intro Sample
Just as construction workers use specific
tools to build structures that appeal to the
eye, so too do authors use tools to build
their literature. An author’s use of the literary
device irony can result in heightened
excitement in the reader. This can be seen in
two specific short stories. Liam O’Flaherty
causes the reader to experience shock at the
end of his story “The Sniper” by using irony,
and in his short story “The Most Dangerous
Game” Richard Connell employs irony to
increase the tension felt by the reader.
Intro Sample
Some parents say a child is not ready for a driver’s
license until they can prove responsibility. The teenager
who wants to drive may begin demonstrating
responsibility early, by taking out the garbage every
week, doing dishes regularly, or starting a neighborhood
pet care service. When successfully completed, the
tasks stand as a symbol of the child’s preparation for the
more weighty responsibility of driving. In the same way,
Kate Chopin incorporates symbolism in her short story
“Ripe Figs” to indicate when her main character, the
young girl Babette, is ready for travel from her
godmother’s house. A clear link is made between the figs
ripening on the trees and Babette’s own readiness to
travel on her own to visit her cousins.
Intro Sample
Dreams. As children we all have them: dreams of flying or
becoming a firefighter or actress. As adults dreams change to
thoughts of a secure retirement or calm family vacation.
Although we can hold dreams privately, it is when we share
these dreams that our relationships with others become more
valuable. When the high school graduate shares dreams of
becoming a doctor then later graduates from medical school,
the whole family shares the pride and accomplishment. In
Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, dreams function in a similar way.
Steinbeck shows that dreams, when shared, can not only
encourage positive relationships, but can also provide a goal
that keeps a man alive. Lennie and George move from farm to
farm diligently seeking work, and keep going in the hard times
by remembering the dream they share together, a dream that
not only points them to the future, but keeps them together.
When they share the dream of land ownership with Candy and
Crooks, the two loners become more animated and look
forward to the future, temporarily forgetting their own isolation.
Steinbeck first introduces the power of shared dreams and
ambitions in chapter one as Lennie and George settle down to
dinner.