Create an inviting introduction that includes…
 An attention grabber
 Background information
 A clear thesis

1. A starting fact and question
2. An anecdote or example
3. An unusual opinion
4. A quotation
5. Set the scene
6. The opposite point of view from your thesis statement

The Topic: Hephaestus
I. Rejected by Parents
II. Rejected by Love
III. Made Beautiful Art

 “It isn’t easy being a brilliant inventor, always alone. Always misunderstood. Easy to turn bitter, make horrible mistakes.
People are more difficult to work with than machines. And when you break a person, he can’t be fixed” (Riordan 58).

WHAT TYPE OF ATTENTION GRABBER IS
THE FIRST EXAMPLE?
 A QUOTATION

 Born lame and thrown off a mountain by his parents. Does this sound like a Greek god to you?

WHAT TYPE OF ATTENTION GRABBER IS
THE SECOND EXAMPLE?
 SHOCKING
STATEMENT/A
QUESTION

 When you think of the most important
Greek gods, one name should come to mind:
Hephaestus.

WHAT TYPE OF ATTENTION GRABBER IS
THE THIRD EXAMPLE?
 AN UNUSUAL
OPINION

 On his birth, Hephaestus was rejected by his mother Hera because he was lame. When Hephaestus learned about this, he got very angry and promised to take revenge on her. So he decided to create a magic, golden throne and send it to Mount Olympus as a special "gift" to his mother. When Hera saw the throne, she got excited and, without thinking, she sat on the throne cheerfully. All of the sudden, invisible, unbreakable chains appeared and tied her up quickly.

WHAT TYPE OF ATTENTION GRABBER IS
THE FOURTH EXAMPLE?
 AN ANECDOTE

Hephaestus is the worst god ever. It is a complete waste of time to talk about him.

WHAT TYPE OF ATTENTION GRABBER IS
THE FIFTH EXAMPLE?
 THE OPPOSITE
POINT OF VIEW

 Imagine you have discovered your one and only love has been unfaithful. The only way to get revenge is to use the skill you know best: being a blacksmith.

WHAT TYPE OF ATTENTION GRABBER IS
THE SIXTH EXAMPLE?
 SET THE SCENE

 What is wrong with this introduction?
Born lame and thrown off a mountain by his parents.
Does this sound like a
Greek god to you?
Hephaestus is the most unique god because he was rejected by his parents at birth, rejected by his only love, but he still made beautiful art.
Better?
Born lame and thrown off a mountain by his parents. Does this sound like a Greek god to you? It is none other than the
Greek god Hephaestus, who was the god of blacksmiths and fire.
Hephaestus is the most unique god because he was rejected by his parents at birth, rejected by his only love, but he still made beautiful art.

Thesis: Summarizes the main point or claim of your essay.
Begin with a general statement about your topic:
“Hephaestus is a unique god…”
Then add your three subtopics:
“Hephaestus is a unique god because he was rejected at birth, rejected by his only love, but still continued to make beautiful art.”

Born lame and thrown off a mountain by his parents. Does this sound like a Greek god to you? It is none other than the
Greek god Hephaestus, who was the god of blacksmiths and fire. Hephaestus is the most unique god because he was rejected by his parents at birth, rejected by his only love, but he still made beautiful art.

 With your assigned partner, evaluate each others introductions on a scale of 1-5, five being the best on the following:
 Does the attention grabber get your attention?
 Does the background information give only the needed information and does it link the attention grabber to the thesis?
 Does the thesis summarize the three main points of the essay.
*** Along with a score of one to five, write one positive thing about the introduction and one thing the author needs to work on.