Introduction Writing
HOOK: grabs your reader’s attention and interest
Intriguing Question: Remember, you may only use a question as your hook if it is attentiongrabbing or thought-provoking. DO NOT simply rephrase the prompt as a question or ask the
reader “What do you think about…?”
Good Examples:
✓ How many times a day do students avoid face-to-face interaction by staring into their
phones instead?
✓ If a student had their phone taken away, would their social life disappear with it?
Bad Examples:
o Do you think we spend too much time on our phones?
o Should people limit their cell phone usage?
Bold Statement: A bold statement is something that catches your reader off-guard, grabbing
their interest. You may not simply use your claim as a hook. Your claim should be saved for the
end of your introduction.
Good Example:
✓ Teenagers today are facing a concerning epidemic: cell phone addiction.
Bad Example:
o Teenagers should limit their cell phone usage.
Personal Experience/Observation Hook: Open with a personal story or observation that leads
into your explanation of the topic. You should use 1st person (I, me, etc.) with this hook.
Good Example:
✓ Last school year, I faced a personal crisis. My phone died during the middle of the week.
Before I realized it, I was paranoid about missing out. I thought, “What if my friends are
hanging out tonight and forget to tell me? What if I’m left out?” I had never felt so
insecure before.
Bad Example:
o I don’t like it when I can’t use my phone. It makes me feel uncomfortable.
Introduction Writing
CONTEXT: provides background information on the topic
Issue Prompt:
If you are writing about an issue (cell phone usage, early graduation, healthy school lunch, etc.),
this is where you will give your reader information on the topic they will need in order to
understand your argument.
Example:
✓ Cell phone usage affects every area of a teenager’s life. Students use their phones at
home, work, school, and during social events. Very rarely does a person see a student
without a phone in their hands or in their pockets.
Literary Prompt:
If you are writing in response to a literary prompt, this is where you will include TAG (Title,
Author, Genre) along with key information about the story.
Example:
✓ In the novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen explores issues of social class and women’s
role in society in the early 19th century England. The story follows Elizabeth Bennett in
her journey to live up to her family’s expectations while staying true to herself.
CLAIM (Thesis):
3rd
An effective claim includes a clear position, previews reasons, and uses
person. DO NOT say “I think…”
Examples:
✓ Students should be required to complete community service hours in order to gain life
experience and to learn to give back to society.
✓ Because it allows them to gain life experience and give back to society, students should
be required to complete community service hours.
Advanced Claim: If you feel comfortable with the previous claim statement structures, try this
more advanced option, which includes a previewed counterclaim.
Example:
✓ Although some claim it will lower graduation rates, requiring community service hours
allows students to gain life experience and give back to society.