•
An introduction tells readers what your
paper is going to be about. It should have:
An introductory statement that lets readers
know what your paper is about.
• Background information on your topic.
• Thesis (argument - what your paper is about)
• Preview or “road map” - what is your paper
going to cover? What are your main points?
•
•
This can be 1/4 to 1/2 of a page. It should
be a full paragraph (shoot for at least 4-6
sentences)
“Broken Chain” by Gary Soto is a story that
many young people can relate to. It tells the
story of insecure Alfonso, who is trying to find a
bike for his potential girlfriend, Sandra, to ride.
When describing the types of conflict of “Broken
Chain” readers see there are external and
internal conflicts. First, there is an external
conflict between Alfonso and his brother, and
second, there is an internal conflict Alfonso has
with himself.
Thomas Hardy was one of the most
influential writers of the late 1800s. His novel
Tess of the D’Urbervilles is one of his most
famous novels. It tells the story of a young girl,
Tess, who has an extremely hard life.
Throughout the novel she endures many
hardships. Tess is a complex character. Her
experiences, naiveté, and perseverance make
her one of literature’s great characters.
Twilight is arguably one of the most
popular young adult novels of its time. In the
story, Bella Swan moves to Forks, Washington
where everything isn’t as it seems. She meets
Edward Cullen who is a vampire, and they fall
in love. Throughout the story, Edward and
Bella must decide if their all-consuming love is
practical due to their interesting circumstances.
When characterizing Bella, one might describe
her as full of angst, irresponsible and
obsessive.
 Thesis:


what you’re trying to say.
Generally, reword the prompt.
Examples:



The character of Billy Weaver is naïve.
The mood of the story can be described as mysterious,
unsettling and eerie.
There are multiple conflicts in the story.
 Preview:
the main points of your
paragraph/essay.


You can work this into your thesis statement.
Examples:



Billy allows himself to be lured in the Landlady, thinks
nothing of the fact his hotel is so cheap and stays despite
warning signs.
The mood of the story can be described as mysterious,
unsettling and eerie.(Underlined part = preview)
The conflicts are when Alfonso’s chain breaks, when Ernie
won’t give him his bike, and the problems he has with his
appearance.
 You
will turn this in for points
 Practice writing an introduction on the
following topic:

The landlady is a mysterious character.
 Use the three main points
 If you can’t come up with your
own use: the
way she acts when she meets Billy, what she
talks about with Billy and how she acts in the
end.
 Remember




to have:
Introductory Sentence
Background Information
Thesis
Preview
Thomas Hardy was
one of the most influential
writers of the late 1800s.
 You will turn this in for
His novel Tess of the
points
D’Urbervilles is one of his
 Practice writing an
introduction on the
most famous novels. It tells
following topic:
the story of a young girl,
 The landlady is a mysterious
Tess, who has an extremely
character.
 Use the three main points hard life. Throughout the
novel she endures many
 If you can’t come up with
your own use: the way she
hardships. Tess is a
acts when she meets Billy,
complex character. Her
what she talks about with
Billy and how she acts in the experiences, naiveté, and
end.
perseverance make her
 Remember to have:
one of literature’s great
 Introductory Sentence
characters.
 Background Information


Thesis
Preview
Done? Turn in on front table. Not
done? It’s homework!
 Transitions
are an important part of a
paragraph – they’re words that take you
from one idea to the next.
 At the beginning of body paragraphs:
“The first reason,” “The next reason,”
etc.
 Other transition words: also, additionally,
next, in addition to, furthermore, etc.
 The
first reason the Landlady is mysterious is
seen when she first meets Billy.
 The second reason the Landlady is
mysterious is seen through the way she talks
to Billy.
 The final reason the Landlady is mysterious is
seen by how she acts at the end of the story.
•
Writing a conclusion tells us what you told us in
your paper. You should:
• Use a transition.
Restate your thesis
• Give a sentence summing up each
body paragraph
• Leave us with a final concluding
thought (statement).
•
•
Your conclusion should be about 1/4 of a page
(at least 3 sentences).
In conclusion, “Broken Chain” is full of
conflicts. The first conflict is external. Alfonso
and his brother Ernie do not get along. The
second conflict is internal. Alfonso is very
unhappy with the way he looks. At the end of
the story, both conflicts are solved. Ernie lends
Alfonso his bike, allowing him to ride bikes with
Sandra. Because Sandra clearly is romantically
interested in Alfonso, his self-esteem has
increased, leaving him happy.
In conclusion, Tess is a complex character.
She goes through many tragic experiences in
the novel, which only make her stronger.
Though she starts the novel as a very naïve,
trusting girl, she learns very harsh lessons
about life. Even though she preserves through
the novel, life is still too hard for her. Hardy’s
uses Tess to tell readers that sometimes a
person’s circumstance works against them and
they will have a terrible, unhappy life.
In the novel, Twilight, protagonist Bella
Swan can be described as full of angst,
irresponsible and obsessive. Like most
teenagers, Bella is perpetually unhappy and
anxious about her life. She makes
irresponsible decisions that readers may find
irritating, yet bring her closer to Edward. Her
love for Edward is all consuming, bordering on
obsession. Though Twilight is a popular novel,
some readers may find it to be too
melodramatic.