How to Write
Introductions
for Any Paper
There are three parts to the
introduction
1. Grabber
2. Orientation
3. Thesis
Thesis: Start with the END in mind

Thesis is a one sentence statement summarizing all important points of your
paper.

What is the Education of Little Tree About?

Little tree learns the ways of Native American.

He learns from his grandparents who raise him.

He learns how Indians are viewed and treated as he experiences cruelty
at a white-run Indian Boarding School.

COMBINE THESE SENTENCES to create a ONE sentence thesis statement.

Little Tree learns the ways of the Native Americans from his grandparents who
raise him, but he also learns how Indians are discriminated against from first
hand experience at a white-run Indian Boarding School.
Apply the same principles to your
paper’s thesis statement.


What is your paper about?

A myth has four functions

Genesis is a myth

A person will only believe in the story that aligns with their culture.
A myth, such as “Genesis”, has four functions, and a person will only believe
in a story that aligns with their culture and point of view.
Grabber

Grab the reader’s attention with the first line in
one of four ways:
1.
Action
2.
A Deep Thought or Question
3.
Vivid Description
4.
Quote or Dialogue
Action: Show the reader some action
relating to your topic…
Topic = Learning the Native American Ways
Running from the law during Prohibition with a sack full of whiskey jars
weighing more than he does, Little Tree quickly learns one of many great
lessons - dogs really are a man’s best friend.
A Deep Thought or Question: Pose a question to
your reader that your paper will work to answer

Topic = Learning the Native American Ways

Native American are connected to all around them, from nature to
earth spirits. If Native Americans are our ancestors, how is it that we
have not adopted those same values?
Vivid Description: A series of three connected
images pertaining to your topic.

Topic = Learning the Native American Ways

Making whiskey in the woods, trading a Christian fifty cents for a sick
calf, and narrowly escaping a venomous snake bite, Little Tree has
learned a great deal in one way or another from Grandpa.
Quote or Dialogue: Drop and connect a
quote to the topic of your paper

Topic = Learning the Native American Ways

“Ye see, Little Tree, ain’t no way of learning, except by letting ye do”
(Carter 87). Grandpa teaches Little Tree many great lessons, but the
one exceptional lesson parents and teens should take to heart is kids
learn best by making their own mistakes.
Orientation: Share some information about
your topic or book.

Topic = Learning the Native American Ways

The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter is a series of vignettes or
glimpses into the life of a little boy raised by Native American grandparents.
Putting it all together…

Running from the law during Prohibition with a sack full of whiskey jars
weighing more than he does, Little Tree quickly learns one of many great
lessons - dogs really are a man’s best friend. This is only one of many great
lessons in The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter. Through a series of
vignettes, the reader sees glimpses into the life of a little boy raised by
Native American grandparents. While Little Tree learns the ways of the
Native Americans from his grandparents who raise him, he also learns how
Indians are discriminated against from first hand experience at a white-run
Indian Boarding School.
Grabber – Orientation - Thesis