How do I write a good
introduction?
An introduction to introductions…
What you should not do in an
introduction…
 DON’T speak directly to the reader.
 Don’t say:
 I’m going to write about
 I’m going to tell you about
 My paper is going to be about
 I think
What you should do in an
introduction…
 You only get one chance to make a first impressions.
 This is true of your life, as well as your writing.
 The first impression is the job of your introductory
paragraph.
 The introductory paragraph needs to draw the reader in.
 GRAB the reader’s ATTENTION!
What is an attention grabber?
 This is the first sentence of your introduction.
 It grabs the reader’s attention
 Example:
 Lily Owens didn’t grow up in a typical family.
 This leaves you wondering why?
 The attention grabber should leave the reader with further
questions that your essay will answer.
How long should the introduction
be?
 Once again stop asking that question.
 Length isn’t important, but content is!
 In a typical essay the first, attention grabber, sentence
leads into 2-3 sentences that provide details about your
subject.
 An introduction can be long or short, but it needs to
introduce the reader to your essay.
 These sentences lead to your thesis statement
 We will address what a thesis statement is later.
The First Sentence
 Also called:
 Hook- pulls your reader in
 Attention grabber-catches the reader’s attention
 This is your chance to be witty.
 There are several ways to catch the attention of your
reader with the first sentence.
Surprising fact
 You can include a surprising fact to get the reader’s
attention.
 Example:
 “As public schools reopen for the new year, strategies to
curb school violence will once again be hotly debated.
Installing metal detectors and hiring security guards will
help but the experience of my two sisters makes a
compelling case for greater use of dress codes as a way
to protect students and promote learning.” (Mathabane
658)
Humor
 You can use humor to get the attention of the reader.
 Example:
 “Someday, I would like to see a television series about a
family that sits around the set watching a series about a
family that sits around the set. “ (Goodman 640)
Quotation
 You can use a quotation to get the attention of the
reader.
 Example:
 “’Where I was born and where and how I have lived is
unimportant,’ Georgia O’Keeffe told us in the book of paintings
and words published in her ninetieth year on earth.” (Didion
526)
Curiosity
 You can use something that would pique someone’s
curiosity to catch the reader’s attention.
 Examples:
 Most people can’t say Irish Wristwatch. R/w replacement in
speech language pathology is a common problem…
 “There is great good in returning to a landscape that had
extraordinary meaning in one’s life.” (Momaday 854)
Definition
 You can define a main concept or term that you are
discussing in your essay.
 Family is supportive, kind, and reliable. How would you feel
if your parents’ didn’t act this way? What if T-Ray Owens
were your dad? The definition of family would drastically
change.
Anecdote
 An anecdote is a short little scene or story taken from a
personal experience. It often relays a story that can be
used as a theme or lesson.
 Example:
 “The bell rang in the faculty lounge at Stuyvesant High School in
Manhattan. When McCourt began teaching at the prestigious
public high school in 1972, he joked that he’d finally made it to
paradise…” (Dimmitt 848)
How do I find the hook?
 The first sentence, or hook, is meant to draw the reader
in. It is meant to help lead the reader to the point of
the essay (thesis) and keep the reader interested.
How do I end my Introduction?
(edits)
 After you finish the first draft, go back to your
introduction.
 Read it again and make sure your thesis statement still
fits.
 Then check your hook and make sure it still grabs the
reader’s attention.
 FIX your intro after you finish your conclusion, DON’T
simply turn your paper in because you feel you’re
“finished.”