Example Introductions
Research/inquiry question example: Who is Stanley Milgram, why is he famous, and what
misconceptions do people have about his obedience experiments?
Thesis statement example: Stanley Milgram, a famous psychologist, conducted obedience
experiments that caused controversies about human nature and morality–issues that are still
debated today.
Example Introduction 1:
May 1960. Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi who had committed atrocities during the Holocaust, was
captured by Israeli agents in Argentina and put on trial. The trial drew international interest, not only
about the man who was forced to testify from a booth of bulletproof glass, but about how any human
being could do such wrong against a fellow human being (“Eichmann Trial”). At this same time, a young
psychologist at Yale University named Stanley Milgram was conducting experiments to find answers to
this very question. His obedience experiments indicated that 65% of people would willingly follow orders
to injure a fellow human being. But were the results accurate? Milgram’s obedience experiments caused
controversies about human nature and morality—issues that are still debated today.
Works Cited
“Eichmann Trial.” Holocaust Encyclopedia. United States Holocaust Museum, Washington D. C. 20 June
2014. Web. 9 February 2015.
Siegel, Robert. “Taking a Closer Look at Milgram’s Shocking Obedience Study.” All Things Considered.
National Public Radio (NPR). 28 August 2013. Web. 29 January 2015.
“The Bad Show.” Radio Lab. Season 10. Episode 5. National Public Radio (NPR). Web. 29 January 2015.
Example Introductions
Research/inquiry question example: Who is Stanley Milgram, why is he famous, and what
misconceptions do people have about his obedience experiments?
Thesis statement example: Stanley Milgram, a famous psychologist, conducted obedience
experiments that caused controversies about human nature and morality–issues that are still
debated today.
Example Introduction 2:
Imagine an ordinary man on the street. Perhaps he is a blue collar worker, perhaps a business
man. It is the 1960s and he has been invited to Yale University to help out with a psychology experiment.
He is patriotic, or curious, or simply helpful, and he agrees to contribute his time to help in the
advancement of science. He is told the experiment is about motivating learners, and he carefully listens to
the directions: to teach the learner a series of paired words. He is told that if the learner makes a mistake
repeating back the words, he must push a button that will shock the learner in order to motivate him to
learn better. How far will this ordinary man go with the experiment, once he learns that the shocks are
painful to the learner? This was the set up for a famous psychological experiment called The Milgram
Experiment. Stanley Milgram, who became famous because of this experiment, also caused controversies
about human nature and morality—issues that are still debated today.
Works Cited
Siegel, Robert. “Taking a Closer Look at Milgram’s Shocking Obedience Study.” All Things Considered.
National Public Radio (NPR). 28 August 2013. Web. 29 January 2015.
“The Bad Show.” Radio Lab. Season 10. Episode 5. National Public Radio (NPR). Web. 29 January 2015.