Introductory Paragraphs
Well begun...half done
These are the required parts of an opening paragraph for an essay:
➡ Hook: This part of the introduction needs to introduce the reader to the topic of your essay. It also needs to be engaging enough to make the reader want to read on. Avoid using a rhetorical question in the hook. If you choose to use a quotation, you need to cite it. You also need to blend it into the rest of the hook; a quotation should never stand alone as the hook.
➡ Transition: In this section, you let me know that the topic of your essay is demonstrated in a particular piece of literature. Tell me the title of the piece and the author.
➡ Blueprint: This is the place where you show me the three main points you will use in your argument. Think of it as hinting at what you will eventually prove. Use one sentence each to foreshadow the points -­‐‑ thatʼs three sentences in total!
➡ Thesis: This sentence (just one) should function as a summary of what you want to prove. It needs to be arguable, provable and -­‐‑ hereʼs the big one -­‐‑ worth proving. That means is answers the “So what?” question.
Sample Essay Question: In several of the stories we studied so far, characters have faced some type of hardship. Select three characters from three different stories and argue how they deal with hardship.
Sample Opening Paragraph:
It would be a rare occurrence for someone to live a long life and not face some type of hardship or adversity. How a person deals with that hardship reveals much about their character, their strength and their ability to cope. Some people are resourceful and find ways to manage while many others succumb to the hardship and do not recover. Several authors have examined this idea of handling adversity in their stories. They include: “The Indisputable Weight of the Ocean” by Darryl Berger, “Two Words” by Isabel Allende and “The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty. First, in “The Indisputable Weight of the Ocean” Edmund’s mother faces raising a child on her own and becomes resourceful in how she handles this situation. Next, in “Two Words” Belisa faces poverty and unemployment; her tools for success are determination and focus. Finally, in “The Sniper” the main sniper faces his own death alone on a rooftop during a war. He uses creativity to cope with his dilemma. Ultimately, all three characters successfully deal with their adversity by finding creative solutions. Practice, Practice, Practice
Task: Use the ideas you generated about commitment to write an opening paragraph.
Reminder of Essay Question: Using any three of the stories we have studied this semester, argue how characters who commit to other characters or to a belief suffer in some way.
Hook:
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Transition:
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Blueprint:
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Thesis:
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