Writing the Introduction
A Recipe for Success
Use this easy-to-follow recipe for an introduction that is
sure to be tasteful, appetizing and perfectly simmered.
Begin with a hook…
• Use a famous quote or song lyric that relates
to an aspect of your novel
• Grab the reader’s attention
• Make your audience want to read
• When choosing a hook, consider theme,
setting, conflict
Explain Hook
• This might sound like a “no-brainer” but it is
an important step that many people skip (so
don’t skip it)
• In YOUR OWN WORDS, explain the meaning
or significance of the hook.
• Help your audience understand why this
quote was important enough to open the
term paper.
Hook-to-Book
H-2-B
• Make a connection between the book and
literature in general.
• Does your hook discuss a theme or conflict or
concern that is commonly found in literature?
• Are there many literary works that seek to
answer a question presented in your hook?
Relevant Context
• This is where you – the expert – provide
information that your audience needs in order to
follow your thesis argument.
• It will USUALLY focus on explaining the setting –
time and place. For instance, for The Color
Purple or I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, you
have explain what life was like in the South in
the 1930’s.
• BUT it could be about a term or a movement –
The American Dream, or the meat-packing
industry, or the double nature of man.
Novel Summary
• This is where you should introduce your novel
title, author and a basic plot overview.
• Do not overwhelm your audience with a
blow-by-blow account of the story.
• Focus on the most pertinent plot information
– setting, protagonist/antagonist, conflict and
so forth.
Lead-in to Thesis
• In a quick sentence, prepare your audience for
the thesis
• Alert them so they are “tuned in”
THESIS
• POW! This is IT – the THESIS!
• Include the title, author, literary element and
message of the work.
Thesis Subtopics
• Add one more sentence to your intro that includes the
3 OR 4 subtopics your paper will explore.
• For example, if you are discussing the oppression of
women in The Color Purple, you might write: “Walker
uses the primary female characters of Celie, Shug,
and Sophia to depict a community of women who
both face oppression and, in turn, oppress other
women.”
• This is a guide for the reader – it tells the audience
that you will discuss 1.)Celie 2.)Shug and 3.)Sophia (in
that order).
Example
•
American actor Fred Ward once said, “I think we're struggling with trying to redefine various positions at this point in
history. To allow freedom for women, freedom for men, freedom from those sharply defined gender roles.” Indeed, these
“sharply defined gender roles” did exist in the sixteenth century during the English Renaissance, and pieces of these
stereotypes still linger in modern society. Stereotypical gender roles have been challenged through the workplace, media,
marches, and most importantly: literature. Countless novels, plays, and essays combat the defining gender roles of the
Renaissance era’s strong, intelligent male and delicate, ignorant female. William Shakespeare, arguably the most noted
playwright of all time, was a key figure in the defying of these gender stereotypes through his literature. Though his
characters seem to comply with the gender roles, one delving deeper into Shakespeare’s work can discover the
underlying defiance portrayed through his characters. This is true especially in his play The Merchant of Venice, which
tells the tale of Bassanio, his friend Antonio, and the unfortunate Shylock. When Shylock loans Antonio money, who, in
turn, is lending the money to Bassanio, he strikes a deal with him that demands repayment in a month’s time or a pound
of flesh. When Antonio is unable to hold up his end of the deal, he- conspiring with Portia, her maid Nerissa and Jessica,
Shylock’s own daughter- creates a ploy to out best Shylock, which culminates in their victory over the lender. Thus, The
Merchant of Venice, one of Shakespeare’s many romantic comedies, contains three female figures who push against the
conventions of gender: Nerissa, Jessica, and the heroine, Portia.In his play, The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare uses the
characterizations of the female characters, especially Portia, to manipulate and defy the gender roles of his time, the
English Renaissance. Through Shakespeare’s (SUBTOPIC 1) emphasizing of feminine wit and deception, (SUPTOPIC 2)
challenging of relationship roles, and (SUBTOPIC 3) disobedience of the “rules” of father daughter relations, Shakespeare
effectively challenges his society’s conformity of gender roles.