SAMPLE INTRODUCTION
At the start of a new year, Oprah once said, “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us
to get it right.” To “get things right,” people often make promises, or resolutions. These promises
could be about family or friends, personal improvement, or school or the outside world. The best
resolutions, however, are the ones that are simple, easy to achieve, or easily kept. That way, when
the promise is kept, it is easy for someone to feel good about themselves. This year, my three
resolutions, or chances to “get it right” are to eat healthy, to keep in touch with friends, and to stop
procrastinating.
1. What is the ATTENTION GETTER? Underline it. Rewrite it. Where is it located in the
paragraph?
At the start of a new year, Oprah once said, “Cheers to a new year and another chance for
us to get it right.” The attention getter is always located in the first sentence of the
paragraph.
2. Explain why this is a good attention getter.
This is a good attention getter because it grabs the reader’s interest and makes them want
to read more. The writer uses a quote from a famous person, instead of a boring sentence.
Lastly, the quote is an interesting statement that relates to the topic.
3. Underline the NECESSARY INFORMATION twice in the paragraph. List the necessary
information included in this paragraph. Try to put it in your own words.
Necessary information:

People make promises to themselves at the beginning of the new year called
resolutions

Resolutions can be about family and friends, school and the outside world, or
personal improvement

The best resolutions are simple and easy to keep
4. If you wanted to include necessary information, where would you look? Why is it important
to include?
Necessary information is found in the prompt. It gives the reader background about the
topic you will be addressing in your essay. (For this essay, you will be answering these
questions: What is a resolution? Why do people make them? What are three types of
resolutions? What is important to remember when making resolutions?)
5. What is the THESIS in this essay? Circle it. Rewrite it. Where is it located in this paragraph?
This year, my three resolutions, or chances to “get it right” are to teat healthy, to keep in
touch with friends, and to stop procrastinating. The thesis is always the last sentence.
6. Explain what needs to be included in the thesis.
The thesis tells the reader what each of your body paragraphs will be about. (in this case,
the three new year’s resolutions you will be discussing). Sample “thesis starters could be”:

In 2013, my new year’s resolutions will be to ___________________(resolution 1),
_____________________(resolution 2), and ____________________ (resolution 3).

This year, my resolutions are to ___________________(resolution 1),
_____________________(resolution 2), and ____________________ (resolution 3).
7. What is important to remember about using a quote as an attention getter?
When using a quote as an attention getter, it is important to remember to include who
said the quote and to copy the quote exactly with correct punctuation (quotation marks,
commas after dialogue tags). Also, the quote should relate to the topic and be
incorporated throughout the paragraph (using transitions or using other places in the
paragraph).
8. If the attention getter in this paragraph didn’t use a quote, what could it be? Write an
example.
1. The attention getter could be an interesting statement about the topic: A new year is a
chance for a new beginning.
2. The attention getter could use a literary device, such as a simile: A new year is like an
open book. Each day of the year is a chance to write a new and exciting chapter.