Intro Paragraph
• Approximately half to three-quarters of a
page and NO MORE THAN a page (doublespaced)
• Start with a general opening statement
• Give an overview of the main ideas your paper
is going to discuss
• End with your thesis statement
Sample Intro 1
During World War I, the amount of women in the work force
dramatically increased. Women entered a variety of occupations
previously unavailable to them. Manufacturing jobs drew thousands
of women in, working intensive labor jobs while they were available
and many women advanced their previous positions in companies.
Women moved further up the corporate ladder, and some retained
their jobs after the war. With the opportunities available to them,
women were able to fully realize the idea that they were equal, and
started what is known today as feminism. The idea of the “new
woman,” previously a thing of fantasy and movies, became more of
a reality. Though not quite in equal standing, they were gaining
more opportunity and strengthening the now-iconic feminist ideals
of equality. With the increase in women workers both overseas and
on the home-front, World War I allowed the advancement of
feminine roles in society.
Sample Intro 2
Since its change of focus in 1909 from a social gazette to a fashion
magazine, Vogue has continued to serve as a photographic and literary
record of fashion and culture in the United States. Vogue magazine has
developed into an exclusive women’s magazine that targets stylish and
sophisticated women who look towards Vogue for current fashion trends
and stylistic ideas. The magazine’s publisher, Condé Nast, and previous
Editors-in-Chief—Josephine Redding, Edna Chase, Diana Vreeland, and
Grace Mirabella—all influenced and transformed the magazine and
fashion history. Today, the magazine is run by Editor-in-Chief, Anna
Wintour and includes undeniable glamour, photography shot by worldclass photographers, and advice on all things related to fashion, beauty,
and lifestyle. Throughout the twentieth century, Vogue’s publishers and
five female Editors-in-Chief successfully pioneered aesthetic,
technological, and commercial standards in the fashion industry that
has left lasting impressions, such as changes in style and commercial
business, on the lives of Americans and fashion culture.
Sample Intro 3
The story of Hawaii is one of invaders, from the first Polynesians who came ashore
around 200 A.D, to the Haoles, or “foreigners”, who vacation at the Islands in the
present. The Ancient Hawaiians, who were truly the first invaders, founded a society
based on respect, loyalty, and dedication to preservation. Hawaiian society was
functional and well balanced; everyone from the high chiefs to the lowest slaves had a
strong sense of camaraderie and responsibility for each other as well as the world
around them. These strong ties between Hawaiians, coupled with the strict
observation of responsibilities instilled by law, allowed Hawaiian culture to thrive and
survive completely intact for over 1,500 years. However, in the late 1770s, explorers
came to the Islands, most of which only used the Islands as a midway, but by the early
1800s, America took interest in the Islands. At first, the Islands were simply a land that
needed to be civilized and saved from a pagan doom, so America sent hundreds of
missionaries to spread Christianity to the Islands. However, as time went on, the
Americans took interest in Hawaii as more than an uncivilized Eden. In accordance with
Manifest Destiny, the industrial revolution, and expansionist ideals growing in the
United States, American businesses began to take root in Hawaii, spreading their
influence over the Islands. The Implementation of American culture and values, from
Congregationalism to Industrialism, resulted in traditional Hawaiian society
becoming distorted and reshaped to parallel American culture.