Writing Introductions
The “Hook”: First Words Make an Impression
The beginning of any text is important for the writer and for the reader. For the writer, the beginning focuses your
writing and determines what and how you will write. For the reader, the beginning of a text shouts either “Pick me
up and keep reading!” or “Put me down; I don’t really want to be read.”
Use any of the following introductory techniques to “hook” your readers:
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Anecdote
Quotation
Definition
Description
Shocking statement
Facts or statistics
Regardless of the introductory technique that you choose, it should be brief and clearly connected to your topic.
Let’s see these techniques at work.
Anecdote: A very short story that illustrates some aspect of your essay's topic can help your reader connect to
your topic.
Quotation: A saying or quotation that ties into your essay's topic can be thought-provoking for your reader.
Definition: A fresh or unusual way of defining the topic of your essay can cause your reader to keep reading. Do
not use dictionary definitions as a hook.
Description: A vivid description of some aspect of your essay's topic can get your readers' attention; appeal to as
many of the senses as possible to create a powerful image that will keep them reading.
Bold Statement: A surprising or shocking statement connected to the topic of your essay causes your reader to
keep reading to find out if the statement is true or how it connects to your topic.
Facts or Statistics: A surprising fact or statistic pertaining to your essay's topic can draw your reader into your
essay.
Once you have “hooked” your reader, what do you do?
Your introduction also establishes the controlling idea of your essay. After hooking your reader, you need to
connect your hook to your topic.
Think of this part of the introduction as a bridge between the hook and your thesis statement. Your bridge may be
characterized by:
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two to four sentences
background information necessary for your reader to understand the topic
explanations of the importance of the topic
Example of a Bridge:
(HOOK) The Declaration of Independence firmly asserts, “All men are created equal.” (BRIDGE) Ironically, at the
time that that sentence was written and even a hundred years later, several groups of people did not have the most
basic human right of freedom. African Americans and women could not own property, vote, or earn a fair wage.
Countless individuals bravely fought for equality for these two groups of people. Sojourner Truth, a woman and an
African American, gave her influential “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech at the Women’s Rights Convention in 1851.
(THESIS) Sojourner Truth uses rhetorical questions and allusions to persuade her audience to fight for equality.
Last Words
Placing your thesis statement as the last sentence of your introduction is strategic and easy for you and your
reader. As you write your introduction, remember that the last words of the introduction are as important as the
first ones.
A good thesis statement establishes the controlling idea of your essay in one sentence, and as we learned
previously, it clearly responds to the writing prompt.