Introductions

Warm-up  Why do you watch movie trailers?

Question? Talk about how movie previews relate to introductions with a partner (1-2 minutes). Then, we will reconvene as a group.

Movie Trailer Example  Think of an introduction like a movie trailer. It does not give you the whole picture, but it gives you a pretty good idea about what you are in for/ what you are about to see.

Key Points of Introductions  1 paragraph in length  Creates a first impression (defining moment)  Can be difficult to write  Includes thesis (topic sentence)  Road map for the rest of your paper  Determine broadness of your topic

What should an introduction include? Introductions Info

Introductions do... Introductions Introduce your topic Create interest Provide background information Identify main idea Preview rest of essay

Introductions Answer... What is this? Why am I reading this? What do you want me to do?

Argumentation  Makes a claim about a topic and justifies that claim with specific evidence (details). This claim can be an opinion, policy proposal, evaluation, cause/effect statement, or interpretation.

So, how should I start an introduction?  Startling fact- surprise the readers with a verifiable fact.  Example: “Every half hour, a child attempts suicide as a result of bullying”  Quotation- Set up the piece, make a statement.  “I like a teacher who gives you something to take home and think about besides homework:  Question-thought provoking  “Should the school board be allowed to take students’ rights away by forcing them to wear uniforms?”  Description-relates to a person, place  Imagine…

My ATTENTION Getter! A U.S. geological survey projects that two thirds of the word’s polar bears will disappear by the year 2050 How much damage has to happen before we act? “Climate change is the most severe problem that we are facing today, more serious even than the threat of terrorism” (King).

Creating ATTENTION Getters.  In your groups, create introductory sentences for one of the following prompts:  Pick a natural resource and explain why it should be saved. Use specific examples.  Agree or disagree: Standardized tests do not adequately assess the students’ knowledge.  Students who play varsity sports should not have to take gym class.  Some schools have uniforms. Other schools let students wear what they want. Pick a side and support it with specific facts.

Analyzing Attention Getters... Let’s discuss them as a class. What did you notice?

For YOUR Papers, create an attention getter (2 minutes) Discuss them with your groups.

Ineffective Introductions: What not to do  The Book Report Introduction  “Frederick Douglass wrote his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, in the 1840s. It was published in 1986 by Penguin Books. In it, he tells the story of his life”  Webster’s Dictionary Definition  Webster’s dictionary defines slavery as “the state of being a slave,” as “the practice of owning slaves,” and as “a condition of hard work and subjection.

What is a thesis statement?  Main point of the paper  What you think and why.  Usually appears at the end of the first paragraph.  Example of an argumentative thesis statement:  High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness.  The paper that follows should:  Present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that students should pursue community projects before entering college

A Good Thesis Statement... IS NOT  Is NOT a title: “Homes and schools” vs. “Parents need to participate more in the lives of their children.”  Is NOT a fact: Jane Austen is the author of Pride and Prejudice.  Is NOT the whole essay: Claim/refutation/ main idea/ problem – solution IS  UNIFIED:  Ex: Detective stories appeal to the basic human desire for thrills  Non Ex: Detective stories are not a high form of literature, but people have always been fascinated by them, and many fine writers have experimented with them  SPECIFIC:  Ex: James Joyce’s Ulysses helped create a new way for writers to deal with the unconscious by utilizing the findings of Freudian psychology and introducing the techniques of literary stream-of-consciousness  Non Ex: James Joyce’s Ulysses helped create a new way for writers to deal with the unconscious

Creating Thesis Statements  In your groups of 3, create thesis statements for the following topics: 1. Should varsity athletes have to take gym? 2. Natural resources are being depleted. Choose a natural resource and explain why it should be saved. Cite specific examples. 3. Agree or disagree with the following statement: People have become over dependent on technology. 4. Agree of disagree with the statement provided. Colleges are increasingly more expensive to attend. Colleges need to be more affordable. 5. Agree or disagree: Financial incentives should be offered to high school students who preform well on standardized tests.

Check that your thesis Is clear and recognizable Matches the goals of the assignment Is supported by good reasoning, evidence.

Ending an Introduction  End your introduction with a thesis

For YOUR Papers, write or clean up your thesis statements. Discuss them in your groups.

Look at the sample of the introduction written by a student. What do you notice?

Determining the positive points of the introduction...

Now that we have seen a good one... Let’s see a BAD way to start an introduction  We live in a society that is filled with dangers every minute of every day. Every day we see newspaper or TV reports about crime. The most fearful of these crimes are crimes against the person, especially rape. Women are especially vulnerable to attack because they are perceived as weak. A woman should carry a stun gun to protect themselves.  Revised: Local news sources reported three home invasions, fourteen robberies and assaults, and four rapes in the last two weeks. Crime poses a problem for women in the community. Not enough is being done to protect women in society plagued by violence. Shouldn’t women be able to protect themselves? Shouldn’t they have a proactive plan in place in case they become immersed in a violent situation? Women need the capability to engage in self-defense in order to protect themselves, which will enable law enforcement to be more effective, women to be more proactive, and crimes to be lessened. In such a crime- ridden society, a woman should carry a stun gun.

Finish writing your introductions  Discuss them in your groups.  Edit the introductions.  Submit them to me.  Conference with me as needed (raise your hands and I will come to you).

Exit Slip  What was hard about introductions? What was easy?