1. Opening Line(s)/ Attention Grabber
Intro Paragraph
Opening Line(s)/
Attention Grabber

2. Huh? Why?
The first sentence or two of your essay should capture the interest of your reader, draw them in, and introduce the subject of your paper.
Here are some techniques for accomplishing this goal:

3. Rhetorical Question Bad example:
“When was the last time you spent over 20 minutes trying to find on-campus parking?”
*Note*: It is best to avoid the second person ( “you”) point of view in an essay. Contrary to student belief, the word “you” is not necessary in formal essay writing.

4. A better way to state this, without the second person, would be:
Who wants to drive around a parking lot for twenty, or sometimes even thirty minutes, while desperately searching for a parking space? Yet, this is a problem many college students face, panicking as they park off-campus and have to sprint up to a half mile in an attempt to make it to class on time.

5. Declaration
Example:
“Campus parking has gotten out of hand. Students are regularly forced to park great distances off campus.”

6. Definition, statistic, or quotation
Example:
“There is one parking spot for every ten students at our campus according to the UCF Parking Authority.” Or
“’Convenient parking is essential to productive student life.’ (That Guy, 32)”
*Note*: If you use a definition, stat, or quote from a source, you MUST cite it!

7. Poignant (meaningful) detail or example
“Most students at our campus wait at least 20 minutes for a parking space if they arrive between the hours of 9:00 AM and noon.”
*Note*: If it is a detail you learned from research, you must cite your source.

8. Creative scenario or anecdote
Example
“Imagine the first day at a new college. A student pulls into the main parking lot 15 minutes before their first class is scheduled to begin. However, as soon as they enter, they see at least 20 cars circling the over-full lot like vultures hovering around carrion.”
*Note*: There is not a single usage of the 2nd person in this example. NO USING “YOU” IN FORMAL WRITING.

9. Word of advice
Avoid using a generalized dramatic statement for your opening line.
Ex: “All people feel the need to drive their own cars.”
You may be wrong, and this statement is too broad. Avoid superlatives (most, greatest, smallest, all, none).
Avoid stereotypical openers like:
“In today’s society”
“Throughout History”
“According to the dictionary”

10. Steps for Writing a Claim or Thesis
To write an effective CLAIM or THESIS, start with a general idea and then sharpen your focus.
Step 1: Choose a topic,
e.g., the film, Pulp Fiction
Step 2: Focus the topic,
e.g., excessive violence in Pulp Fiction
Step 3: Narrow the topic further by posing it as a question.
E.g., “Why does Quentin Tarantino employ excessive violence in Pulp Fiction? “
Step 4: Answer the question. The answer is your thesis statement.
E.g., “In the film Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino uses excessive violence to mock American social and cultural values. “

11. Prompt #1, in-class practice
Your school has just hired several new substitute teachers. The principal has asked each student for a suggestion that will help the substitutes succeed.
Write to argue that the new substitutes must do this one important thing to be successful in your school.

12. Prompt #2, in –class practice
Think about inventions that have affected our lives. Select one invention and write to explain how this invention has affected society as a whole then take a stance on whether this technology is good or not.

13. Your assignment
Create an opening paragraph, complete with hook and claim for any one of the following topics:
All American citizens should be required to serve one term of service (4 years) in the military upon turning 18.
Overweight and/or people with unhealthy habits (smoking, drinking, etc.) should be required to pay more for healthcare.
Everyone should be forced to stand for the pledge of allegiance.