1. Objective: 1)Students will be able to put standards to a high school proficient funnel paragraph through a short discussion/lecture. 2)Students will create a dialogue surrounding trouble with this given style. 3)Students will use the intro parameters to craft a funnel intro from a previously written intro paragraph (Of Mice and Men). Homework: Finish all work related to completing the new introduction. Have this completed by tomorrow so body PP are Thursday. Continue Outside Reading! Do Now: Get out notebooks, assignment pads, and Of Mice and Men papers.

2. Here is a quick way to structure an introduction in order to avoid confusion and remain focused.

3. As the graphic shows, funnel introductions begin general and become specific in the thesis.

4. One sentence long. It should take the subject of your paper and expand it beyond the realm of the book. Think: What is the concept behind this paper without mentioning the characters, author, or title. Example: Whenever a person undertakes a large journey, it is important to look at their motivations. Notice – the concept is present (motivations), but the book and characters are not mentioned

5. One sentence again… Introduce the novel (Underlined!) and the author. Give a small hint of how the general statement is in play in this novel. Let’s continue to use the same topic throughout these examples: Chris’s motivations for his traveling. Example: In the novel In the Wild by John Krakauer, this same theory is applicable. Notice the novel is introduced and the link between the general statement and the novel is clear.

6. OK, so now we know the book and the general issue. Let’s get a little more specific. This is when you might introduce something relevant to your thesis, that you might examine in a body paragraph. Alternatively, you could simply take the generic terms of the prior sentence and just bring them more into the context of the book. Example: Chris has countless motivations that are both apparent and lack underneath the surface. One must look to the elements of Chris’s life in order to see he is justified in going on a journey.

7. Follow our class guidelines: not broad or narrow, unified, concise, challenging and expressing opinion. You want to make your position clear and give an indication as to where your argument will take you in the body paragraphs. All body paragraphs lead back to this statement. Example: Chris McCandless has many motivations for his journey, all of which were justified in that he could not live a happy life without following his inspirations.

8. Whenever a person undertakes a large journey, it is important to look at their motivations. In the novel In the Wild by John Krakauer, this same theory is applicable. Chris has countless motivations that are both apparent and lack underneath the surface. One must look to the elements of Chris’s life in order to see he is justified in going on a journey. Chris McCandless has many motivations for his journey, all of which were justified in that he could not live a happy life without following his inspirations. Now use the white boards to point out any confusion. What part (1 – general, 2 – book intro, 3 – Narrowing, 4 – thesis) is most confusing? Which part will challenge you the most? Which part are you questioning?

9. Well… no abbreviations, but… Concise language GETS TO THE POINT with an economy of words. Be direct, brief and focused.

10. Introduce the topic. This is usually accomplished at the start and in the middle of the introduction. Mention the case (the piece of literature you are using) Be certain to include the title and author of the book or piece of literature being used as evidence. BRIEFLY preview your points or indicate the direction of your argument. Be concise The best introductions for our course will not be overly long. You are previewing your points, yes, but you do not need to go too far in depth yet. Take a DEFINITIVE STANCE ON THE PROMPT Avoid vague language and make sure you fully engage with the question or task at hand.

11. A common error in essay writing is adding too much summary to your analysis. Do not tell the reader about the book, instead use your analysis of the plot to support your claim and show how well you understand the text. You should shoot for 20% summary and 80% analysis.

12. We are now in a place to make our Of Mice and Men introductions. Even if you feel you are done, attempt to make the intro into a funnel. An assessment = Your papers in completion are due on Friday, as of right now! Use today to get some done! If you do not have your introduction or feel you have directly applied the funnel already you will take the sample intro and create a new funnel using this. Introductions are due by the end of the class or for homework (depending on time).