1. How to write a good introduction What I should not do Good “hook” sentences What else do I include?

2. What not to do: NEVER start your paper with “I am going to tell you about…” or “My person is…” or “This paper is about…” Don’t be too short in your introduction or too wordy. Don’t go into too much detail in your introduction.

3. Good “hook” sentences What is the purpose of a hook sentence? -- to get the reader’s attention so he will want to read the rest of the paper -- to focus the reader on the topic in an interesting way

4. Good “hook” sentences There are many different hook sentences. Some include: Quotations Anecdote or personal story Interesting fact or statistic Ask a question Definition

5. Quotations If you use a quotation, make sure to choose one that relates to your topic. It could be something your famous person said, or it could be something someone else says that relates to your person.

6. Quotation-example Hillary Rodham Clinton once said that “There cannot be true democracy unless women's voices are heard.” These were the exact thoughts of Abigail Adams over 200 years ago when she advocated for women’s rights in letters to her husband, President John Adams…. Hook

7. Anecdote An anecdote is a story or a personal narrative that relates to the topic. Be careful in this method not to be too lengthy in your story. Also, make sure that the story you are telling in some way relates to the person you are writing about. It must relate!

8. Anecdote-example Every day when Sherry leaves school, the first thing she does is pull out her cell phone and call her best friend Beth. As a matter of fact, she spends at least three hours a day either talking on her phone or texting. Her parents have often told her that she should write a thank you note to Alexander Graham Bell who invented the first telephone…. Hook

9. Interesting fact or statistic Use an interesting fact or statistic to focus your reader on the topic. Make sure that the fact relates to your topic and is one that could help you introduce your topic.

10. Interesting Fact or Statistic--example As of 2007, there were over 804 million cars traveling the world every day. This number is increasing daily, especially in China and India (Smith). Although Henry Ford cannot claim to be the inventor of this magnificent machine, he did much to make it more affordable for the common man to own one… Hook

11. Question Ask a question to get the reader’s attention. The question could be one that you answer in your paragraph or, more commonly, is one that is answered in the mind of the reader. This can sometimes be a weak way to begin. It all depends on your choice of questions.

12. Question--example Who has wooden teeth, has chopped down a cherry tree and didn’t lie about it, and then went on to lead a brand new country? The answer, of course, is simple—George Washington. Hook

13. Question—example #2 Have you ever thought about what life would be like if the colonists had not won the Revolutionary War? Thanks to our founding fathers, including our first President George Washington, we won’t have to worry about that… Hook

14. Definition This is can be the weakest of the different hook sentences if you aren’t clever about how you use it. You should not use a definition to define just any word. It must relate to the topic and not be a word that every three year old knows. Additionally, the definition should be fairly short as to not confuse the reader.

15. Definition--example According to dictionary.com, an entrepreneur is “a risk-taker who has the skills and initiative to establish a business.” Cornelius Vanderbilt was one such entrepreneur, starting his first business when he was only 16 years old….. Hook

16. What else do I include in my introduction? According to your paper guidelines: “Introduction paragraph should identify the person, state his/her legacy, and the influence on US History”

17. What else do I include in my introduction? This means that you need to tell who the person is, what the person is mainly known for, and how he or she helped (or in some cases hurt) the United States. Remember NOT to get too specific in the intro paragraph. You will give most of your facts in the body paragraphs You must also make sure that you have connected in some way your hook sentence to the rest of your paragraph.

18. Practice! Using your person as a guide, choose a couple of these methods to write introduction paragraphs of your own. Yes, I want you to write a couple of good introductions to see which one works best with your paper. Although it looks like only a small part of your paper, it will help you get off to the right start with your reader. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.