Research Paper Introduction Paragraph Borrowed and adapted for

Research Paper Introduction Paragraph Borrowed and adapted for educational purposes from: http: //jmcginnis. pbworks. com/w/page/7627846/Research-Paper. Unit

What goes in the Introduction? • Attention Getter—grab the readers’ attention • Preview—let the reader know what the topics of the body paragraphs are • Thesis Statement—the one sentence that focuses your entire paper

Attention Getters • Question • Think of a question or two that requires reflective thinking on the part of the reader. • Here’s a sample about Mother Teresa: • How would you react if you heard a mysterious voice calling you? What if that voice was telling you to go to one of the worst places on Earth?

Attention Getters • Quote • Find a quote that fits in with your topic, or a quote by your person that sums up what you want people to know about him/her. • Here’s a sample about Mother Teresa: • Indira Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India, said of Mother Teresa: “To meet her is to feel utterly humble, to sense the power of tenderness and the strength of love. ”

Attention Getters • Statistic • Use a statistic that helps make a point, or a statistic that is unexpected or shocking, to get the reader’s attention. • Here’s a sample about Mother Teresa: • There are over 13, 000 people living in Calcutta, India. Two-thirds of these people are profoundly poor, living in primitive slums or on the streets.

Attention Getters • Little-known Fact • Surprise the reader with a little-known fact about your topic. It may make the reader want to know more about the topic. • Here’s a sample about Mother Teresa: • The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the highest honors a person can receive. Mother Teresa received this honor in 1979 for her work with the poor of Calcutta, India.

Attention Getters • Fragments • Use a series of sentence fragments to focus the reader’s attention on images or key words you want them to think about. • Here’s a sample about Mother Teresa: • Compassionate. Fearless. Strong. These are words that describe Mother Teresa.

Attention Getters • Set a Scene • Describe where the person was born, their turning point moment, etc. • Here’s a sample about Mother Teresa: • Filthy streets are cluttered with garbage, sacred cows wandering about, and the stench of poverty. In the middle of all this misery walks a woman in a white gown, Mother Teresa.

Attention Getters • Metaphor • Make a comparison between your person and something with similar qualities. • Here’s a sample about Mother Teresa: • Mother Teresa was an angel walking on the Earth.

Attention Getters • Riddle • Give some clues that lead to an answer that ties in to your person. • Here’s a sample about Mother Teresa: • She was called “mother” by millions, though she had no children of her own. She was Mother Teresa.

Attention Getters • Definition • State a definition in your own words that ties to your topic. • Here’s a sample about Mother Teresa: • A saint is someone who sets aside his or her own wants and needs to follow a higher calling.

Mother Teresa: Answering a Call Compassionate. Fearless. Strong. These are words that describe one of the most admired women in recent memory, Mother Teresa. She was raised in a home that emphasized caring, but she left her home and family to become one of the most inspirational figures of our time. Mother Teresa, from a young age, seemed destined to do great things. Today, her story is still an inspiration to people who care about the poor. Mother Teresa is one person who answered a call and made a huge difference in the lives of thousands of the poorest people in the world. BLUE = Attention Getter PURPLE = Preview—What I’ll be telling you about in the paper RED = Thesis Statement