WRITING INTRODUCTIONS INTRODUCTION PURPOSE of INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPHS 1

WRITING INTRODUCTIONS

INTRODUCTION PURPOSE of INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPHS 1) To INTRODUCE your subject 2) To IDENTIFY your central issue (thesis) 3) To ENGAGE the reader’s attention/interest 4) To PLOT the path of the essay: – state your purpose, – justify your argument, – mention forthcoming ideas, – establish the order of those ideas 2

INTRODUCTION How to Write a Proper Introduction START WITH THE GQ’S • GENERALIZATION: – the most common start – generalized statement regarding your subject – “Everybody” or “Most people” (*mind your PN reference*) – Most people have an opinion when it comes to the issue of abortion. – Abortion is a hot-button topic in this election. 3

INTRODUCTION How to Write a Proper Introduction START WITH THE GQ’S • QUOTE: – direct quotes from a story, interview, song – use quotation marks, note who said/wrote it – In 1980, the New York Times printed the following quote by Ronald Reagan: “I’ve noticed that everyone that is for abortion has already been born. ” – An unknown author states, “No woman wants an abortion. She wants a child or she wishes to avoid pregnancy. ” 4

INTRODUCTION How to Write a Proper Introduction START WITH THE GQ’S • QUIP: – a witty or sarcastic remark on point – danger: can set the wrong tone for your essay – “With humans it’s abortion, ” quipped George Carlin, “but with chickens it’s an omelette. ” 5

INTRODUCTION How to Write a Proper Introduction START WITH THE GQ’S • QUESTION: – rhetorical question, asked without expectation of an answer, with the expectation of answering it – do NOT use “you” (Have you ever …? ) – When does life begin? – When is murder acceptable? – Who has the right to play God? 6

INTRODUCTION 7 How to Write a Proper Introduction START WITH THE GQ’S • STATISTIC: – statistic relevant to your topic and main idea – used as a means of introducing your topic – cite your source in a parenthetical citation – Approximately 1. 3 million abortions are performed legally each year in the United States of America. – Single women account for over sixty-eight percent of all abortions.

INTRODUCTION 8 How to Write a Proper Introduction POV • To reach out to your audience/reader, do NOT use “you” —which is second person point-of-view. • Instead, use “we” and “our”—which are first person point-of-view. • Your essay will be written from this perspective, so be consistent throughout. • As college students, we often have to rely on the cheapest form of transportation available to us. • Most of us use the movies as our favorite form of escapism.

INTRODUCTION How to Write a Proper Introduction GENERALIZE FIRST: • Do not just jump into your topic • Ease into the conversation • GQ’S: – Generalization – Quote – Quip – Question – Statistic • Introduce your subject and then narrow to your particular topic with its specific focus (THESIS) 9

INTRODUCTION “FUNNEL EFFECT” • This “narrowing” process is a form of DEDUCTIVE Reasoning, moving from the general to the specific. • It allows the writer to introduce a subject, focus on a particular topic, and express a thesis on that narrowed topic in a concise statement. 10

INTRODUCTION 11 “FUNNEL EFFECT” • From this specific thesis statement, the writer then begins the process of supporting his/her claim throughout the body of the essay. • All of this is good for the reader, who can easily follow the train of thought, can establish accurate expectations, and can know exactly where the essay is going.

INTRODUCTION 12 “FUNNEL EFFECT” • I have termed this deductive process the “FUNNEL EFFECT” • Here, the writer slowly narrows and logically progresses towards his/her thesis statement. • The transition then to the first Body paragraph is seamless, moving from thesis statement to the first means of support (e. g. , reason) Visually, it looks like this…

INTRODUCTION FUNNEL EFFECT THESIS 13

INTRODUCTION 14 FUNNEL EFFECT METHODS of DEDUCTION: • To narrow towards your thesis, you may employ the various rhetorical strategies that we will study throughout this course. These include: – Classification – Comparison – Contrast – Narration (anecdotes) • Notice how the following example using classification to move from the opening generalization towards thesis.

INTRODUCTION 15 FUNNEL EFFECT: EXAMPLES 1) Owning a car these days is a necessity, for none more than the community college student. (OR) Everybody needs a car these days, especially students at a community college. Looking around the parking lot at Luzerne County Community College, I usually see three types of cars: the new, high-end graduation-gift cars, the modified sports cars, and the run-down first cars. Unfortunately, my car is one of the latter. . (thesis with clear Dominant Impression: My gray 1986 Oldsmobile Omega is a Bondo Buggy, especially in terms of its exterior, interior, and trunk. )

INTRODUCTION FUNNEL EFFECT: EXAMPLES 2) Most people have a place to go to feel refreshed when life gets too tough. (OR) Most people have a place they visit to get away from everyday life. It could be a car, a place in nature, or a room at home. For me it is my bedroom. (then comes thesis with clearly stated Dominant Impression) 16

INTRODUCTION 17 FUNNEL EFFECT: EXAMPLES 3) Each of us has seen a trashy car, maybe even in our own driveways. 4) Everyone today needs some sort of transportation. However, on a college student’s salary, that does not always work out to be the most attractive car. For instance, my car should be pictured in the dictionary next to the word “junker. ”

INTRODUCTION 18 THESIS STATEMENT • Comes at the end of the first paragraph (“Funnel Effect”) TOPIC + MAIN IDEA + SUPPORT q. General Example: Metallica (topic) is my favorite band (main idea) because of their lyrics, their live shows, and their distinctive sound (3 means of support).

INTRODUCTION 19 THESIS STATEMENT Example of a Thesis Statement for the Descriptive essay: • Three aspects of my car that make it a junker are the front seat, the back seat, and the trunk. • Contains the Dominant Impression (“junker”) and the aspects of your object that support it.

20 INTRODUCTION By the END of the INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH, the reader should know exactly: • • • What your thesis is; How you will support your thesis; How you will order that support; What type of essay you are writing; What your purpose is for writing on this particular topic;

INTRODUCTION 21 3 FINAL HINTS TO GET STARTED 1) FREEWRITING: Just start writing. Give yourself ten minutes and write whatever comes to mind. Do not worry about spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Do not even worry if you text makes sense; just write. Once you are done at the end of the ten minutes, then you can read what you have written, searching for the proverbial diamond in the rough, that redeemable idea with which to begin your essay.

INTRODUCTION 22 3 FINAL HINTS TO GET STARTED 2) WRITE THE BODY FIRST: Rather than not writing a word because you are having difficulty writing the Introduction, start by writing the Body of the essay first. This way, you at least have something written. When you are done with the bulk of the paper, return the Introduction and Conclusion paragraphs. Perhaps something arose in the Body that suggests a way to begin and end the paper, or perhaps a context logically follows from what you wrote. If you are still stuck, ask ME.

INTRODUCTION 23 3 FINAL HINTS TO GET STARTED 3) WORKING BACKWARDS FROM THESIS STATEMENT: – What is your THESIS? • topic + main idea + support • My favorite types of video games include first-person shooters, stealth-action games, and fantasy games. – What is your TOPIC? (video games) – What CATEGORY would your topic fall under? (hobbies, spare time, recreation)

INTRODUCTION 3 FINAL HINTS TO GET STARTED • *Now GENERALIZE on this CATEGORY. – Everybody has a hobby with which to occupy his/her spare time. Some people enjoy playing sports, like running, basketball, and hockey, and others prefer non-physical recreation, such as chess and painting. – Then narrow towards you. (For me, my favorite hobby is playing video games. My bedroom is littered with all types of games, from sports to superhero games. ) – Lastly comes your thesis. (However, my favorite types of video games include first-person shooters, stealth-action games, and fantasy games) 24

INTRODUCTION 3 FINAL HINTS TO GET STARTED KEEP IT SIMPLE: The 4 -PRONOUNS APPROACH • • 1) EVERYBODY (or MOST PEOPLE ) 2) SOME 3) OTHERS 4) ME THESIS 25

INTRODUCTION 26 The 4 -PRONOUNS APPROACH • • • Most people own a car. Some drive shiny new vehicles. Others drive rusty old cars. I drive a sporty car. My electric blue 2005 GT Cruiser is a sporty machine in terms of its exterior, interior, and hatch. • *needs some blending, like icing on a cake, to strengthen its coherence

INTRODUCTION Helpful Websites When Writing Introductions • http: //www. gmu. edu/departments/ writingcenter/handouts/introcon. html • http: //www. taft. cc. ca. us/new. TC/Academic/ Liberal. Arts/OWL/INTRO. HTML • http: //web. mit. edu/writing/Writing_Types/ introstrategies. html • http: //depts. gallaudet. edu/englishworks/ writing/introconslu. html 27

INTRODUCTION 28 DOMINANT IMPRESSION *CHARACTERISTICS of a Dominant Impression: • *ADJECTIVE or NOUN* • Declared in thesis statement • Unifying or controlling aspect; this will link all of your sense details. • Without this, your details are like marbles without a jar. • The first adjective that comes to mind when you think of your car.

29 DOMINANT IMPRESSION SENSE DETAIL ALL SENSE DETAILS RELATE TO & SUPPORT DOMINANT IMPRESSION

INTRODUCTION DOMINANT IMPRESSION *HOW TO CREATE a Dominant Impression: • Write the 5 senses on a blank sheet of paper with room beneath each to write; • Then, list as many details that appeal to a particular sense under its name; • Go from the front of the car to the back & from the outside to the inside; • Then, see which details are related to each other, that paint a similar picture of the object, and group them together; • What these details relate to will be your Dominant Impression. 30

INTRODUCTION DOMINANT IMPRESSION: EXAMPLES ROOM: • oasis of peace, • tranquil refuge, • feminine/masculine, • reflects personality (*you must briefly define your personality; use the appropriate adjective before the word “personality”: creative personality, artistic temperament), • reflects my musical tastes, • disaster area, • pig sty 31

INTRODUCTION DOMINANT IMPRESSION: EXAMPLES CAR: • total embarrassment, Bondo Buggy, • off-road monster, • Junk Mobile, • typical college student’s (in terms of mess, neglect, . . . ), • typical first car (in terms of price, efficiency. . . ), • “The Black Beauty, ” “The Polar Bear” • giant toy, sporty car, Daddy’s car, • accessorized car (“Pimp My Ride”) (tricked out) 32