Hook

Transition Sentence

Thesis with three

subpoints (if necessary)

The Introduction

In the introduction, professional writers use several patterns, called hooks, to grab a reader's interest.

Should grab your reader’s attention

• Quote • Vivid description • Anecdote • Definition • Question •Humor •Surprising fact •Historical review

*A quote is a memorable

line from a famous figure

in history.

*Make sure to include

author/speaker.

HOOK H.L. Mencken defined “Puritanism” as “the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” The clerks at the Department of Motor Vehicles must be Puritans. They seem to do their best to see that each person who comes into get a license or registration has to wind through a confusing maze of lines, must wait an eternity for help, and has to remain standing the entire time.

Transitional

Sentence

Thesis

Statement

Quote Hook

*A vivid description is

like a photo- a single

snapshot. Unlike an

anecdote, it has no

plot or action.

*Ex) The sweet smell

of cotton candy floats

in the air. Bumper

cars collide in the

distance. There is

nothing like the

county fair.

Its left ear is partially detached. One of its black plastic eyes is gone. Parts of its fur is worn and matted from being hugged and tugged around the house. Food and juice stains dapple its tan coat in places. Some people might think this little stuffed bunny should be thrown into the junk heap. But this old bunny is one of my favorite childhood possessions, and we’ve been through a lot together.

HOOK

Transitional

Sentence

Thesis

Statement

*An anecdote is a

short story that leads

the reader into your

topic.

*Ex) Imagine a small

child crying at the

county fair because

they cannot ride the

rides the big kids do.

Despite their wailing,

the parent does not

budge. In a similar

fashion…

Humor and anecdotal: When my older brother substituted fresh eggs for our hard-boiled Easter eggs, he didn’t realize our father would take the first crack at hiding them. My brother’s holiday ended early that particular day in 1991, but the rest of the family enjoyed the warm April weather, outside on the lawn, until late into the evening. (Transitional sentence) Perhaps it was the warmth of the day and the joy of eating Easter roast while Tommy contemplated his actions that make my memories of Easter so sweet. (Thesis statement) Whatever the true reason, the fact is that my favorite holiday of the year is Easter Sunday.

*Define a term that is closely related to your topic. Provide a definition that your audience may not know.

*Ex) Webster’s dictionary defines sarcasm as, “a witty remark used to convey insult.”

*Ask a question to

draw your reader into

your paper.

*Ex) Is it true that

sometimes love is not

enough to overcome

difficult

circumstances? In

Shakespeare’s Romeo

and Juliet…

Surprising fact:

The pentagon has twice as many bathrooms as are necessary. The famous government building was constructed in the 1940s, when segregation laws required that separate bathrooms be installed for people of African descent. (Transitional sentence) This building isn’t the only American icon that harkens back to this embarrassing and hurtful time in our history. (Thesis) Across the United States there are many examples of leftover laws and customs that reflect the racism that once permeated American society.

Historical review: Some topics are better understood if a brief historical review of the topic is presented to lead into the discussion of the moment, such as a biographical sketch of a war hero or an execution of a convicted criminal. Obviously there are many, many more topics that could be introduced by reviewing the history of the topic before the writer gets down to the nitty gritty of his paper. It is important that the historical review be brief so that it does not take over the paper.

Quotation and History:

Hillary Rodham Clinton once said that “There cannot be true democracy unless women's voices are heard.” In 2006, when Nancy Pelosi became the nation’s first female Speaker of the House, one woman’s voice rang out clear. With this development, democracy grew to its truest level ever in terms of women’s equality. The historical event also paved the way for Senator Clinton as she warmed her own vocal chords in preparation for a presidential race.

The Introduction includes

Thesis Statements After you have brainstormed and you have some main

ideas of what you would like to write in your essay, you can

begin thinking about writing a thesis statement.

What’s a thesis statement????

What is a thesis

statement?

1. A writer’s belief about an issue or topic. 2. The thesis statement is that sentence in your text that controls the content of the entire essay. 3. The thesis statement tells your reader what the essay is going to be about. 4. Sometimes a thesis statement contains subpoints to help a reader see how the essay is organized.

It is an arguable statement.

It is a complete sentence

that expresses your

position/opinion on a given

topic.

It narrows down your topic

to a specific, single focus of

investigation.

It is usually stated in your

introduction.

The thesis statement should remain flexible until the paper is actually finished.

If we discover new information in the process of writing our paper that ought to be included in the thesis statement, then we'll have to rewrite our thesis statement.

Location An Example

Maya Angelou is an accomplished African-American author in the United States. While growing up, she suffered tremendous hardship. Some of her most difficult life events are portrayed in novels and poems such as, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and, Still I Rise. Her written works often include strong themes such as perseverance through trials, love for family, and passionate optimism.

The thesis statement comes at the end of the introductory paragraph. This sentence tells the reader that he/she can expect to read more about how Maya Angelou expresses these themes in her writing.

What is not a thesis statement?

A thesis is never a question.

A thesis is not an announcement of

purpose.

A thesis is not simply a topic.

Broad Thesis Statements: Vague Overreaching Attempt to address a topic with

too many issues to deal with in the given writing assignment

Narrow Thesis Statements: Too specific and single-minded to

be developed into a thorough essay

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AVOID

*

I think that teen pregnancy is a

huge problem all over the world.

Darn, too BROAD!

Teen pregnancy can be reduced with

good education, parental support, and birth control.

Yes, a thesis statement reflects a position!

Determine whether the following is a good or poor thesis statement and find the subpoints.

Determine whether the following is a

good or poor thesis statement

Should schools cut back on

sugar due to childhood obesity?

A thesis statement is not a question!

* Determine whether the following is a

good or poor thesis statement

Since millions of children are

obese, schools all over the world should be required to sell healthy food.

TOO BROAD!

* Determine whether the following is a

good or poor thesis statement

Because half of all American elementary

school children consume nine times the recommended daily allowance of sugar, schools should be required to replace the beverages in soda machines with healthy alternatives.

Yes, a thesis statement reflects a position!

* Determine whether the following is a

good or poor thesis statement

I think that world hunger

has many causes.

A thesis is not an announcement of purpose!

* Determine whether the following is a

good or poor thesis statement

Hunger persists in Glandelinia because

jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable.

Yes, a thesis statement reflects a position!

* Determine whether the following is a

good or poor thesis statement

High school graduates should

be required to take a year off after high school.

A thesis statement is not too narrow!

* Determine whether the following is a

good or poor thesis statement

High school graduates should be

required to take a year off after high school to travel all over the world to help end world hunger.

TOO BROAD!

* Determine whether the following is a

good or poor thesis statement

High school graduates should be

required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness.

Yes, a thesis statement reflects a position!

*

In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain writes many different things about the river.

TOO BROAD!

*

Through its contrasting river and

shore scenes, Twain's Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave "civilized" society and go back to nature.

Yes, a thesis statement reflects a position!

*

I enjoy my job at First National

Bank because the working conditions are pleasant, and I make $9.80 per hour.

A thesis is not an announcement of purpose

AND TOO NARROW!

*

The Gulf of Mexico has abundant plant and

animal life.

A thesis statement is not too broad!

*

What can be done to reduce violence in

schools? Who is to blame-- the parents,

the schools, or society in general?

A thesis statement is not a question!

*

My apartment is nice.

TOO NARROW!

*

Participating in volunteer work is essential

to the development of strong character.

Yes, a thesis statement reflects a position!

World War II was a costly war that had a

major impact on the economy of the United

States (Does it cover all the topics?)

World War II not only had an impact on the

economy of the United States but also

altered the role of the American

government and the American people

forever.

Prompt: Discuss the social, political and economic effects of World War II on the United States.

World hunger has many causes and effects.

Hunger persists in Sub-Saharan Africa because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable.

PROMPT: Discuss a potential cause of

hunger in a country.

In groups develop an introduction with a hook, a transitional sentence, and a thesis statement.

Is texting the downfall of the English Language ? What skills, academic or nonacademic—should everyone have? What do people reveal about themselves by the way they speak? Why does music have such a powerful influence over people? Are video games addictive?