Drafting Introductions

General Introduction Content

1. Hook: opening sentence(s) of essay that sets up your topic

2. Put the hook in context for thesis topic: background information on thesis topic

3. Thesis statement and subtopics that body paragraph explores

General Hooks (p.26 in RR)

The purpose of a hook is to draw your reader in to what you have to say. You don't want the hook to sound too broad and anonymous. You want to one of the general hooks below in a creative, but thesis-connected way: 

1. Relevant quote

2. Personal anecdote

3. Provocative and relevant question

4. Specific Example that fit your subject (perhaps one you will actually bring back and expand on later in your body

• Specific can involve a clear individual person/thing/place or a clear group of people/things/places
• specific: the Ford Focus; Michael Jordan; Hollywood actors
• too broad: people, everyone (wrong!); workers; 

5. Relevant fact: particularly one that sets the tone and allows you to explore the fact specifically as it relates to your thesis.

•  For example, a fact about how many different ethnicities live in the USA in an essay in which the writer explores how food is a ticket to other cultures for them. 

Drafting an Introduction

1. [As we discussed last class...] Have your thesis and subtopics at least outlined; these ideas are your map directions!

2. Decide which type of hook most interests you. Do some brainstorming that helps you (including, looking on the Internet for a relevant quote or fact to help you out)

• For now, if you got a quote/fact off a website, make sure to record the name and address of the website and the author, if there. We'll come back to discussing citing a source in another class, so you need to know where you got your info from.

3. Once you have the type of hook you want and have some content to work with, start drafting your introduction paragraph (aim for around 5-8 solid sentences for 450 word essays)

• Go from hook, to how the hook relates to your specific thesis, to introducing subtopics, to ending on your thesis statement.

Example Sketch Outline for Writing About What PRE is:

sketch outline:

I. Thesis statement:  PRE teaches writers to pay attention to both the three general pieces of content that should show up in each body paragraph and how to order that information.

     A. Subtopics*: 

1. First of all, PRE is an easy reminder of the three basic but important pieces of information that need to show up in a developed essay paragraph.  
• The first body paragraph would then give a reason why the acronym is easy, and then reasons each of point, reason, and example are important to an essay paragraph. Then, the example would be of a point that needs the RE to be clear and effective. 
2. Second, the memorable acronym also gives a writer a logical structure for developing a point.
3. PRE can be used for any time one has to write a paragraph, and the device is also good to use when conversing with others in school, at work, or at home. 

*These subtopics came out of my looking at the thesis statement and the point I made there. The third subtopic comes from the Essay prompt, which I reviewed and found asked me to also talk about where I might use my device. So, I thought about other places clear language helps out!

Generating a Hook

• I decided to go with a quote to open up the essay so that I could demonstrate different sentence structures for integrating a quote smoothly....
• I looked for a quote that dealt with structure and language...
• I found one that seemed relevant: it was on writing, it was a Russian novelist, and I thought it was a bit rebellious--which inspires me to explain my idea more!!!
• I also found the quote on one of those generic quote websites, so I Googled the quote to make sure it was valid (many hits on the quote)

• “Style and Structure are the essence of a book; great ideas are hogwash.” - Vladimir Nabokov, Russian novelist of Lolita

Once I find my hook, I can draft my introduction

• When using a quote or a fact, it is good to start your hook off with a phrase that introduces where that quote/fact is coming from:

• (author) once said, "..."

• According to ________, ...

• Or...try out your own introductory phrase that gives context to the quote/hook!

Ideas Are Nothing Without Structure [Title reflects point of device]

The famous Russian novelist Vladimir Nabokov once said, "“Style and Structure are the essence of a book; great ideas are hogwash.” Since he is known for Lolita, a novel about a creepy old man obsessed with a little girl, a reader may be shocked to find that Nabokov thought structure was more important than the idea itself [Hook]. However, as a writer, I have found his idea to be true. I can have all of the greatest ideas in the world, but they disappear in ramblings, if not into thin air, if I don't try to instill order in them. Writing is messy [transition to my subject]. That's why I came up with a mnemonic device to restore order to that messiness when I need to write for school [essay focal topic and intro to specific subject]. I created a device called PRE, which stands for point, reason, example. When I am at the heart of writing an essay for a class, I chant PRE, PRE, PRE in my head to maintain focus in my paragraphs. Plus, I even find myself chanting as I answer questions in class [subtopics introduced]. In short, PRE teaches writers to pay attention to both the three general pieces of content that should show up in each body paragraph and how to order that information [thesis!].